As the 2026 midterm elections approach, concerns are mounting that commercial local television stations are abandoning their commitment to local news in favor of national content that boosts profits. A press release from San Francisco-based advocates highlights that stations owned by companies like Gray, Scripps, Sinclair, and Nexstar have shifted focus to national issues since the FCC lifted ownership caps in 2026. The release argues that this shift leaves communities without critical coverage of mayoral races, city councils, county executives, state legislatures, and governors—exactly the races that will shape local policies.
According to an op-ed by Dak Dillon, local newscasts often spend minutes on national headlines that viewers have already seen elsewhere. “Running a national package or reading a wire rundown isn’t a service to the audience in 2026. It’s dead air with a local anchor’s face on it,” Dillon wrote. The press release points to this as evidence that commercial operations prioritize national news because it is more profitable, not because it serves local communities.
To fill the gap, the initiative encourages readers to donate directly to nonprofit news outlets that provide in-depth, local reporting. These include statewide organizations like CalMatters and regional outlets such as Bay City News, which covers the San Francisco Bay Area. Neighborhood-specific sites like Mission Local and San Francisco Public Press focus on under-covered topics and historically underserved audiences. In Solano County, Open Vallejo and the Vallejo Sun provide accountability reporting on local government and democracy.
The release warns that if news deserts can exist in a major city like San Francisco, smaller towns and suburbs are even more vulnerable. Without strong local journalism, voter participation declines and corruption increases, as research cited by the Vallejo Sun notes. Nonprofit newsrooms like the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative and States Newsroom are working to counter these trends by providing free, nonpartisan coverage of state and local issues.
Donations to these organizations are tax-deductible and help sustain reporting that holds power accountable. The initiative also encourages sharing donation efforts on social media to raise awareness. As the midterms near, the press release stresses that supporting nonprofit news is essential for preserving democracy, free speech, and reliable information at the local level.
