A report published by the Center for Media Engagement in the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin shows how journalists can connect with stigmatized communities by using person-centered language. Caroline Murray, a senior research associate at the school and one of the authors, says this research is important because it demonstrates how journalists can better connect with the communities they cover. more

In this 163rd episode of "E&P Reports," we go one-on-one with ProPublica founder Dick Tofel, first on his latest opinion piece on how there may be some flaws in how organizations like LION Publishers and the Knight Foundation award millions in philanthropic journalistic funds. And his views that the only sustainable model for local journalism will be nonprofit enterprises. more

Promises made in 2020 created headwinds, but not nearly enough of the transformative change we need to see on TV screens, in newspapers, on airwaves and in the rooms where decision-making happens. The bottom line is this: The coverage you provide and the communities you prioritize reflect how you truly embrace diversity. more

It's going to be a rough year for local advertising in 2023. Borrell is forecasting that growth will be at a near-standstill, held back by a combination of economic pressures and a dramatic reshaping of the type of businesses now operating in each market. Borrell will unveil its forecasts and describe the change in business composition during a 45-minute webinar at 11 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, Nov. 17. The webinar is free. more

If you have plans or projects to implement that will nurture a more sophisticated and user-friendly environment at any level, then now is the time to execute. Readers, subscribers and advertisers are losing patience, and we must deliver experiences that align with current societal trends. If you’re wondering where to start, take a deep dive into three critical areas where you may want to improve your organization’s proficiency heading into the new year. more

Over the decades since, there have been dozens of cases of news people who turned to a life of politics. Richard Warner Carlson — known as Dick and father to one Tucker Carlson — famously quit TV news to pursue his political aspirations. Malcolm Stevenson (Steve) Forbes Jr. straddled the world of news and politics, including two bids for the Republican presidential nomination. Sarah Palin remarkably went from TV sports reporter to Alaska’s governor to vice presidential candidate. This year, she campaigned for Alaska’s House seat but lost to her Democrat opponent in the special election. The list goes on and on. more

Kathy Svidal and MCM Media have acquired the Devil's Lake Journal and the Country Peddler in North Dakota from Gannett Co., Inc. more

What does the police handling of journalist Jeff German’s murder say about the strength of Nevada’s shield law? Who protects the sources of a deceased reporter? more

Jennifer Bertetto inherited a deadline the day she became the leader of Trib Total Media. She had two years to save the company. Bertetto was named Editor & Publisher’s 2022 Publisher of the Year at the #NewsMedia Business Summit in Harrisburg on Oct. 13, in part, for rescuing the southwestern Pennsylvania newspaper company from its swift plunge toward bankruptcy. In the process, she retained her commitment to her employees, community and journalism. more

The quitting theme hit me in the face when we selected this year’s Publisher of the Year. You can say many things about our honoree, Jennifer Bertetto, president and CEO of Trib Total Media in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but you can never say she is a quitter. Bertetto may well be our youngest Publisher of the Year, but she has more than paid her dues, shown her abilities and earned her honors. She has the real stuff. more

In this 162nd episode, we go one-on-one with Jeff Jarvis asking his reasons for not supporting current congressional big-tech fair compensation efforts and antitrust legislation. Why is the industry making a big mistake moving toward paid content models, Why he believes "Media forms have half-lives, newspapers & magazines are fading, and broadcast's age is ending." more

For the better part of 10 years, journalists have been told that paywalls are the future to funding a sustainable newsroom. Free is out, the funnel is in and pageviews matter a lot less than subscription conversions. What if there is another way? Well, journalists in Chicago are putting that to the test. more

It’s one of the oldest stories of human endeavor: From the upheaval and uncertainty of established institutions — in this case, the newspaper industry — comes opportunity. Tony Mecia saw his chance after 11 years with The Charlotte Observer and another eight years as a freelancer writing for various publications. Today, that opportunity has become The Charlotte Ledger, a newsletter-based news product distributed by email. more

It has been a tumultuous 2022 for Gannett — especially for the employees laid off this year — replete with high highs and troubling lows. Certainly, one of the highlights for the company came when its flagship, USA TODAY, celebrated its 40th anniversary. E&P asked Gannett CEO Mike Reed to reflect on the title’s 40th anniversary — and other questions about the company. more

This year's EPPY Awards received more than 400 entries, across more than 40 diverse categories, that included best use of sponsored/ branded content, best use of social media/ crowd sourcing, best radio & TV Websites and more. Entries came from  media companies large and small world-wide, that included local news publishing, broadcast networks, cable news & sports networks, international pureplay Websites, niche content publishers, as well as  many colleges and universities. E&P congratulates the 2022 EPPY Awards winners and finalists. more

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and public records requests are tools reporters use in their information gathering and fact-checking processes. However, there are many threats to these freedoms, including a lack of understanding about how the process works, censorship and delayed response times, and the government’s ability to suppress information and investigations through legal means. Andrea Gallo knows these FOIA frustrations firsthand. more

In this 161st edition of “E&P Reports,” we go one-on-one with John Garrett, CEO and founder of Community Impact, a community newspaper publishing company that mails over 2.5-million editions monthly to over 60 Texas communities while employing over 200 journalists, salespeople and support staff. E&P Publisher Mike Blinder and contributing writer Victoria Holmes ask Garett how he maintains growth and profitability in a news ecosystem that has compressed and shrunk its commitment to people and print. more

A joint project of The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University has put together one of the most comprehensive databases tracking mass killings in the U.S. The database contains information about mass killings since 2006, including the number of victims, location and weapon type. The project also includes an interactive timeline allowing users to browse through all the data. more

These days, there’s no shortage of options for news and information, but that also means getting noticed is tougher than ever before. That is why it helps (and is more important) to not only know your audience —who they are — but to know what motivates them and what can pique their interest. more

For the past few years, there has been an emphasis on increased diversity and inclusion efforts across all industries. Journalism outlets have responded through various avenues: crafting statements of commitment, offering workshops and training, developing source trackers and inclusion indexes and engaging with survey work. However, these initiatives still fall into the same traps that have stifled growth and understanding in this area. more