As the 2026 midterm elections approach, concerns are mounting that commercial local TV stations are abandoning community-focused journalism in favor of national content that drives profits. In response, nonprofit news organizations across the country are urging readers to donate directly to local news outlets this Labor Day weekend and through the elections to preserve reliable, local reporting.
According to a press release, in 2026 companies like Gray, Scripps, Sinclair, and Nexstar have primarily focused on national content since the FCC lifted its ownership cap. The argument that lifting the cap would increase local news content has not held true; in practice, it favors national content because that is what brings in profits for commercial operations. This shift means viewers are less likely to see coverage of mayoral races, city councils, county executives, state legislatures, and governors—exactly the races that will shape communities this midterm season.
An op-ed by Dak Dillon highlights the problem: “Here's the uncomfortable question for any news director defending the format: why is a local station spending five minutes reading national headlines that every viewer already saw on their phone before the newscast even started?” The piece argues that national packages and wire rundowns are “dead air with a local anchor's face on it.” The full op-ed is available at https://www.newscaststudio.com/2026/08/13/daks-take-local-news-isnt-actually-that-local/.
To fill the void, nonprofit newsrooms are stepping up. CalMatters, a nonpartisan nonprofit covering California, is the only journalism outlet dedicated to covering America's biggest state, 39 million Californians, and the world's fifth largest economy. It acquired The Markup in 2024 to bolster reporting on privacy, algorithms, AI, and tech regulation. Donations can be made at https://give.calmatters.org/campaign/564470/donate.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Bay City News Foundation serves the greater region and Northern California, backed by charitable donations. It targets geographic and topical news deserts and collaborates with other media. Some stories reach as many as 9 million people through its regional newswire. Support is available at https://localnewsmatters.org/support-our-publication/.
The San Francisco Public Press is a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization publishing independent public-interest journalism on under-covered topics, with a focus on historically under-served audiences. It offers investigative and solutions reporting online and on community radio station KSFP-FM. Donations can be made at https://sanfranciscopublicpress-bloom.kindful.com/.
Mission Local focuses on high-impact enterprise reporting in San Francisco, covering police reform and City Hall corruption, with dedicated neighborhood reporters. Originally a project of U.C. Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, it became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2022. Donations are accepted at https://mission-local.donorsupport.co/page/donate.
Open Vallejo is an award-winning, independent, nonpartisan nonprofit newsroom illuminating a small city burdened by police violence, corruption, and neglect. It is the first project of the Informed California Foundation. Donations can be made at https://openvallejo.org/donate/.
The Vallejo Sun covers democracy, politics, and government in Solano County, aiming to combat misinformation and hold power accountable. Membership is available at https://www.vallejosun.com/membership/.
The Central Valley Journalism Collaborative is a Fresno-based nonprofit strengthening local news in the San Joaquin Valley by supporting media and journalists. Donations can be made at https://cvlocaljournalism.org/supportus/.
Nationally, the Institute for Nonprofit News supports 500 independent news organizations, while States Newsroom provides nonpartisan coverage from every state capital. Civic News Company operates Chalkbeat, Votebeat, and Healthbeat, focusing on education, elections, and public health. Donations can be made at https://inn.org/donate/ and https://statesnewsroom.com/donate/.
The implications are stark: if news deserts can exist in San Francisco due to commercial stations prioritizing national issues, suburbs and small towns across the country may face even greater representation gaps. By donating to local nonprofit newsrooms, readers can help ensure democracy, free speech, and reliable information prevail at the local level during a time of uncertainty.
