California has announced a significant plan to support journalism and advance research in artificial intelligence. The new program, starting in 2025 with a $250 million budget, including $100 million for the first year, aims to assist local news organizations that are finding it difficult to keep up in the digital era. The state government is collaborating with leading technology firms to offer financial help to newsrooms, aiming to enhance the press’s role in a healthy democratic society. This decision came after long talks between lawmakers and technology companies, who had earlier opposed rules that made them share money with media companies. The agreement has received approval from notable groups such as the California News Publishers Association, Alphabet, and OpenAI. Although this initiative is viewed as a significant step forward for journalism, some journalists and legislators express concerns that the funding might not address the serious issues within the industry. Nevertheless, the program is expected to greatly benefit and improve local news in California and could potentially serve as a model for other states.