In a surprise announcement at the New York Amsterdam News headquarters, Elinor R. Tatum, publisher and editor-in-chief of one of the nation’s oldest Black newspapers, was named Editor & Publisher’s (E&P) 2024 Publisher of the Year. Tatum, who has led the publication for three decades, was honored for her visionary leadership in transforming the newspaper through digital innovation, investigative journalism, and her unwavering commitment to racial justice. Surrounded by over 30 colleagues, friends, and team members, Tatum’s impact was celebrated, highlighting her pivotal role in shaping the future of Black journalism. more

This year, The Marshall Project celebrates its 10th anniversary. Founded by Neil Barsky, the nonprofit newsroom’s name honors the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Its stirring reporting is focused on the criminal justice system and the people impacted by it. more

NPR’s Next Generation Radio project is both a unique professional development opportunity and a talent pipeline for audio journalism and the broader journalism field. It’s an intensive five-day boot camp for aspiring audio storytellers funded by NPR member stations. Not only is it free, but participants receive a stipend to help cover their costs for the week. more

As the 2024 election cycle heats up, a new buzzword is making waves in media circles: “sanewashing.” The term refers to how some media outlets sanitize Donald Trump’s often incoherent and erratic remarks, presenting them as more polished and conventional political discourse. Critics argue that by reshaping Trump’s rambling responses into digestible news bites, journalists unintentionally protect him from scrutiny, failing to fully expose the chaotic nature of his statements. This phenomenon, which has sparked widespread discussion, highlights the ongoing challenge of how the press covers politicians whose rhetoric increasingly defies the norms of political communication. more

As local media grapples with the challenges of digital transformation, there may be an overlooked opportunity that bridges the gap between traditional print and modern technology: digital news dailies. These innovative products merge the familiarity of print-style newspapers with the convenience of digital distribution, delivered as PDFs or e-editions designed for easy reading on tablets or simple printouts. By maintaining traditional ad rates and subscription models without the costs of physical printing and distribution, digital news dailies offer a sustainable solution for publishers seeking new revenue streams. more

Almost 10 years ago, the combination of Jayne Burns' community spirit and artistic eye caused her to notice the ugly, plain and abandoned news racks on the streets of Sebastopol. She didn’t just want to paint the racks but, as they became obsolete, give them a new life as free little libraries, working on the principle that you take a book and replace it with another. more

In the good old days, news products were bundled. Bundled products were how distributors could deliver most things to most people. If there’s one thing digital technology is good at, though, it’s destroying distribution monopolies ... and those distribution oligopolies on which our media businesses were built were blown to smithereens. But like any trend, de-bundling has probably gone too far. Maybe there’s a chance to rebuild some of the bundles of the past. more

Funding and creating journalism in the Bay area of California is challenging. But it’s not impossible. Lance Knobel and colleagues Tasneem Raja and Tracey Taylor started Berkeleyside.com in 2009. They filled a news desert with Oaklandside when the Oakland Tribune shut down. Now, they’re expanding into Richmond with Richmondside. more

The popularity of newsletters with readers and the revenue-generating opportunities for publishers have increased substantially since E&P’s February 2022 Revenue Round-Up article. A new study of monthly newsletter readers released in July from MAGNA Media Trials and Sherwood Media found 41% said it was their preferred news source — topping a list of 12 sources. The study also found that one-third of newsletter readers don't use news websites as their regular news source. more

Since its inception, the National Press Photographers Association has worked with photographers across traditional film-based and digital photography and video on topics such as freelancing and understanding First Amendment laws. Advocacy is the centerpiece for the NPPA. more

The University of Vermont doesn’t carry the reputation of the legacy journalism powerhouses, but it is making a journalism splash far beyond the confines of its campus and state borders. UVM's Center for Community News coordinates efforts nationwide to pair professional editors with college students to produce local news. So far, more than 130 college programs are participating. more

Documented is an independent nonprofit newsroom reporting on and for New York City’s immigrant communities. The team produces a website and its flagship newsletter, “Early Arrival,” published three times a week. Documented is led by Mazin Sidahmed and Max Siegelbaum, who met while reporting in the Middle East. more

In the current news industry environment, legacy newspapers face two future scenarios. First, they continue to operate with their decades-old business models and experience declining revenue and fewer print days, eventually closing and creating news deserts. Second, they are acquired by new owners with a 21st-century entrepreneurial spirit to build a stronger bond with their communities. The citizens of Pinehurst, Southern Pines and surrounding communities in North Carolina are pleased. The Pilot is following the second path. more

For so many local news outlets around the country, the cost of maintaining real estate — especially older, often historic buildings — has become untenable. However, this is a story about the antidote and how two local news publishers, in particular, are reinvesting in real estate. They're taking their brick-and-mortar assets and putting them to work as revenue generators and communal centers. more

A surprising last-minute deal between Google and California lawmakers has left the local news industry grappling with mixed emotions and crucial lessons learned. While some view the $250 million agreement as a positive step toward funding journalism, others criticize it for falling short of what was needed and creating divisions among news leaders. The agreement, which bypassed two proposed bills aimed at compelling tech giants to pay local newsrooms for content, highlights the importance of unity and strategy in advocating for fair compensation in an era dominated by digital platforms.​ more

Over the past few months, news organizations have grappled with changes at Google that have led to a dramatic drop in organic search traffic. Publishers have been forced to navigate what appears to be seismic shifts in how Google doles out traffic, with the integration of artificial intelligence (which remains unintelligent and error-prone) causing panic attacks across the industry. more

One of Jin Ding's first actions as CEO of Initium was moving its headquarters from Hong Kong — where it had been since it was founded nine years ago — to Singapore. Despite the move, Initium still reports on Hong Kong and mainland China with a network of trusted freelancers. This Chinese-language digital news site also is seeking to expand its reach and serve the growing number of Millennial and GenZ Chinese who have made their way to the U.S. over the past decade. more

In a last-minute, closed-door deal that surprised many, Google secured an agreement late Wednesday with California lawmakers to circumvent two legislative bills that would have required it and other tech companies to compensate local newsrooms in the state for using their content. more

Born from the upheavals of the 1970s, when the government issued reporters with a slew of subpoenas to reveal their confidential sources, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) has had the backs of journalists, editors, publishers and all news professionals. It continues to be a major advocate for protecting newsgathering rights and a proactive fighter against governmental attempts to erode and limit the press’ First Amendment freedoms. more

Randall Lane, the chief content officer at Forbes Media and editor at Forbes magazine, penned a June 11, 2024 column — “Why Perplexity’s Cynical Theft Represents Everything That Could Go Wrong With AI” — citing a dispute with major AI developer, Perplexity. E&P followed up with Lane to better understand what happened and to seek his advice to other news media publishers grappling with the copyright-AI conflict. more