Office of Supervisor Hilda L. Solis: [Media Contact Info]Office of Supervisor Janice Hahn: [Media Contact Info]L.A. County motion would track where public advertising dollars go and steer more of them to local and ethnic news outlets
Supervisors Solis and Hahn join local and ethnic news leaders to back a review modeled on New York City, which set a goal of directing at least half of its advertising to community media.
LOS ANGELES, CA (November 10, 2026) – Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Janice Hahn joined local and ethnic news leaders today to back a motion that asks a basic question: when the County pays to reach residents, is that information getting to them?
“If we’re telling people where to get a flu shot or how to apply for rent relief, that message has to reach the family that reads the paper on the counter at the panadería,” said Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “Right now we don’t even know where our advertising dollars go, and this motion finds out.”
The motion calls for an independent audit of County advertising and a study of a new County office to work with local, ethnic, and in-language outlets. The findings would show which communities are being missed and could help keep trusted neighborhood newsrooms open.
“You can’t have a healthy democracy if nobody is at the city council meeting taking notes,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “If the County is going to spend money telling people what’s happening, let’s spend it with the reporters who live here and cover it.”
Local news is shrinking fast. California has lost more than 12,000 local journalists since 2002, leaving fewer reporters to cover school boards, city halls, and public health. In 2024, the Los Angeles Times cut about 115 newsroom jobs, including deep cuts to its coverage of Latino Los Angeles. The Latino Media Collaborative brought together local and ethnic news partners to support the motion.
“This isn’t charity for newsrooms, it’s smart government,” said Arturo Carmona, President of the Latino Media Collaborative. “Our outlets reach the grandmother who reads only in Spanish and the construction worker listening to the radio before sunrise.”
The motion is modeled on New York City, where a 2013 study found 82 percent of city advertising went to mainstream outlets. The city then set a goal of directing at least half to community and ethnic media. In the first year, agencies directed 84 percent of print and digital ads there.
“Information is where progress begins. When we know better, we can do better,” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media. “For too long, local and ethnic media have been overlooked in public advertising decisions, despite their critical role in reaching California’s diverse communities. This motion is an important first step toward understanding where public dollars are going, identifying who is being left out, and making informed decisions that ensure public information reaches the communities it is intended to serve.”
Under the motion, the County Chief Executive Officer would work with the Internal Services Department, the Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, and the Office of Immigrant Affairs to:
Report back within 120 days on creating a County office modeled on New York City's Mayor's Office of Ethnic and Community Media.
Seek philanthropic or academic partners to fund an audit of County advertising across departments, contractors, and media vendors.
Apply the County's ARDI Diversity Assessment Tools to future media contracts so smaller publishers can compete.
Work directly with local and ethnic news leaders so their perspectives shape County policy.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider the motion at its public meeting today.
