When Belmont, Massachusetts, lost its local newspaper, residents were left in the dark about their own community. Critical issues went uncovered, leaving citizens without the information they needed. Rather than accept this, a group of determined residents took matters into their own hands, raising $500,000 to launch The Belmont Voice. Now, the nonprofit, nonpartisan paper is mailed to 11,000 homes every week, proving that local journalism can thrive when a community fights for it. more

Deep-rooted plants have a greater advantage for survival. How well-rooted are your sales pitches to clients? Your pitch needs to be grounded with strong evidence that you have a solid grasp of your customer’s needs. more

For decades, journalists have been judged by their reporting and how they look and sound, often conforming to rigid, unspoken industry standards. But as news delivery shifts to digital platforms, podcasting and AI-driven content, those norms are being challenged like never before. In “Performing the News,” Elia Powers reveals how journalists — especially those from marginalized backgrounds — navigate the pressures of self-presentation and fight for authenticity in an evolving media landscape. Are the days of the “perfect broadcast voice” and “polished TV anchor look” finally over? more

The Michigan Chronicle blends journalism, events and marketing to build deep connections with the Black community. Through initiatives like Women of Excellence, Publisher Hiram Jackson fosters lasting engagement, while strategic storytelling highlights success and empowerment. This innovative approach strengthens trust, expands reach and redefines journalism’s role in community impact. more

Journalists and philanthropists have joined forces to infuse more storytelling and accountability resources into Tulsa, Oklahoma. After talking to hundreds of people in the community to identify journalism gaps in the Tulsa and Tulsa County area, forming a board and formulating a strategy to fill those gaps, a nonprofit was formed.  more

Selling digital marketing services can feel like navigating uncharted waters, even for seasoned sales professionals. For years, E&P columnist Shannon Kinney says she thought the gap was in knowledge of digital tactics and that sales teams needed more training and education. But, as digital marketing has evolved, she says it has become clear that it’s not about education. more

As creator and influencer journalism reshapes news, traditional media is learning from social-first journalists who connect deeply with audiences. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Substack are now key news sources, driving trust shifts and engagement strategies. more

The last two months have brought a firestorm of changes to our country, our industry and our lives, E&P's Editor-in-Chief Robin Blinder writes in this month's editorial. While changes are stressful, she writes that they also can be “character-building and transformative — possibly transforming the relationships with our audiences and helping us engage younger readers or listeners.” more

In this exclusive E&P interview, media veterans—former Fox News executive Preston Padden and former FCC Chair Al Sikes—warn that the government is no longer just regulating the press; it’s controlling it. As the FCC selectively enforces regulations, shielding Fox from scrutiny while targeting other networks, the fight for press freedom has reached a breaking point. Padden cautions, “We risk losing everything the First Amendment was designed to protect.” more

Jeremy Abbott of San Francisco was out skating on Payette Lake over the weekend of January 18-19 among the crowds of people that took advantage of the frozen lake. The two-time Olympian competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada and the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia where he won a bronze medal for team mixed figure skating. —Maxfield Silverson, Editor, McCall Star News, McCall, Idaho (CherryRoad Media) more

The U.S. economy is a dynamic beat that requires constant learning and adaptation. Scott Horsley, chief economics correspondent for NPR, notes that the audience for economic news is broad, with everyone interested in paying their bills and having a job and a home. Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, focuses on monetary policy, while Ben Casselman, economics reporter for The New York Times, uses data visualization and comparison to help readers understand complex economic stories. The economy is a strange beast with political implications, and Casselman believes that his role is to give readers some real understanding of the basic facts. more

Jeff Bezos’ overhaul of The Washington Post’s Opinions section has sparked intense backlash. By vowing to champion “personal liberties and free markets” while sidelining opposing views, he’s drawn sharp criticism — even from former Post leaders. With Opinions editor David Shipley resigning in protest, the move raises questions about editorial independence. Will Bezos uphold the broad freedoms he claims to defend, or is this a shift toward ideological control? more

Local newsrooms are stretched thin—but what if reporters could instantly harness powerful, hyperlocal data to uncover compelling stories in minutes, not hours? USC-Annenberg’s Gabriel Kahn has cracked the code, creating game-changing tools that transform public data into engaging narratives, driving readership and revitalizing community journalism. more

The best way to learn journalism is by doing journalism. That’s the educational philosophy at Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, California. The curriculum trains students in everything from narrative storytelling to social media and media entrepreneurship to visual journalism. more

When a city government uses the courts to silence a newspaper, it’s not just an attack on one publication but on press freedom itself. That’s exactly what happened in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where a judge ordered The Clarksdale Press Register to remove an editorial questioning the transparency of a proposed tax initiative. The ruling, widely condemned as an egregious violation of the First Amendment, has ignited national concern among journalists and legal experts. In this exclusive conversation, E&P Reports dives into the case with publisher Wyatt Emmerich and press freedom advocate Seth Stern to explore what this means for the future of local journalism — and why every newsroom should be paying attention. more

Public-facing AI innovation has largely remained in the domain of Silicon Valley. But more than 2,000 miles away in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a family-owned network of news outlets seems determined to prove that it isn’t too late for local journalism to take charge of its digital destiny. more

The Wall Street Journal has begun to challenge Trump’s policies, but Fox News remains a dominant force in shaping conservative thought. Throughout history, great media leaders have faced defining moments—like CBS’s William Paley backing Edward R. Murrow against McCarthy, and Katharine Graham’s courageous decision to publish the Pentagon Papers despite political pressure. Now, E&P Magazine Publisher Mike Blinder calls on Lachlan Murdoch to make a similar stand: To move Fox News toward facts over fear, leadership over loyalty tests, and journalistic integrity over partisan protection. Read the full letter and join the conversation. more

Most Americans have never met a journalist in real life, and that disconnect fuels skepticism about the news they consume. Gannett’s Meet Our Team initiative is tackling this head-on by introducing readers to the reporters behind the headlines—showing them who they are, how they work, and why local journalism matters. Through behind-the-scenes stories, community events, and journalist profiles, Gannett is breaking down barriers and rebuilding trust in local news. Could this be the key to stronger audience engagement? Find out how it’s working and what’s next. more

From climate change that looms silently in the skies to the roles that flea-infested pesky prairie dogs play in the desert dirt, the journalists who write and capture photos for High Country News consider a panorama of stories to bring to their readers. In recent years, the magazine has concentrated on telling those stories from the perspective of its Indigenous population, who often have a different outlook on land management and use than colonial practices. more