Local News Matters highlights the interesting and innovative work of local newsrooms – as well as the crucial questions they face – as they endeavor to evolve their organizations to produce more meaningful journalism, to better serve their communities and to enhance their organization’s financial sustainability for long-term results.
Hosted by Tim Regan-Porter, CEO of the Colorado Press Association, Local News Matters features guests from newsrooms and support organizations across the U.S. in extended conversations covering a wide range of topics.
Tim talks to reporters, editors, publishers, sales leaders, philanthropists and more – anyone doing new or exemplary work or proffering thought-provoking insights is fair game. Whether you’re a newsroom leader, a sales executive or just a citizen who cares deeply about informed communities, you’ll find something here worth your time.
Visit https://localnewsmatterspodcast.com/ for show notes, transcripts, mailing list and more.
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Reinventing local journalism with community at its core: Exit interview with Candice Fortman
Season 2 · Episode 38
Thursday, September 5, 2024 • Duration 01:03:58
Candice Fortman, former executive director of Outlier Media, shares her journey transforming local journalism in Detroit. She reflects on the innovative service journalism model she helped build, which focuses on filling critical information gaps for underserved communities. Candice discusses how Outlier evolved from a scrappy startup into a well-respected newsroom known for directly addressing residents’ needs through text messaging and other community-centered approaches.
Candice offers insights into the challenges of scaling and funding local journalism, particularly in economically struggling areas like Detroit. She also reflects on her leadership growth, her partnership with Outlier’s founder Sarah Alvarez, and how they navigated the impact of COVID-19 on local news. Looking ahead, Candice talks about her excitement for new opportunities and her commitment to telling stories that matter to local communities.
Listeners will find inspiration in Candice’s vision of journalism as a public good and her advice for newsrooms that want to make a lasting impact through deep community engagement.
Episode chapters:
(00:02:30) - The mission and model of Outlier Media
(00:07:26) - Scaling and evolving Outlier Media’s operations
(00:11:34) - Fundraising challenges and merging with MuckRock
(00:14:51) - COVID-19, text messaging and refocusing on local information needs
(00:23:21) - Journalism as a public good
(00:27:57) - Candice’s leadership journey and growth
(00:35:32) - Growing up Black in Detroit
(00:43:13) - Fundraising advice and community impact
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
Equity-driven journalism with Resolve Philly’s Jean Friedman-Rudovsky
Season 2 · Episode 37
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 • Duration 01:09:38
Jean Friedman-Rudovsky, executive director of Resolve Philly, delves into the evolution of the nonprofit newsroom and its mission to address the information needs of underserved communities in Philadelphia. She discusses the critical role of equity in journalism, sharing how Resolve Philly has integrated this principle into both its internal practices and editorial work. Jean also highlights the power of collaboration in local news, offering insights into how Resolve Philly has effectively partnered with other newsrooms to tackle issues like reentry and poverty.
Additionally, Jean explores the importance of community engagement and participatory journalism, describing how Resolve Philly involves residents in the news creation process. She provides practical advice for newsrooms looking to incorporate these elements, even with limited resources. Jean also touches on the strategic decisions behind funding, emphasizing the need for diverse revenue streams and the importance of avoiding competition with partner newsrooms.
Episode chapters:
(00:02:19) - The mission and founding of Resolve Philly
(00:06:51) - The evolution and trajectory of Resolve Philly
(00:12:14) - Embedding equity in journalism and its challenges
(00:17:40) - Moving forward with equity despite national polarization
(00:22:40) - Implementing community participatory journalism
(00:28:57) - Designing a newsroom for the future of local news
(00:32:44) - Challenges and strategies in collaboration
(00:39:44) - Seven lessons in collaboration
(00:49:00) - The Philadelphia local news ecosystem
(00:59:09) - Rapid-fire questions
(01:06:35) - Media and local recommendations
Links:
Reimagining local election coverage for community trust with NYU’s Jay Rosen
Season 2 · Episode 36
Thursday, July 18, 2024 • Duration 01:10:36
Jay Rosen, a prominent media theorist and professor of journalism at New York University, discusses the critical role of local election coverage and the Citizens Agenda model as an alternative to the traditional horse race approach. He emphasizes the need for local journalists to ground election coverage in the concerns of their communities, addressing local issues and fostering a sense of reality in election news.
Rosen also explores the polarization in American politics and the unique challenges faced by local newsrooms in this environment. He advocates for a more engaged and rigorous approach to local election coverage, including thorough background research and the creation of valuable voter guides. He shares his thoughts on the role of opinion pages and endorsements in local newspapers and their impact on public trust.
Additionally, Rosen reflects on the economics of local news, highlighting various subsidy models such as advertising, memberships, and philanthropic support. He underscores the importance of citizen journalism and the evolving role of community involvement in sustaining local journalism. The discussion also delves into the enduring relevance of Neil Postman’s media theories in the internet age and the potential pathways for the future of journalism.
(00:02:55) - Election coverage and the Citizens Agenda
(00:08:33) - The importance of local election coverage
(00:14:07) - Polarization in politics and the role of local journalism
(00:19:10) - Table stakes for local election coverage
(00:22:49) - Opinion pages and endorsements in local newspapers
(00:25:56) - How the national press is handling the 2024 election
(00:33:21) - Defending democracy without inviting accusations of partisanship
Links:
The rise and evolution of nonprofit news: Exit interview with INN's Sue Cross
Season 2 · Episode 35
Thursday, July 11, 2024 • Duration 01:06:16
Sue Cross, the recently retired executive director of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), shares her insights on the remarkable growth and impact of nonprofit news. She highlights the evolving landscape of newsroom founders, the crucial role of community support, and strategies to maintain journalistic independence from funders.
Cross also addresses the challenges of scaling and funding newsrooms in underserved communities, the necessity for national news to be informed by local stories, and the complexities involved in converting from for-profit to nonprofit models. Her reflections offer valuable insights into sustaining local journalism and fostering innovation within the nonprofit sector.
Episode chapters:
(00:02:47) - Growth of INN and nonprofit news
(00:07:21) - The evolving profile of newsroom founders
(00:10:56) - Community relationships and support for newsrooms
(00:15:06) - Maintaining journalistic independence from funders
(00:18:25) - The challenges of scale and funding for underserved communities
Building a Nonprofit News Powerhouse with Mississippi Today’s Mary Margaret White
Season 2 · Episode 34
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 • Duration 52:52
Mary Margaret White, CEO and executive director of Mississippi Today, discusses her journey in helping readers and philanthropy understand the value of journalism as a civic good. She shares insights on the history and growth of Mississippi Today, which launched in 2016 to fill a need for Capitol reporting and has since expanded to cover a wide range of issues, including health, justice, education and climate. Under her leadership, Mississippi Today won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting and was a finalist in 2024 for an investigative collaboration with the New York Times.
White delves into the lessons learned in raising philanthropic dollars, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in fundraising and the necessity of maintaining editorial independence despite donor influences. She also highlights the need for diverse funding streams, including memberships and earned revenue, to ensure the sustainability of nonprofit newsrooms.
She also discusses the operational and legal challenges of investigative journalism and the need to balance deep dives with daily reporting. White reflects on her career in public service and how her previous roles have shaped her approach to journalism at Mississippi Today.
Episode chapters: (00:02:57) - History and growth of Mississippi Today (00:07:30) - Lessons in raising philanthropic dollars (00:12:48) - Maintaining editorial independence (00:16:21) - Diversity of funding and revenue strategies (00:19:35) - Audience engagement and growth (00:24:30) - Balancing investigative and daily reporting (00:27:04) - Legal and operational challenges in investigative journalism (00:30:30) - Insights from the American Journalism Project (00:36:05) - From public service in government to public service in journalism (00:39:26) - Rapid-fire questions (00:47:29) - Media recommendations and local Mississippi highlights
Carving out new lanes for early-stage news startups with Tiny News Collective’s Amy Kovac-Ashley
Season 2 · Episode 33
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 • Duration 01:02:59
Amy Kovac-Ashley, the executive director of Tiny News Collective shares insights on how Tiny News Collective supports early-stage news founders, particularly those from traditionally excluded communities, by providing resources, tools, and a supportive community.
The discussion covers the importance of diverse voices in local journalism, the challenges faced by local news startups, and the innovative ways they can engage with their audiences. Amy emphasizes the significance of understanding community needs and tailoring editorial and business strategies accordingly.
Key takeaways include the potential for local news to act as a community connector, the value of arts and culture coverage, and the need for sustainable support systems for small news organizations. Amy also highlights successful case studies, such as Future Tides and The Shout, and explores the role of new revenue opportunities in sustaining local journalism.
Episode chapters:
(02:36) - The mission of Tiny News Collective
(05:24) - Changing the face of local news
(07:43) - Arts and culture coverage as community connector
(16:43) - Building support systems for early-stage news founders
(27:03) - Tailoring support to individual needs
(31:39) - The challenges of early-stage founders
(43:19) - Scaling support
(45:46) - Criteria for joining Tiny News Collective
(48:15) - Rapid-fire questions
Links:
Amy Kovac-Ashley: ,
How TAPinto's franchise model powers local newsrooms with CEO Michael Shapiro
Season 2 · Episode 32
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 • Duration 57:06
In this episode, Michael Shapiro, founder and CEO of TAPinto, delves into his innovative franchise model for local news. He shares insights on how TAPinto helps local news publishers focus on local content and advertising by handling backend services like billing, technology and graphic design. Shapiro highlights success stories from various franchisees, discusses their new licensing option for non-franchisees, and explores the challenges and opportunities in local journalism. As newsrooms are spread thin and the industry increasingly looks to shared services models, TAPinto’s approach to providing services offers lessons well beyond their franchisees.
New approaches to thriving in community news with Kenny Katzgrau of redbankgreen and Broadstreet
Season 2 · Episode 31
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 • Duration 59:26
Kenny Katzgrau, majority owner of redbankgreen and founder of Broadstreet, shares his vision for revitalizing community journalism. He discusses strategies to help hyperlocal websites and small community weeklies thrive.
Katzgrau’s approach involves enhancing advertising efficacy and community engagement through digital tools, advocating for news that not only informs but also engages and uplifts the community. He calls for a balance of serious journalism with elements of fun, suggesting that a vibrant local news outlet can profoundly impact its community by reflecting a broader, more inclusive view of news coverage.
Katzgrau provides very practical tips on making digital advertising work for local businesses and for long-term financial sustainability of news outlets.
Episode chapters:
(02:35) - From serving publishers to becoming one
(07:43) - Sustainable is not enough. How about prosperity?
(12:12) - Experimenting to serve advertisers
(15:47) - Recruiting the community to cover stories you can’t
(21:37) - The importance of fun in work
(24:54) - The importance of fun for readers
(28:32) - The business owner mindset vs. the reporter mindset
(31:12) - Advertising as telling the story of local businesses
(35:26) - Beyond CPM buy. Start with what you need.
(40:40) - Nurturing advertiser relationships and automating tasks
(44:08) - The Broadstreet ad manager platform
(49:11) - Rapid-fire questions
Links:
Defying Trends: John Garrett of Community Impact on Growing a Hyperlocal Chain Leading with Print
Season 2 · Episode 30
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 • Duration 56:35
John Garrett, CEO and founder of Community Impact, shares insights from his journey of launching and expanding a family of hyperlocal weekly newspapers from the game room of his Texas home in 2005 to reaching 2.5 million homes across 70 communities today. Garrett delves into the unconventional success of a print-centric model in a digital-dominated era, emphasizing the importance of distribution, community engagement, and the unique editorial mix that caters to the civic and local business news interests of residents.
Garrett also discusses the challenges and learnings from overexpansion into other states and the strategic decision to refocus on Texas, underscoring the resilience and adaptability required in the evolving news industry. He highlights the innovative approaches Community Impact has adopted, including digital transformation initiatives like CI 360 and the use of Smart Brevity to enhance storytelling and reader engagement.
Garrett emphasizes on the critical role of local advertising in sustaining journalism, advocating for a partnership approach with local businesses and the significance of geography in advertising effectiveness. He shares personal reflections on leadership, the impact of taking a sabbatical for mental health, and the vision for Community Impact's future, including aspirations for generational leadership and expansion within Texas. Garrett's story is a testament to the enduring value of local news and the potential for print media to thrive through innovation, community focus, and a deep commitment to journalistic integrity.
Episode chapters:
(02:06) - A print success story in the digital age
(05:20) - An editorial mix of catnip and civic info for every resident
(10:29) - Don’t ignore Main Street
(15:08) - Committing to showing up
(19:55) - Why print is a driving force for Community Impact
(23:40) - Not abandoning reach and advertising for reader revenue
(26:46) - Keys to driving ad sales
Links:
Leveraging local news' digital edge in advertising with Shannon Kinney of Dream Local Digital
Season 2 · Episode 29
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 • Duration 46:12
Shannon Kinney, founder of Dream Local Digital, discusses the evolving landscape of digital advertising and how trust is also a secret sauce for news media in selling advertising. With her extensive experience and accolades, including serving on the board for the Local Media Association and being named Local Digital Innovator of the Year, Shannon offers invaluable insights into strategies for local news organizations to adapt and thrive in a digital-first world. We delve into the importance of a client-forward approach instead of a product-focused approach, the potential of digital services beyond advertising, and the unique advantages local newspapers hold in trust and local knowledge.
Episode chapters:
(03:24) - Does digital advertising mean low margin?
(06:44) - Going beyond selling audience to selling solutions
(11:26) - Trust is a local newspaper’s key competitive advantage
(14:37) - Learning digital solutions to help a client best tell their story
(17:48) - Storytelling and local knowledge as key differentiators
(24:24) - Tell a story about your other key differentiator, your print product and digital brand
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.
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