The Online News Association (ONA) has joined the Rebuild Local News Coalition, deepening a shared commitment to ensuring communities nationwide have access to reliable, high-quality local journalism. For ONA, this partnership builds on our long history of supporting local newsroom leaders through training, convenings and innovation programs.
Rebuild Local News brings together a broad alliance of publishers, journalists, funders and mission-driven organizations advocating for practical public policies that strengthen local news. Press Forward is also joining the coalition alongside ONA. “The addition of these new member organizations reflects the broad range of advocates working to ensure communities have access to local news and information,” said Steven Waldman, president of Rebuild Local News. “Their involvement strengthens the coalition’s collective voice and will help inform our policy work in the year ahead.”
“ONA’s mission is rooted in helping journalism professionals build leadership skills, foresight and community needed to thrive through change and strengthen journalism’s service to democracy. Joining the Rebuild Local News Coalition is a natural extension of that work and our long-standing commitment to shaping a resilient local news ecosystem,” said Niketa Patel, ONA’s CEO/Executive Director. “We’re excited to collaborate with Press Forward and fellow coalition members to advance policy and shared solutions that reinforce what we know: healthy communities rely on strong local journalism.
As state legislative sessions begin in early 2026, ONA will collaborate with fellow coalition members to help shape approaches that expand civic information, meet community needs and strengthen the long-term health of local news.