Just when smartphones seemed to have rendered traditional cameras obsolete, something surprising happened. Compact cameras began making a comeback, particularly among younger consumers willing to pay premium prices for simpler, more intentional experiences. What can news media publishers learn from this unexpected revival? In his October “Tasaka’s Tech Talk” column, Guy T. Tasaka explores why consumers are rediscovering the appeal of dedicated cameras and what this trend reveals about audience fatigue with algorithms, endless digital distractions and always-on technology.

Sometimes, the smallest changes in routine can reveal the biggest opportunities. In his latest “The Corner Office” op-ed, Doug Phares reflects on how something as simple as walking a familiar path in the opposite direction inspired him to rethink his approach to business analysis. His takeaway for news media leaders? Breaking from established routines and approaching familiar information from a different angle can uncover valuable insights that might otherwise go unnoticed.

In an era of rapidly evolving technology, shrinking attention spans and ever-changing news platforms, one fundamental journalism skill remains indispensable: compelling storytelling. But how are journalism schools teaching the next generation of reporters to transform facts into narratives that inform, engage and resonate with audiences? For E&P’s October “J-School Desk” feature, Alyssa Choiniere spoke with professors at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Columbia University and CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism about the enduring principles of great storytelling, the value of experimentation, and why strong reporting and writing remain essential — no matter the platform.

Diane Bedard entered a tourism agency’s website into Magic Spec, a sales tool from Broadstreet Ads that turns a prospect’s existing online content into a customized sample advertisement. She brought the resulting creative to lunch, and the response was immediate: “I want that. How much is it?” By showing exactly what the campaign could look like, Bedard eliminated the need to explain an unfamiliar digital product—and turned the demonstration into a sale. Instead of asking the advertiser to imagine the possibilities, she placed something polished, branded and tangible directly in front of the prospect.

A lawsuit can threaten a newsroom long before a court decides who is right. Holger Roonemaa, head of the investigative and fact-checking desk at Delfi Estonia, says an investigation into a political donor’s influence led to a claim seeking more than €400,000 against the publisher and its reporter. Reporters Shield covered the newsroom’s legal defense fees, helping preserve resources for further reporting. Delfi won in the first court instance, according to Roonemaa, but the appeal remains pending and the investigation remains online.

More revenue does not have to mean building another sales operation. During this E&P Solutions Series webinar, USA TODAY and XPR Media executives explored how publishers can tap existing agency demand for press releases and paid content, creating an additional revenue stream while retaining control over what appears on their sites.

For a news publisher serving readers where Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin meet, regional coverage means following developments across all three states. As TH Media plans for a future beyond its longtime Associated Press relationship, it is learning how The Center Square can help fill those coverage needs.

Amsterdam News is expanding its partnership with Column to strengthen its legal notice operations, create more capacity for growth, and gain access to new high-volume notice business from the large organizations in Column’s Automated Placement network placing across New York.

As AI changes how consumers find and choose local businesses, publishers have an opportunity to help advertisers remain visible. Duda provides the technology and insights publishers need to improve discoverability, measure business results and deliver those services at scale. The result can be stronger advertiser relationships and new recurring revenue.

A newsroom can win a lawsuit and still be destroyed by it. Years of legal bills, missed deadlines and relentless anxiety can accomplish what an unfavorable verdict never could: silencing journalists and frightening others away from the story. For a small publisher without in-house counsel or deep financial reserves, one legal threat can place the entire organization at risk. International media-freedom attorney Flutura Kusari warns that waiting until a demand letter arrives to build a defense may already be too late.

An interested advertiser shouldn’t become a lost sale while your team waits for creative. Mediaferry combines AI-powered ad production with human expertise to help publishers create better ads faster across print, digital and video. In this E&P webinar, Robert Berkeley and Tariq Husain explain how that approach reduces repetitive work and keeps campaigns moving from concept to completion. Watch to learn how faster creative can strengthen sales conversations and help turn advertiser interest into signed business.

Mentor Medier’s developers were spending time maintaining article pages and homepages that Francis Lundh believed a specialized provider could handle. As chief product officer of the Scandinavian publishing group and CEO of its technology company, Unite, he wanted that talent focused on subscription products. Moving to Labrador CMS gave journalists more control over daily publishing while allowing the company to step away from custom front-end development. The shift put its development resources behind technology designed to strengthen reader relationships and grow the subscription business.