Julie Patel Liss, associate professor at California State University, Los Angeles, has been appointed to the advisory board for a new $20 million statewide initiative supporting local journalism and civic engagement in California.
The Civic Media Program, convened by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, is a public-private partnership funded equally by the state and Google. Its mission is to strengthen local news outlets and expand community access to reliable information.
“Local journalism amplifies the voices of communities and engages citizens on issues that matter,” said Patel Liss, originally from India and now based in Long Beach, California. She added that the program aligns with Cal State LA’s mission to serve local communities while training the next generation of journalists.
At Cal State LA, Patel Liss leads the journalism program within the Department of Television, Film, and Media Studies, College of Arts and Letters. She oversees investigative projects for local outlets and founded a community news platform covering underreported neighborhoods in East and South Los Angeles. The program, serving many students from underrepresented backgrounds, has earned more than two dozen awards.
Before joining academia, Patel Liss worked as an investigative reporter with nonprofit organizations including the Center for Public Integrity and NPR in Washington, D.C., as well as the South Florida Sun Sentinel and San Jose Mercury News. Her work has been recognized with over 15 journalism awards.
Dee Dee Myers, senior adviser to Governor Gavin Newsom and director of GO-Biz, emphasized that informed communities are vital for democracy. She noted that the program unites leaders dedicated to supporting local journalism, improving newsroom sustainability, and expanding access to trustworthy information.
Other advisory board members represent prominent organizations such as the Latino Media Collaborative, Local Independent Online News Publishers, Monterey County Weekly, Southern California News Group, Los Angeles Times, and California Black Media, further ensuring broad statewide representation.
