About this resource
This resource, which was created in 2025 and updated in 2026, identifies statutory efforts state lawmakers have made to support local journalism across the United States. The database includes state legislation introduced since 2017.
To build this resource, our team searched every state legislature’s database for bills using the keywords “journalism”, “media”, and “local journalism.” We also used the BillTrackt50 service to identify bills. To capture the full legislative activity, we registered every identified effort to support local journalism, including both failed bills and enacted laws.
The resource is generally limited to specific legislative bills intended to support local journalism. Budget line items and grants that were provided by states to support journalism, for example, might not be included in this resource.
About the research team
This project was conducted with financial support from the Reynolds Journalism Institute. Jared Schroeder, a professor at the Missouri School of Journalism, organized the project with support from Živilė Raškauskiatė, Maggie Bunch, and Ian McKenzie, who gathered, wrote, and organized the entries. If you have questions about this project, email jcschroeder@missouri.edu.
About the Reynolds Journalism Institute
The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) was launched in 2004 with a grant of $31 million from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. In conjunction with the centennial celebration of the Missouri School of Journalism, RJI’s headquarters were opened in September 2008.
Our 50,000 square-foot facility on the University of Missouri campus has state-of-the-art resources to test and implement new technologies, experiment with new approaches to producing, designing and delivering news, information and advertising – and to host conferences, training and workshops for journalists. RJI’s work crosses diverse specialties within journalism, including editorial content and methods, the evolution of advertising, innovation in management and the impact of new technologies. It also includes varied fields on campus such as law, computer science, marketing, education and other disciplines. In 2012, the Foundation awarded RJI a $30.1 million endowment gift to guarantee permanent funding to pursue innovation, collaboration and research in media industries.