The LA Public's Printing Press

Adult literacy

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Misinformation is everywhere, trust in media is falling, and the internet is increasingly flooded with AI-generated noise. For Angelenos navigating housing crises, low-wage work, immigration systems, and City Hall, accessing clear and trustworthy information is harder than ever — especially for those left out of digital spaces by language, literacy, and other access barriers.
Consequently, local news has lost reach and relevance. Only about one-third of Americans say they trust the news media. Among younger and working-class audiences, that number is even lower. This crisis of trust makes it harder to know what’s real and what matters. In a region as large and complex as LA, this can be a barrier not only to belonging and civic health, but even survival. Too often, people feel ignored or misrepresented by legacy institutions. LA Public Press exists to change that; we meet people where they are, and make vital information visible, credible, and accessible.

LA Public Press is expanding our print publishing program, part of a long-term plan to build new civic media infrastructure across Los Angeles. We’ll distribute 50,000+ free newspapers and zines filled with community-rooted reporting, cultural storytelling, and practical guides to help people understand their rights, their city, and how LA actually works. Printed in multiple languages, this media will circulate through a growing network of partners including libraries, bookstores, cafés, and community events. We’ve already printed and distributed over 10,000 copies in early pilot runs, and the response has been clear: there’s real demand for reliable local journalism people can hold in their hands.
Where and how people encounter journalism matters, and this project responds to a growing breakdown in trust, access, and visibility in our information ecosystem. In an era of unreliable AI saturation, we see print as the front door. When matched with in-person engagement strategies, print media is a low-barrier way to connect people to the information they need to navigate systems and shape their communities.
Thanks to a local printing partner, we’re able to print at cost. The real investment is in people: the reporting, relationships, translation, and distribution at scale. This expansion marks the next phase of LAPP’s strategy to reconnect Angelenos with journalism in ways that rebuilds trust, strengthens connection, and helps Angelenos make sense of their city together.

If we’re successful, Angelenos will once again encounter local journalism in the places where life happens: libraries, coffee shops, corner stores, community centers, and on the bus. Our print editions will be part of the civic fabric of LA County: trusted, multilingual, visible, and in reach. Residents overlooked or shut out by legacy media will have access to reporting that reflects their lives and helps them navigate systems. Community partners will have tools they can share. And people will know where to turn for credible, human-centered news.
This expansion is just the beginning. Our long-term vision is a fully built-out print publishing operation working in tandem with our digital newsroom—anchored by regional bureaus and community-based distribution. As other outlets cut back or struggle to survive, we’re modeling what a functional, inclusive local media ecosystem can look like: one that shows up in people’s neighborhoods and earns their trust, one story and one paper at a time.