For more than three decades, Max D. Lederer Jr. championed independent journalism at Stars and Stripes, serving the military community while navigating the extraordinary challenges of publishing news around the globe. Now, as Editor & Publisher’s 2026 News Executive of the Year, Lederer is being recognized for his service, courage, integrity and unwavering commitment to a free press. In E&P’s November cover story, Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck chronicles his remarkable journey from the U.S. Army to award-winning news media publisher.

Artificial intelligence is often discussed as a single technology, but that shorthand obscures important differences in how these systems work and what they do. In his latest E&P column, Chad Davis argues that newsrooms need a clearer understanding of the technologies behind the hype. He explores AI through two practical lenses: the tools journalists use and the topics they cover. Understanding those distinctions can help journalists make more informed decisions, ask tougher questions and better explain AI’s impact on their communities.

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.

Local businesses do not need another complicated technology pitch. They need customers, calls and confidence that their marketing is working. As AI assistants reshape how consumers find plumbers, restaurants and other nearby services, publishers have an opening to help advertisers adapt - and to strengthen relationships built over years or decades.

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.