The United States has lost about 75% of its local journalists since 2002, leading policymakers and advocates in many states to call for public policies that support local news production. In 2025, Illinois pioneered the nation’s first refundable tax credits for local news, making it more affordable for news outlets to hire and retain journalists.
In its first year, the Illinois Local Journalism Sustainability Tax Incentive Program created by Senator Steve Stadelman awarded more than $4 million in tax credits to support more than 260 local journalist jobs at 55 news entities operating more than 120 local outlets across the state: newspapers, digital news sites, broadcasters, commercial and nonprofit newsrooms alike. Policymakers in several other U.S. states have introduced or are considering similar programs.
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