Latest E&P Exclusives

Not just content — capacity: AP’s new program helps local newsrooms go deeper

The Associated Press is expanding its support for local newsrooms to produce in-depth reporting. In March, the nonprofit cooperative launched the Local Investigative Reporting Program, providing member newsrooms with resources to strengthen accountability journalism through data analysis and advanced reporting techniques. 

News outlets have built a border wall, too. Here are four ways to tear it down.

By placing public-interest stories behind paywalls, news organizations have built a kind of “border wall.” This restricts access to reliable information, pushing those without access toward “pink slime” news sites filled with disinformation. However, dismantling this border wall doesn’t mean sacrificing subscription revenue.

Forget big tech — why small tools may save local media

Big tech has overpromised and underdelivered for local media. Now, E&P’s tech expert Guy Tasaka argues the real future lies in micro-SaaS, no-code tools, and affordable “good enough” solutions. After decades of enterprise complexity, small, scrappy platforms are finally solving the problems big vendors ignored — and doing it faster and cheaper. If you’re still waiting for the perfect system, you may already be falling behind.

Reporting from the front lines of rural health — before it’s too late

As local newsrooms shutter and rural stories go untold, KFF Health News is stepping into the gap — not with headlines from afar, but with reporters on the ground. Its Rural Health Desk is one of the few national initiatives committed to covering the health care challenges facing America’s smallest communities. Since its launch in 2022, the desk has produced hundreds of deeply reported stories, helping local outlets reach their audiences and policymakers understand what’s at stake. In a time when your ZIP code can determine your health outcome, this journalism could not be more essential.

Losing public funding won't kill public media: Ignoring the audience problem will

The biggest threat to public media isn’t the looming cut to federal funding — it’s that we’re losing our audience. While headlines scream about Congress gutting $535 million in support, the real crisis is quieter and far more dangerous: disconnection. Viewers are drifting, engagement is flatlining, and too many of us still act like it’s 1978. If we don’t start earning our place in people’s lives, no funding fight will save us.
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Today (April 29) is Donald Trump’s 100th day in office. That leaves 1,362 days to go. Which prompts the question: What will the press in this country look like on Jan. 20, 2029, when Trump’s second term comes to an end?

The changes position all businesses for optimal future growth potential and success in their respective markets, strengthening Axel Springer as a transatlantic family-owned media company focused on digital journalism.
Lawmakers in Washington state have approved a bill that would require ad agencies to collect sales tax on services such as creating and placing digital ads, analyzing their performance and planning online campaigns.
Artificial intelligence is already affecting the way news is produced and received in the United States. But Americans are pessimistic about its long-term effect on the news people get and on the already-embattled journalism profession.
On Friday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo to all Department of Justice staff alerting them she has rescinded the standing DOJ policy to not subpoena members of the news media to compel them to identify their sources when reporting on government leaks. 
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Should opinion journalism evolve or disappear? A live panel from the 2025 Mega-Conference

At a time when trust in journalism continues to erode, the future of opinion content is under intense scrutiny. Should newspapers continue publishing unsigned editorials and political endorsements, or is it time to rethink the role of opinion altogether? That was the focus of a live panel at the 2025 America’s Newspapers’ Mega-Conference, where hundreds of news executives gathered for this live panel discussion, to share strategies, struggles and shifting audience expectations. A candid, sometimes surprising conversation emerged about how opinion journalism must evolve — or risk becoming irrelevant.

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When most publishers face deadline pressure, they don’t also have to worry about snow machines or satellite links. But in Wasilla, Alaska, J. David McChesney is redefining local journalism with a mobile newsroom, tank treads and all. He’s not just publishing the Frontiersman — he’s literally chasing stories across a news desert the size of West Virginia. This is a story about what happens when one man turns the last frontier into a proving ground for modern community journalism.
Journalists face growing challenges in covering complex issues such as climate change, public health, economic policy and misinformation. SciLine — an American Association for the Advancement of Science project — has launched a free “Evidence-Based Reporting Toolkit” to support newsrooms in this evolving landscape. This resource connects reporters with subject-matter experts and provides essential tools for interpreting scientific studies and data across various beats.
Brady Teufel, the department chair and professor in the journalism program at California Polytechnic State University, says he is really proud that they have their eye on the future. The department just introduced a new concentration in media innovation and he says it is “one of the only schools in the nation leaning into media innovation as a field of study for journalism and PR students.” The expectation, he says, is that “we will be able to graduate students prepared for jobs that don't exist yet.”
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Nueva Network launches Nueva.News, a new digital news platform designed to deliver culturally resonant and timely news to the growing U.S. Latino population.
Day 2 of China Targets, a new investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and 42 global media partners, exposes how the Chinese government is reshaping international institutions and co-opting local and international law enforcement — including Interpol — to export repression. 
President Trump, in an early morning Truth Social post Monday, slammed "FAKE POLLS FROM FAKE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS" that he said should be "investigated for ELECTION FRAUD."
Tomorrow’s Publisher is home to a host of AI-assisted, and human-edited, news stories about the latest in news innovation. A handful of human-bylined opinion pieces about the media industry and the rise of AI are interspersed throughout.
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Starting in late 2021, Forum Communications migrated its portfolio to Brightspot’s multi-site CMS. This move empowered newsroom teams and streamlined publishing operations, giving journalists flexibility and the ability to be nimble in publishing and managing content.

Running a small newsroom shouldn’t mean running on empty. That’s why Nota is offering a special matching grant — covering most of the cost to bring powerful storytelling tools to local publishers. For just $99/month, eligible newsrooms can access the same AI-powered platform trusted by major media brands. Spots are limited, so find out if you qualify today.
BLOX Digital proudly announces the official public launch of BLOX NXT, its cutting-edge content management platform, which debuted April 3. Designed to transform how organizations create, manage and monetize content, this milestone marks BLOX Digital's boldest step forward in empowering content creators to thrive in an increasingly competitive digital landscape. The Spring 2025 BLOX Digital Drop is the ultimate showcase for the launch of the first public release of BLOX NXT, our next-generation content …
When Outlook News Group automated public notices in December, they knew it would make public notices easier for customers to post and their call center to service. What they didn’t anticipate is how quickly customers would adopt the new online ordering system.
It’s time to recognize the media companies that are doing more than just keeping up—they’re setting the pace. E&P’s newly renamed Media That Matters honors those achieving real results through innovation, efficiency, and growth. Formerly “10 That Do It Right,” this annual feature highlights standout organizations across all platforms. Winners will be showcased in the June 2025 issue of E&P Magazine. Think your company—or one you admire—has what it takes? Submit your nomination today.
Latest E&P Sponsored Case Studies

Is outsourcing your newspaper design a smart move — or a risky gamble? In this candid conversation, five publishers from across the country share how they made the leap, what they learned, and how it’s impacted their operations, costs, and content quality. From jazz to community news, weeklies to glossies, these media leaders open up about the pros, cons, and what they’d do differently. If you’re weighing whether to redesign your workflow, this is the hour that could save you months of guesswork.

During a recent E&P-sponsored webinar, media leaders explored how AI-powered solutions—like those developed by NOTA—are transforming content strategy and newsroom workflows. The conversation featured Josh Brandau (Founder & CEO of NOTA), Evan Young (COO of NOTA), and Secret Wherrett (Publisher of El Paso Inc.), who shared their experiences with AI in their respective news organizations.
Five years ago, Column set out to revolutionize the cumbersome process of publishing public and legal notices, and today, their self-serve platform is delivering results. With intuitive features like flexible document uploads, instant proofs, and real-time price transparency, Column has simplified workflows for over 850 publications and 4,500 organizations, helping law firms, government agencies, and businesses save time and reduce frustration. By offering free training and innovative tools, Column has boosted newspaper staff efficiency by 270% and allowed legal reps to handle up to 67 daily notices, earning praise for transforming an outdated industry standard.
The Defender Network has transformed its newsroom efficiency and audience engagement with Nota, an AI-powered tool tailored for modern journalism. Clyde Jiles, Strategic Alliance Manager at the Defender Network, shared how Nota helped cut content production time from 90 minutes to just 15, allowing their small team to focus on impactful storytelling. With features like tone customization and SEO optimization, Nota enabled the Defender to boost digital engagement and reach more readers without compromising journalistic quality. Jiles called the tool a game-changer, emphasizing its role in streamlining operations while amplifying their community’s voice.