California’s Governor Signs Bill To Boost Ads In Diverse Media

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1511 into law that mandates state agencies develop plans to increase advertising spending in media outlets serving California’s diverse populations. 

The legislation, authored by Assembly member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), aims to address historical underfunding by directing state advertising dollars to these essential media outlets.

Expanding State Support for Diverse Media

According to the Latino Media Collaborative, California is home to more than 300 ethnic media outlets, which serve as critical sources of information for the state’s diverse communities. 

However, many of these outlets have struggled financially, often sidelined by state advertising campaigns. 

AB 1511 changes this by requiring state agencies to allocate a larger portion of their outreach budgets to “ethnic and community media”, with the goal of ensuring broader access to public information.

“This law ensures that state advertising investments will go where they are needed most, creating an economic foundation for these media outlets while also connecting more Californians to critical state programs,” said Arturo Carmona, President of the Latino Media Collaborative.

Accountability and Sustainability Measures

To ensure transparency, AB 1511 requires state agencies to report annually on their progress in supporting ethnic and community media. 

The Department of General Services will develop a standardized reporting template by December 2025, and the law will remain in effect until July 2028.

“This is just the beginning,” said Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, Publisher of the San Fernando Valley Sun. “We need more investment to ensure these essential platforms stay strong.”

Feature Image Credit: Lara Solanki/Netflix