Editor and Publisher Reports

Local journalism has no shortage of big ideas about innovation — but far fewer examples of those ideas being funded, tested, and trusted by the people closest to the work. After a year of scrutiny, retrenchment and hard questions about its future, the National Trust for Local News is experimenting with a different approach: putting real money and real authority directly into the hands of journalists. At the center of that shift is a first-of-its-kind Innovation Sprint designed to surface newsroom-driven solutions, not executive theory. This conversation explores what happens when innovation moves from the boardroom to the newsroom floor — and why that change may matter more than any single tool or grant. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/funding-innovation-from-the-ground-up-how-the-national-trust-for-local-news-is-rethinking-change,259959  

Disinformation is no longer a background hazard of modern journalism — it is a coordinated, weaponized assault on truth itself. In a world where lies travel faster than facts and chaos is deliberately engineered to exhaust the public, national security correspondent JJ Green says journalists are now fighting a real war for credibility. Drawing on decades of coverage of intelligence, conflict zones and information warfare, Green frames today's media crisis as an existential battle for democratic survival. His new book, "The Noise War," is not a warning shot — it's a field manual for journalists on the front lines of disinformation. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/inside-the-noise-war-a-field-manual-for-journalists-fighting-disinformation,259836  

Local journalism is shrinking in much of the country — but The Baltimore Banner is moving in the opposite direction. In just two years, the nonprofit newsroom has grown into Maryland's largest reporting operation, expanded beyond Baltimore, and built a fast-growing base of paying subscribers. Now, with their new editor-in-chief Audrey Cooper at the helm, The Banner is doubling down on a belief that many in the industry have quietly abandoned: scale still matters. In this wide-ranging conversation, the newsroom's new leader explains why growth, impact, and sustainability are inseparable — and what local journalism risks losing if it stops thinking big.\ Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-baltimore-banner-enters-a-new-year-and-a-new-chapter-with-a-new-editor-in-chief,259711  

What news consumers are really saying about AI: insights from the Trusting News/LMA study  A new national survey of nearly 1,500 local news consumers reveals growing concern about AI's role in journalism—but also a clear path forward. Funded by the Walton Family Foundation and conducted by the Local Media Association and Trusting News, the study shows audiences overwhelmingly want human oversight, transparency, and clarity about how AI is used. John Humenik of LMA and Lynn Walsh of Trusting News joined E&P Reports to break down the results. Their message: trust is still journalism's greatest asset—AI can't replace that. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/988-say-ai-cant-replace-journalists-new-study-reveals-why-that-matters-now,259577  

http://www.EditorandPublisher.com/Vodcasts  Jeff Jarvis has never been interested in nostalgia. In a wide‑ranging conversation with E&P Magazine, the longtime media critic, author and journalism educator argues that the survival of local news depends not on preserving legacy structures, but on abandoning them. From print to platforms, from content to community, Jarvis insists that journalism's future lies in collaboration, service and listening — not scale or tradition. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/new-year-new-rules-jeff-jarvis-says-local-journalism-must-reinvent-itself-now,259465  

Free expression in America isn't collapsing all at once — it's eroding quietly, often in ways the public barely notices. In a wide‑ranging conversation, First Amendment scholar Stuart N. Brotman warns that political pressure, platform power and public misunderstanding are reshaping the boundaries of press freedom in real time. Drawing on decades of experience across academia, government and media policy, Brotman makes the case that the next few years will be decisive. And he argues that local journalism may be the strongest remaining force capable of rebuilding trust, civic understanding and a shared commitment to free expression. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/scholar-stuart-brotman-sounds-the-alarm-free-expression-is-under-fire,259377    

California isn't just a state. It's a story still being written, and USA Today wants a front-row seat. With the launch of Today Californian, the national news giant is investing in a bold new experiment: statewide coverage designed to meet readers wherever they are — from inbox to Instagram. "We're positioning ourselves as highly relevant," says Greg Burton, the project's editorial lead. The goal? To create a digital-first newsroom that feels local, acts regional and delivers impact at scale. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/rewriting-the-california-story-usa-today-bets-big-on-statewide-local-journalism,259321  

Mark Puente didn't go to j-school — he drove trucks for 15 years before stepping into a newsroom. But when a judge tried to block him from observing a public court hearing, Puente didn't flinch. Armed with experience, instinct, and a phone call to his editor, he stood his ground — ready to risk contempt rather than walk away. What followed wasn't just a clash over access, but a moment that reveals why blue-collar grit still matters in American journalism. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/from-hauling-freight-to-holding-judges-accountable-mark-puentes-fight-for-courtroom-access,259215  

If you think young people aren't paying attention to the news, think again — they are, and they have thoughts. A new study reveals just how skeptical today's teens are about the press, and the results should make every newsroom take notice. From questions of fairness to fears of fabrication, Gen Z is forming strong opinions about who to trust. In this episode, we dive into what teens really believe — and why it matters for the future of journalism.   Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/half-of-us-teens-think-journalists-make-up-quotes-and-do-favors-for-sources-new-report-finds,259102  

Robert Whitehead believes the news industry is entering a make-or-break era defined by AI disruption, collapsing platform traffic and growing public distrust. In a conversation with E&P, he said generative AI is "as transformative as electricity." He warned that publishers are still distracted by "shiny objects" instead of rebuilding the fundamentals that audiences actually value. His new report, authored for the INMA, outlines why newsrooms must urgently rethink distribution, trust, and brand experience to survive. And unless publishers rapidly differentiate their value and restore confidence in their journalism, he argues, they risk losing relevance at the very moment democracy needs them most. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/a-global-perspective-on-what-news-publishers-must-do-next,258967  

For more than 160 years, Stars and Stripes has walked a razor-thin line: serving the U.S. military while holding it accountable. Publisher Max Lederer says that balance remains as vital — and as fragile — as ever, noting that "our staff are paid by the Department of Defense" even as the newsroom is mandated to stay "balanced, objective, independent and impartial." Today, new Pentagon access rules, collapsing trust in media, and seismic digital shifts are putting that independence to the test. Lederer argues the mission endures because "we are dedicated to telling the story of the U.S. military community… from within the Department of Defense," a position no other newsroom occupies. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/stars-and-stripes-at-a-crossroads-inside-its-mission-press-freedom-challenges-and-digital-future,258686  

For nearly five decades, Jim Slusher has been one of the Midwest's most thoughtful voices on what journalism owes its readers — and how it earns their trust. As managing editor for opinion at the Daily Herald, he's spent his career pulling back the curtain on newsroom decisions and defending the value of open, honest dialogue. Now, with his new book To Nudge the World, Slusher is challenging both journalists and audiences to rethink how truth and trust are built in an era of noise and doubt. His message is clear: transparency isn't a luxury for journalism — it's the lifeline that keeps democracy alive.   Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/jim-slusher-on-rebuilding-trust-and-why-his-new-book-aims-to-nudge-the-world,258665  

In a world overwhelmed by AI-generated imagery and shrinking newsroom budgets, the value of authentic photojournalism has never been more at risk — or more essential. The National Press Photographers Association is sounding the alarm: visuals aren't just decoration, they're the backbone of truth, trust, and emotional connection in journalism. In this exclusive interview, NPPA Vice President Lauren Steinbrecher and Grady College's Mark E. Johnson break down why local publishers, students, and reporters must fight for the future of visual storytelling. Because if we lose the image, we may just lose the story itself. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/why-visuals-still-matter-inside-nppas-fight-for-the-future-of-photojournalism,258582  

Local news is collapsing at an alarming pace — more than 3,500 newspapers have vanished since 2005, with 130 disappearing just last year. In this episode, we interview Tim Franklin and Zach Metzger of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, the researchers behind the 2025 State of Local News report, which paints a dire picture of vanishing watchdogs, expanding news deserts, and a shrinking connection between journalism and the communities it serves. Yet amid the bleak data are signs of reinvention, from public radio stations stepping up to statewide networks and philanthropic partnerships gaining traction outside major metros. This isn’t just a crisis — it’s a make-or-break moment for rebuilding local journalism from the ground up. Access more at this episode’s landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-state-of-local-news-more-urgency-than-optimism,258462  

Journalist & best‑selling author Beth Macy returns to the town she once delivered newspapers in to ask: what happens when the civic fabric fractures and no one is left to tell the story? In her new memoir Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, Macy digs into her hometown of Urbana, Ohio — exploring how the collapse of local news, growing economic despair and social isolation reshaped a community she loved. Along the way, she argues that if journalism disappears from small‑town America, the consequences are national. Her message is clear: local reporting isn’t just “nice to have,” it’s the glue that holds democracy together. Access more at this episode’s landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/bestselling-author-journalist-bethmacy-returns-home-in-papergirl,258348  

Local news is changing faster than anyone imagined — and Northwestern University’s Medill School just put numbers to the chaos. Its new State of Local News 2025 report reveals a seismic shift: smartphones have overtaken TV, content creators now rival traditional outlets, and only 15% of Americans say they’re willing to pay for local journalism. For Medill’s Tim Franklin and Stephanie Edgerly, the findings are both a wake-up call and a roadmap for survival. The future of local news, they warn, depends on how fast publishers adapt to audiences who’ve already moved on.   Access more at this episode’s landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/state-of-local-news-2025-smartphones-surge-content-creators-rise-and-only-15-pay,258226  

What happens when a county government tries to silence its watchdog? In Pender County, North Carolina, officials yanked away the Post and Voice’s legal notices — a critical revenue lifeline — not because the paper failed to fulfill its duty, but because it did. Publisher Andy Pettigrew called out backroom deals and ran biting editorial cartoons, prompting the commissioners to strike back. Now, the fight has moved from the courthouse steps to federal court, raising a chilling First Amendment question: If politicians can punish a paper for speaking the truth, what local newsroom is safe? Access more at this episode’s landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/local-publisher-fights-back-after-county-strips-legal-notices-in-retaliation,258103  

Polarization isn’t just dividing dinner tables anymore — it’s turning deadly in the wake of the Charlie Kirk tragedy and now the ICE office shooting in Dallas. The role and responsibility of opinion journalism has never been more scrutinized. That’s why we turned to Nicole Russell, one of USA Today’s leading conservative voices, who has spent more than a decade writing on politics, culture, and policy. She has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Federalist, consistently offering a sharp conservative perspective on some of the most hotly debated issues of our time. In our conversation, Russell opens up about how she balances tone and responsibility, the blurred line between news and opinion, the future of editorial pages, and what advice she has for local publishers navigating this polarized moment.   Access more at this episode’s landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/nicole-russell-usa-todays-conservative-voice-on-why-opinion-journalism-still-matters,257962  

When billion-dollar networks like CBS and ABC cave to political pressure and late-night stars like Colbert and Kimmel get muzzled, what chance does a small-town publisher have? If Washington can bend the most prominent players in media, local newspapers — already stretched thin by lawsuits, advertiser boycotts, and the rise of AI — are staring down an even harsher storm. That’s why Bob Corn-Revere, one of America’s top First Amendment lawyers, warns now is the moment to stiffen spines. “A spine is a terrible thing to waste,” he said — and for publishers, wasting it could mean losing the last line of defense for democracy. Access more at this episode’s landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/networks-under-fire-and-what-it-means-for-local-publishers,257824  

In a world where speaking out can result in being silenced forever, journalism itself is under attack. Hours before this conversation was taped, commentator and podcaster Charlie Kirk was gunned down at an event at Utah Valley University — a stark reminder that public voices, whether political or journalistic, face real and rising danger. Against that backdrop, Dr. Peter Laufer, world-traveling journalist, author and editor of the new book “Don't Shoot the Journalists: Migrating to Stay Alive,” joined E&P Reports to explore what’s at stake when reporters are exiled, threatened or even killed — and what our society loses when truth-tellers are taken off the stage.   Access more at this episode’s landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/after-the-kirk-shooting-peter-laufer-warns-journalism-is-more-dangerous-than-ever,257691