Google, California lawmaker reach deal on journalism fund

Google, Calif. Lawmaker Reach News Deal to Avoid Ad Tax, Fees

Tech companies such as Google and the state of California would commit about $250 million over the next five years to state newsrooms and an artificial intelligence project under a new deal.

California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D) said she reached an agreement on a partnership with tech companies, news publishers, and philanthropies. The pact still requires approval from the state Legislature. Wicks had sponsored the California Journalism Preservation Act (AB 886) that would have funneled money from tech giants toward newsrooms via forced payments. Wicks said she’ll ...