THE STATE OF LA MEDIA: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
Local media in Los Angeles is in a troubling moment. Newsrooms are shrinking, coverage is thinning, and powerful interests are stepping in to fill the vacuum. But at the same time, a new ecosystem of community-driven journalism is taking shape.
The Good
After nearly shutting down in 2024, LA Taco has emerged as one of the most essential news sources in the city. Their Daily Memo series documenting ICE raids across LA — alongside in-depth video and traditional reporting — has made them an indispensable resource to learn about the most important issues that legacy media outlets don’t cover.
Elsewhere, LA Podcast is creating space for longform conversations on issues that rarely get sustained attention, while Torched LA has become the go-to source for consistent reporting and analysis on major upcoming events like the Olympics.
Brand new outlets are also stepping up at a critical moment. The LA Local is centering Black and brown communities long ignored by traditional media, while LA Material and LA Reported are launching with a promise to deliver compelling, locally rooted journalism in 2026 and beyond.
Here in District 13, we’re fortunate to have something increasingly rare: a strong ecosystem of hyperlocal outlets covering neighborhood-level issues, including The Eastsider, Larchmont Buzz, Larchmont Chronicle, and the Beverly Press.
The Bad
Just three years ago, the Los Angeles Times employed roughly 450 rank-and-file journalists. Today, that number has been cut nearly in half.
When we were elected, the City Hall bureau had four dedicated reporters. It now has two.
LAist (KPCC/KCRW) also faced immense challenges this year after the Trump administration cut off all federal funding to NPR. Despite losing about 60 workers over the past three years, they’ve still been able to break important local stories – but the strain is real.
The Ugly
MAGA’s favorite tabloid – the New York Post – is coming to Los Angeles as the “California Post.”
Their billionaire ownership and pattern of misogynistic and racist attacks paint a clear picture: this isn’t journalism. It’s an effort to weaponize LA’s media vacuum to advance a far-right agenda.
Why it Matters
At a moment when masked federal agents are detaining people of color off the streets, Los Angeles needs trusted, independent sources of information.
Rapid Response Networks are sharing real-time updates on social media to help keep neighbors safe. That work is even more powerful when paired with independent local reporting, like Eastsider's report of ICE activity on the Eastside, and LA Taco’s daily record of ICE raids across the city.
It’s increasingly clear that federal agents are conducting rapid operations designed to leave no record — making it even more important to document what’s happening on our streets, reunite families, and preserve evidence for accountability.
What’s Next?
Support local journalism. Subscribe to the outlets above. Share their in-depth investigations, narrative-driven stories, and nuanced coverage of our diverse communities.
And to help keep innocent families together, we’re urgently looking for more people to join our community Rapid Response Network. We’re holding a Rapid Response Training this Wednesday to onboard new community members who want to get involved!
Visit bit.ly/CD13RRN to sign up.
Two More Quick Hits!
- Ghost Kitchens, Real Solutions
“Ghost kitchens” are large centralized kitchens where multiple restaurants prepare food for takeout and delivery only.
Right now, the City’s zoning code treats them the same as catering kitchens — even though they generate constant delivery traffic throughout the day and night, as opposed to catering kitchens, which prepare large batches of food for a few scheduled deliveries. This can create issues with traffic, parking, safety, and more.
City Council just unanimously passed our motion to create a formal planning definition for ghost kitchens. This is an important first step toward clear, long-term rules that support small business owners while addressing safety and quality-of-life concerns in surrounding communities.
- Volunteers Needed for Homeless Count!
The annual Homeless Count is on Tuesday, and we need YOUR help.
This count is absolutely critical because it determines how funding and resources are allocated in our community. Every volunteer makes a difference in the accuracy of the census. Visit count.lahsa.org to register now!