The worrying state of local journalism was a key topic in the remarks presented by featured speaker Priscilla Enriquez, president and CEO of the James B. McClatchy Foundation, at the club’s Tuesday luncheon of December 5.
A longtime Sacramento nonprofit leader, Priscilla outlined the history of the foundation, which was founded by its namesake in 1994 to focus on English Learners and the First Amendment in California’s Central Valley. She discussed the acute needs in the Central Valley and covered the main goals of the foundation’s strategy -- multilingual infrastructures that advocate for the youngest multilingual learners and their families as assets, community-powered local journalism reflecting multiracial and multilingual local voices to activate civic engagement, and inclusive leadership for the next generation of diverse stakeholders in the region. Rather than operate in perpetuity, the foundation has made the unconventional decision to invest its entire fund by 2030 in carefully selected community partners – then discontinue the foundation.
One in four U.S. newspapers have ceased to publish since 2004, she noted, and only 14 percent of people surveyed say they pay for news. "Pay for your news!," she implored.
In club announcements, Roy Alexander encouraged all to attend Daughters Day on December 19 – with or without a daughter! It’s a family gathering, and the Rotary family will gladly welcome all to the occasion.
Our wine sponsor was Kerry Wood. Greeters were Dennis Godby, Larry Gilzean and Kathy Herrfeldt. John Swentowsky was our photographer, and Pulse reporter was Ann Ryan Solomon. The Thought for the Day was delivered by Jamie Furlong.
Don’t miss our next meeting on December 12! It’s the Annual Meeting and the club will be introduced to the President-Elect Nominee to succeed PE Bobby Reed in the 2025-26 club year. And the meeting’s featured speaker will be Faith Whitmore, CEO of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center.
Written by Ann Ryan Solomon
Photos courtesy of John Swentowsky.
