Independent journalism on the future of #NewsMedia

Being local — community, context and connections — is a superpower

As Big Tech platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to disrupt the news media industry, newspapers possess a competitive advantage that tech giants simply cannot replicate: their deep roots in the communities they serve. New research suggests that local newspapers continue to earn readers’ trust across generations, including Millennials. In his October “The Newspaper Perspective” op-ed, Dean Ridings explains why being local is journalism’s superpower and offers practical advice for publishers looking to strengthen community connections, build trust and remind audiences and advertisers of their unique value.

News media grapples with declining obits revenue

Obituaries have long been a reliable revenue stream for newspapers and an important connection to the communities they serve. But as families increasingly turn to funeral-home websites, social media and other digital alternatives, publishers are seeing that business decline. Can newspapers reclaim their place in this changing market? In this E&P Quick Read, Taayoo Murray examines new research on obituary revenue, the competitive challenges publishers face and innovative approaches to preserving a valuable business, a historical record and an enduring community tradition.

There’s no single bullet for sustaining a profitable news media business, but publishers are finding creative ways to diversify their revenue streams and strengthen audience relationships. From membership programs and community experiences to sponsored podcasts, niche publications and innovative advertising products, opportunities abound. In this E&P “Revenue Roundup,” Bob Miller speaks with three industry leaders — Chicago Public Media CEO Melissa Bell, Publisher Uriah Kiser from Potomac Local News, and Ryan Dohrn, founder and president of Brain Swell Media — about the strategies they’ve deployed, what’s generating revenue today and where they see opportunities for growth.

Newsrooms have spent decades documenting history, but are they making the most of their own archives? Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new opportunities for newsrooms to unlock decades of reporting, rediscover valuable institutional knowledge and uncover stories hiding in plain sight. In this E&P Quick Read, Tandy Lau explores how digital preservation efforts and emerging AI tools are helping publishers turn yesterday’s news into a valuable resource for tomorrow’s reporting.
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As advertisers begin planning for 2027, media sales professionals may be asking the wrong questions. In her latest “Ad Sales Life” op-ed column, Shannon Kinney explains why conversations shouldn’t begin with advertising budgets, but with clients’ larger business objectives — and how getting into the room earlier can transform a salesperson from vendor to trusted adviser.
Following the money behind federal political appointees can require digging through thousands of documents scattered across government agencies. ProPublica has done much of that legwork for journalists. In this E&P Quick Read, E&P’s Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck reveals how ProPublica’s “Trump Team Financials” project combines data, technology and accountability journalism.
Fresnoland has grown from an experiment in public-service journalism into a nine-person nonprofit newsroom producing ambitious accountability reporting for California’s Central Valley. But proving the value of the journalism is only part of the challenge, building a sustainable business to support is another. In this E&P exclusive “News Media Profile,” Taayoo Murray explores how Fresnoland is growing its audience, diversifying revenue and remaining steadfastly focused on the community it serves.
Temple University’s student journalists aren’t merely practicing how to produce a newscast — they’re doing the real thing, complete with breaking news, live reporting and the pressure to get the story right. In this E&P Quick Reads exclusive, Bob Miller goes beyond the scenes of “Temple Update,” whose student team recently earned the program’s first Student Edward R. Murrow Award for the “Excellence in Video Newscast” category.
What if local newsrooms could expand their coverage and reach simply by sharing more of their journalism with one another? In this E&P Quick Reads exclusive, Alyssa Choiniere introduces readers to Plucky Wire, a free collaborative newswire connecting more than 400 newsrooms and helping publishers find, share and amplify local reporting from around the country.
Change may be inevitable, but constant disruption doesn’t necessarily make an organization better. In his September “The Corner Office” op-ed column, Doug Phares contends that effective leaders know when change is necessary and when stability is the better strategy. He explores how leaders can guide their teams through uncertainty, minimize needless disruption and provide a steady hand when change arrives without warning.
What happens when high school students are asked to tackle declining media literacy and trust in news? They come up with solutions. In this month’s “Shoptalk” op-ed, journalist Linda Carpio Shapley recounts a Problem-Based Learning experiment that challenged 9th graders to think critically about journalism and to devise creative ways to help people identify trustworthy information. Their ideas also offer newsrooms a compelling reason to engage young people in conversations about the future of news.
Public media survived the loss of federal funding, but is survival enough? In his September “Innovation in Practice” op-ed, E&P columnist Chad Davis contends that public media is at a pivotal moment that calls for the DIY spirit of punk and a willingness to rethink what public media can be. Davis explores how collaboration with nonprofit newsroom, filmmakers, game developers and other nontraditional partners could help usher in public media’s next era.
Foreign correspondents venture far from home to tell consequential stories of people, politics, conflict and crisis — often encountering funding challenges, logistical hurdles and operational dangers. In E&P’s September “Association Insider,” Bob Miller introduces readers to the Overseas Press Club of America and the journalists and journalism it salutes.
What separates a trusted sales adviser from someone simply selling advertising? In her September “Ad Sales Life” opinion column, Shannon Kinney argues that the best media sales professionals look beyond a client’s marketing needs to uncover the business challenges driving them. She explores how curiosity, business acumen and even AI can help sales teams deepen client relationships — and ultimately build more sustainable revenue.
After 35 years, cartoonist Lincoln Peirce has retired the daily “Big Nate” comic strip, but he’s not quite ready to leave the 6th grade behind. In his “News Media Today” op-ed column, E&P’s Rob Tornoe talks with Peirce about the remarkable evolution of “Big Nate,” the culture loss that comes as newspapers and their comic pages decline, and why editors should make room for a new generation of cartoonists.
Can coffee and tea help fuel a new model for investigative journalism? The Newsground is betting on it, pairing ad-free reporting with beverage subscriptions. In this E&P Quick Read, Alyssa Choiniere explores Founder Scott Stedman’s unconventional approach to building audience, funding ambitious investigations and turning a familiar morning ritual into a new business model.
Finding and keeping talented journalists has become one of the news industry’s toughest challenges, and former recruitment playbooks may no longer be enough. In this E&P in-depth exclusive, Alyssa Choiniere addresses dilemmas like: Where can recruiters find promising candidates today? What do journalists and news media professionals expect, in terms of compensation, benefits and organizational culture? And how can employers create workplaces that make staff feel valued, so they want to stay for the long term?
For 60 years, The Atlanta Voice has chronicled, celebrated and amplified Black Atlanta, carrying forward a mission born during the Civil Rights Movement. Today, the publication is honoring that legacy while embracing new ways to reach and serve its community. In this profile of The Atlanta Voice, E&P’s Tandy Lau explores how the historic Black newspaper honors its past while evolving for the future.
As Congress debates policies with impact to local newspapers — from rising postal rates to AI companies scraping original journalism — America’s Newspapers President and CEO Dean Ridings argues that news media publishers need to bring their concerns and suggested solutions to the legislative branch. In this debut of Riding’s monthly E&P opinion column, Ridings makes the case for why news media leaders need to show up, speak out and make sure Washington hears “The Newspaper Perspective.”
While much of the news media community races toward the next digital innovation, one Oregon publisher is betting on something decidedly old-school: local news, printed on paper and delivered by mail. Active Media Publishing Group has grown to more than 60 publications by focusing on stories communities care about most — and giving local advertisers a compelling way to reach them. In this exclusive profile, Editor & Publisher’s Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck explores how the organization is not merely surviving; it’s thriving.
What would a digital platform built around the needs of a city — rather than simple another news site — look like? Chicago Public Media unveiled its plans for Chicago.com, an ambitious new digital brand that will provide civic resources, community connections and a platform for neighborhood conversations. In this E&P Quick Read, Taayoo Murray explores how the organization plans to capitalize on a coveted domain name and create civic infrastructure for the people of Chicago.
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Facing funding pressures and an uncertain future for public media, Black public radio stations are finding strength in collaboration. The newly formed Black Public Radio Network will share resources, programming and ideas, all while amplifying stories and preserving cultural history. In this E&P Quick Read, Bob Miller reports on the network’s collaborative path.
The greatest forces reshaping American education — from declining enrollment and school funding to AI — may make national headlines, but their consequences are profoundly local. In this E&P exclusive, Taayoo Murray explores how education reporters are uncovering the human stories about children, parents and the communities impacted by policy and legislative decisions.
Customer surveys, feedback requests and engagement prompts have become a fixture of modern marketing, but they may be hurting customer loyalty rather than strengthening it. In his latest “The Corner Office” op-ed installment, Doug Phares — E&P columnist and managing director of Silverwind Enterprises — shares why companies should apply a lighter touch when soliciting feedback.
Weather apps can tell you what’s coming, but CNN’s new mobile weather strategy aims to explain weather and provide real-time analysis. In this E&P Quick Reads report, Contributing Writer Bob Miller explores how meteorologist Jennifer Fritz and CNN are rethinking weather coverage for the mobile era and deliver a product that’s distinctive in the weather-app marketplace.
Stars and Stripes was never meant to be the Pentagon’s mouthpiece. It exists to serve as an independent voice for those who serve, and for the military families who depend on its reporting to understand the decisions shaping their lives. The Pentagon’s firing of the publication’s publisher, editor and a Middle East reporter now puts that independence, and the trust it has earned over 164 years, in jeopardy. E&P Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck examines what these actions mean for the future of Stars and Stripes and the people who rely on it.
In his August “Innovation in Practice” op-ed, Chad Davis — chief innovation strategist at Nebraska Public Media and E&P columnist — explores what comes after the “filter bubble.” How will artificial intelligence usher in a new era of algorithm-driven information consumption? Drawing insights from Eli Pariser’s latest work, Davis examines the rise of agentic interfaces, the challenges AI poses for journalism, and why news organizations must rethink how they build trust and reach audiences in an increasingly AI-mediated world.
Known for its hard-hitting investigations, ProPublica’s nonprofit newsroom remains highly regarded and awarded. But it came time to reimagine its branding, so that it better represented the news media organization’s evolution. In this E&P Quick Reads spotlight, Contributing Writer Tandy Lau explores the brand overhaul, which included a website redesign, new logo and fresh fonts. The ROI will be deeper engagement and more meaningful connections with ProPublica’s audience.
As artificial intelligence, shrinking newsroom and shifting audience habits reshape journalism, the next generation of reporters is preparing for a profession that looks nothing like the one their predecessors entered. In this in-depth look, E&P Contributing Writer Taayoo Murray explores how Michigan State University’s School of Journalism is adapting its curriculum — teaching students to embrace new tools while preserving the skills that remain at the heart of great journalism: curiosity, critical thinking and the ability to ask the right questions.
Eighteen months after a devastating wildfire displaced thousands of residents, The Palisadian-Post is back, with a new ownership team, a digital-first strategy and a mission to help rebuild a fractured community. In this E&P Quick Reads report, contributing writer Alyssa Choiniere explores how Tim and Laura Schneider are reviving a beloved local news brand, reconnecting scattered Palisadians and reimagining what community journalism can look like after disaster.
As public media organizations navigate layoffs, shrinking budgets, evolving technology and the loss of federal support, the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) is building new ways to help journalists connect, learn and adapt. In conversation with PMJA’s Executive Director Christine Paige Diers, E&P’s Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck explores PMJA’s mission, its professional development opportunities, and its distinctive ability to maintain connections among the public media community.