When lawmakers rescinded $1.1 billion in public media funding, hundreds of local NPR/PBS outlets — especially rural and Indigenous stations — were pushed to the brink. Enter Adopt-A-Station, a simple dashboard that spotlights the most at-risk outlets and turns clicks into gifts; in its first month, it drew 40,000 visitors and funneled donors directly to stations like KTNA in Alaska — proof that a lean tool can move real money, fast. more

Legal intimidation has become the new censorship tool — and few newsrooms are equipped to fight back. Across America, small publishers and investigative journalists are being dragged into costly, baseless lawsuits meant to punish them for doing their jobs. These SLAPPs — Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation — rarely win in court, but they succeed in draining money, morale, and courage from local journalism. Now, a new nonprofit called Reporters Shield is stepping in to change that equation, offering legal protection designed to help journalists keep publishing — and keep the powerful uncomfortable more

Thirty years in media sales taught Shannon Kinney the same truth every time: preparation wins. What’s new is that AI can now do the heavy lifting — research, positioning, even objection practice — in minutes instead of hours. The secret isn’t magic; it’s better prompts. Kinney says sales professionals should think of them as their new scripts, helping them walk in smarter, add more value and close more deals. more

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a Silicon Valley experiment — it’s showing up in the workflows of scrappy startups, statewide broadcasters and national newsletter networks. From a small New Jersey outlet using AI to publish a dozen daily newsletters, to Michigan Public building a searchable transcript database of hundreds of town meetings, to 6AM City scaling community newsletters to more than 400 cities, the experiments are multiplying. The lesson? Generative AI proves most powerful not when it replaces journalists, but when it’s matched to newsroom needs — filtering vital health bulletins, digging through government records or automating tedious production work. As Bob Sillick explores, AI’s true value in media is emerging not in theory, but in practice. more

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. more

What if a map could reveal more than streets and cities — what if it could expose redlining, track broken promises on racial justice, and chart the health crises hitting Black communities hardest? That’s the work of Mapping Black California, a decade-old project led by Paulette Brown-Hinds, Candice Mays and Alex Reed. Using cutting-edge data visualization, the Inland Empire-based team transforms complex data into accessible, powerful narratives of accountability. Their mission is bold: to make visible what has too often been hidden — and in doing so, to help reshape California’s future. more

Americans still see journalists as vital to society — but they’re not shy about pointing out where the press falls short. A sweeping new Pew Research Center study reveals both admiration and skepticism: honesty, intelligence and authenticity rank as top traits the public expects, even as many feel journalists are losing influence. The survey of nearly 10,000 adults, paired with in-depth focus groups, paints a nuanced picture of trust and doubt in equal measure. For newsrooms navigating political polarization, AI disruption and financial upheaval, the findings are both a warning sign and a roadmap for rebuilding credibility. more

News publishers are spending heavily to chase new subscribers — but what if they’re pouring money into the wrong end of the funnel? Artificial Intelligence, Imtiaz Patel argues, offers a way to flip the script: optimize spend, personalize journeys and rethink how we convert, retain and price. Instead of bargain-basement offers and blunt promotions, AI can help publishers understand intent, tailor experiences and capture real value. The question isn’t whether AI will transform consumer marketing — it’s whether publishers will seize the chance to use it wisely before competitors do. more

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a side conversation in the news business — it’s the headline. Generative AI is advancing at breakneck speed, and while some publishers see efficiency and opportunity, others see risk and disruption. To cut through the hype, E&P recently surveyed news publishers of all sizes, from tiny weeklies to major media companies. The responses reveal a split industry: eager adopters using AI for transcription, copyediting and audience insights on one side; skeptics warning of accuracy problems, copyright concerns and eroding trust on the other. more

Artificial Intelligence may be the biggest disruptor our industry has faced since the dawn of digital. Some see it as salvation — a tool that can save time, streamline workflow and even spark new ideas. Others fear it could be our undoing, eroding accuracy, copyright protections, jobs and, most importantly, audience trust. As our recent survey shows, publishers are split, and the future of AI in news remains very much unwritten. more

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? more

Doug Phares has worn both hats — the executive leading big media organizations and the entrepreneur building something from scratch. In his latest Corner Office column, he wrestles with a challenge every business owner faces: how much time to spend working in the business versus working on it. The difference, Phares argues, can determine whether you’re simply keeping the lights on or actually driving growth in the long run. more

As federal dollars vanish and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting winds down, Tom Davidson is asking a blunt question: What is public media without public funding? A longtime reporter, PBS executive and now professor at Penn State, Davidson argues the industry must stop clinging to outdated definitions tied to transmitters and towers — and instead embrace a wider ecosystem of nonprofit newsrooms that embody the true mission of public service journalism. more

An annual fall climb to Wolf Rock on the Superior Hiking Trail always yields an expansive autumnal view. —Kitty Mayo, Editor, Lake County Press (CherryRoad Media), Two Harbors, Minnesota more

In his latest column, veteran sales strategist Jeff Sleete takes inspiration from an unlikely teacher — the bald eagle. While admired as a national symbol of strength, the eagle is also infamous for its greed, sometimes seizing prey so heavy it drags the bird under and drowns it. Sleete argues the same fate awaits salespeople who chase oversized commissions or force-fit clients into packages that don’t serve them. With more than 50 years of experience leading sales teams, he reminds us that true success comes not from grabbing at every deal, but from building trust, delivering value and earning loyalty that lasts far longer than a single transaction. more

Print isn’t just surviving — it’s thriving in new and surprising ways. From luxury lifestyle magazines to direct-mail strategies, publishers are finding that specialty print products deliver unmatched engagement and advertiser trust. In a recent E&P Magazine webinar sponsored by Publication Printers, leaders from 5280 Magazine, Spotlight Media, and Baxter Research shared how they’re turning ink on paper into fresh revenue streams. Their message was clear: when done strategically, print remains one of the most powerful tools in a publisher’s playbook. more

Audiences are hungry for visual journalism, and editors know it. Yet a new CatchLight study finds most local newsrooms are cutting photo staff, underfunding visuals and leaving key decisions to leaders with little or no visual background. “If you know visuals will generate revenue, then you’re willing to invest more in them,” said Michelle Kanaar of CatchLight Local. The report reveals a sobering paradox: even as 85% of editors call visuals a top priority, only 31% employ a full-time staff photographer — raising tough questions about whether local outlets can meet the demand. more

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 have 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. Beyond her work at USA Today, she has written opinion pieces 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 offers advice for local publishers navigating this polarized moment. more

Streaming has crossed the threshold from trend to dominance — and even older adults are making the switch. A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 83% of U.S. adults have watched a streaming service such as Netflix, compared to just 35% who subscribe to cable or satellite TV. The findings underscore a seismic shift in viewing habits, one that is reshaping how Americans consume entertainment across all age groups. more