Consider the opportunities that might unfold if news media companies reinvested in themselves — perhaps dedicating space and resources to offering marketing, advertising and promotional services to other businesses in the community. Local businesses could benefit from our expertise in content and storytelling, driving revenue, digital marketing and audience building. What might that new business model mean to the news organization and its short- and long-term profitability? more

Ghosting is a relatively new term that describes a phenomenon familiar to most salespeople, especially those of us in advertising sales. To “ghost” someone is to abruptly cut off contact, with no warning nor explanation. Here are some strategies that help keep the lines of communication open. more

This month, our feature articles both highlight commitment and dedication — or its lack. In “Under new management,” the local owners who have taken over former Gannett-owned newspapers have shown in a very short time their immense dedication and commitment to their local communities. Our second feature looks at the other end of the commitment continuum. more

There are few moments tougher in journalism than having to reach out to friends and relatives caught up in a tragic event. In modern times, it often means messaging people on social media with requests for comments or permission to use their photos and videos in your reporting. more

Many newsrooms across the country have begun to analyze and make changes to their political coverage, thanks to Trump's impact on American politics. His brazen falsehoods and wild conspiracy theories caught journalists completely off guard during the 2016 election and beyond, a fact he exploited to spread his message. more

The idiom one-trick pony is derived from the circus. A circus featuring a pony that is only trained to perform one trick is not very entertaining. But, unfortunately, that is how we are sometimes seen in the media business. more

This week, nearly two years ago, Mike and I prepared to take the reins of this 140-year-old publication. I've spent those two years working with him to bring our readers this magazine, website and digital products. And, we kept going as the pandemic brought many changes to all of our lives.  As we enter the next phase of E&P, it’s clear that change will continue to be a consistent theme. more

With Alden Global Capital’s recent acquisition of the Tribune Publishing newspaper chain, the country has reached a troubling milestone: half of the daily newspaper circulation in America is now owned by hedge funds. This is a real threat to democracy because hedge funds and private equity firms have a track record of cutting the reporting staff of local newsrooms to increase profits. more

After winning on “Jeopardy!” for the third straight night back in April, Kelly Donohue banged three fingers against his chest to quietly celebrate his victory. But to a group of former contestants, that simple gesture was definitely, maybe, possibly a white power symbol. more

In 2009, the former editor-in-chief at Thomson Reuters David Schlesinger described journalism as one of the great self-declared professions. He wrote, “I am a journalist because I said I was one more than two decades ago and have spent the years since working on my abilities..." more

Over my years in the news media industry, I have often been accused of not being a traditional thinker and spending too much time outside the proverbial box of traditional ideas and strategies. I will confess I take this accusation as a badge of honor and must ask, “How are those traditional ideas working for us these days?” more

No, I don’t believe identifying or asking readers to identify rioters was appropriate. However, my issue is almost entirely with the latter of the two. I consider myself a centrist, but regardless of political orientation, I’m viewing this question from the standpoint of the purpose of the media in general. more

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette journalist Alexis Johnson was barred from protest coverage after joking about a Kenny Chesney concert on Twitter. She tweeted: “Horrifying scenes and aftermath from selfish LOOTERS who don’t care about this city!!!!! .... oh wait sorry. No, these are pictures from a Kenny Chesney concert tailgate. Whoops.” more

For four years, every word uttered, action taken, and tweet sent by Donald Trump dictated the day’s media coverage. I hope that changes, though I am unsure whether journalists will have much of a choice; once a reality star president, always a reality star president. more

It is undeniable that newsroom revenue is becoming more and more dependent on website and social media clicks. This also means that it has become easier to track exactly how well an individual article does in relation to the rest of the organization’s content. more

The recent killing of 49-year-old Lee Keltner following protests in downtown Denver brought national attention to Colorado news organizations. In particular, eyes were on KUSA-9News, the station that brought the private security guard—hired through Pinkerton—who shot Keltner, and who is now charged with second-degree murder. more

The switch to remote work may be accelerating the transition from print to online-only journalism. Just this year, the Thresher has faced a similar struggle—when classes at Rice went online for spring semester, so did the Thresher, and we halted print production for only the second time in our publication’s history. more

If I had the chance to interview the incoming president, I’m not exactly sure what I wouldn’t ask him. The choice between the current president and Republican candidate Donald Trump and former vice president and Democratic candidate Joe Biden left me with a sense of dread for the upcoming election. I honestly had no drive to vote at all... more

In an age where it is not uncommon to use “quarantine” and “racial justice” in the same sentence, credible editorial pages are arguably more important than ever. The world is seeking answers and trustworthy opinions to help make sense of what is all around them. more

Congress is doing a tremendous service by scrutinizing the excessive, harmful market power of online platforms such as Google and Facebook. Recent hearings with tech CEOs revealed as much about … more