The U.S. Constitution emphasizes a free and unfettered press because of its importance to the strength and solidity of our democracy. It’s only a democracy if everyone can participate, and the press still doesn’t serve many marginalized segments of our society. And that, in itself, threatens our democracy. Our cover story this month about accessibility is vital to illuminate a fundamental issue for our news and newsrooms. more

Nearly three years ago, Jill Jackson left journalism, and is now working as a communications and public affairs consultant. Having seen the institution from the outside and watched a decline in its credibility, she has some advice for journalists. more

Special sections enhance local communities and provide excellent sponsorship opportunities of significant value. News media outlets excel at effectively conveying the worth of these special sections, which can highlight the positive aspects of your community and greatly benefit local and regional businesses through sponsorships. more

A great new bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives to strengthen local news — important not just for its substance but its champion. The Community News and Small Business Support Act (HR 4756) attempts to address a horrifying phenomenon: local news is disappearing from thousands of communities across the country. Two newspapers are closing each week, on average. There’s been a 57% drop in newsroom employees since 2004. Thousands of towns have no local news source or “ghost newspapers” barely covering the area. more

When the death of the New York Times sports department finally came this week, it sent shockwaves through an industry so regularly traumatized that it should be shock-proof by now. But still, it was thoroughly sad, with an unapologetically cruel end, killed from within by people meant to care about news and journalists. more

By now, you’ve likely heard incessantly about ChatGPT. With OpenAI’s revolutionary tool nearing its eight-month mark, there’s no doubt that generative AI is here to stay. But why should you, as a media executive, also invest time to comprehend JAMstack and No-Code/Low-Code (NC/LC) technologies? These essential components, for building a solid infrastructure, may just be what you need to propel your business forward. more

One of our missions at E&P is to help unite our industry, which seems to have become very disjointed today. There is no question that every news publisher wants the same thing — to survive and serve. Unfortunately, however, some of the support we seek and desperately need seems to now be in too many hands. more

A newsroom is not going to workshop its way to inclusivity. Spending $20,000 on 24 hours’ worth of training spread out over three days will just leave your organization $20,000 lighter. Instead, developing, implementing and communicating a clear DEI strategy will broaden the perspectives in the newsroom and likely improve retention. more

It’s easy to understand why some news organizations would make it difficult to cancel subscriptions. Churn is churn; even angry readers with a subscription still hand over their hard-earned money. But, there is a real price to pay for displaying such short-sighted contempt for your readers. more

Though newsrooms have been working steadily to transform to the needs of digital and the expectations of their audiences, organizational structures have been slow to change. Focusing on target groups would allow for a wholesale reconsideration of how news is presented. more

Not everyone is happy about the idea of “citizen journalists.” Even the term leads some to fear the watering-down of journalism. In an era of social media influencers and bloggers, sometimes referred to as journalists, officially opening the door to citizen reporters may beg the question, “Who is a journalist?” more

News media publishers should leverage layered advertising strategies to boost their bottom line — and their advertisers’. Numerous strategies and techniques exist that may fit advertisers’ needs. Here are a few ideas.... more

Local Media 3.0 has been in the making for the past decade, but it's now ready to disrupt the industry with new rules, parameters and tools. And, the media landscape is vastly different. There are no barriers to entry in local media, meaning newspapers, television and radio are no longer protected by their capital investment moats or FCC licenses. E&P welcomes our new technology columnist Guy Tasaka, with this 1st monthly: "Tech Talk." more

Employees who are happy with their current employers aren’t likely to be tempted into another position. So, how do you ensure you don't lose your people to a new, more appealing offer? Simple. You become the other job. Instead of the boring person at home, you become the mistress. more

Regardless of your industry, at least part of your organization’s core function is communicating information to your target audience. Whether that’s telling them how to make good dietary decisions or providing information on your latest sale, you are usually seeking a reaction. Because if you don’t understand their perspective, you will screw it up. more

Dave Stevens is the only legless player in sports history to have played NCAA football and minor league baseball. The seven-time Emmy-winning sports journalist is now a motivational speaker and television host as he nears 40 years in broadcasting. While he says the media industry has come a long way in terms of inclusivity, he adds: "we still have a long way to go in this and other aspects of society." more

Getting onsite click-to-cancel right is imperative for the coming generation of news media and will require techniques built on highly valuable content, efficient user experiences and transparency. Any applicable future adaptations needed in your onsite cancellation and retention experiences should not be viewed as obstacles but as opportunities to reassess and refine your product strategy and communication flows. more

Business momentum tends to be a more significant factor in gauging a business’ performance than many people think. Some of what is happening to you may be of your own making, but it’s important to remember that you're surrounded by outside forces that could change your trajectory. more

Countless studies demonstrate that DEI has the potential to increase sales revenue, increase customer base and ultimately increase profits. DEI is not only the right thing to do; it’s good business sense. So, why are we hitting a pause with progress?   more

Richard E. Brown, senior director of retention for The Daily Beast, believes that everything is an opportunity, and every opportunity is a chance to build something enduring and expansive for the future. With that optimistic spirit in mind in examining AI, he sees three discernable applications that the business side of news media may benefit from immediately.   more