What can open-door newsroom policies teach us about a healthy democracy? In his latest “Democracy Desk” op-ed column, Stuart N. Brotman reflects on Gloria Steinem’s philosophy of the editorial meeting — freewheeling, inclusive and open to unexpected voices — and considers what it can teach us about listening, challenging our assumptions and making room for different points of view in civic life.

As AI-generated cartoons and columns make their way onto opinion pages, newsrooms face increasingly urgent questions about standards, transparency and trust. In his latest “News Media Today” op-ed column, E&P’s Rob Tornoe examines some recent controversies over AI-generated content and argues that publishers need clear rules for how — and where — the technology is used.

With the 2026 midterms fast approaching, newsrooms are preparing for an election shaped by national politics, questions about election security and voters hungry for trustworthy information. For E&P’s October cover story, Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck spoke with reporters and editors at Votebeat, The Associated Press, The Daily Beast and The Salt Lake Tribune about how they’re planning coverage before, during and after Election Day.

What can a self-driving car teach news publishers about AI? Quite a lot, according to Guy Tasaka. In his September E&P “Tasaka’s Tech Talk” op-ed, he argues that publishers should stop framing AI primarily as a way to cut costs and instead demonstrate how it delivers measurable benefits to readers and advertisers. Drawing lessons from Waymo’s safety record, Tasaka offers a roadmap for making AI not just more useful, but more worthy of audience trust.

Change may be inevitable, but constant disruption doesn’t necessarily make an organization better. In his September “The Corner Office” op-ed column, Doug Phares contends that effective leaders know when change is necessary and when stability is the better strategy. He explores how leaders can guide their teams through uncertainty, minimize needless disruption and provide a steady hand when change arrives without warning.

What happens when high school students are asked to tackle declining media literacy and trust in news? They come up with solutions. In this month’s “Shoptalk” op-ed, journalist Linda Carpio Shapley recounts a Problem-Based Learning experiment that challenged 9th graders to think critically about journalism and to devise creative ways to help people identify trustworthy information. Their ideas also offer newsrooms a compelling reason to engage young people in conversations about the future of news.

Finding and keeping talented journalists has become one of the news industry’s toughest challenges, and former recruitment playbooks may no longer be enough. In this E&P in-depth exclusive, Alyssa Choiniere addresses dilemmas like: Where can recruiters find promising candidates today? What do journalists and news media professionals expect, in terms of compensation, benefits and organizational culture? And how can employers create workplaces that make staff feel valued, so they want to stay for the long term?

For 60 years, The Atlanta Voice has chronicled, celebrated and amplified Black Atlanta, carrying forward a mission born during the Civil Rights Movement. Today, the publication is honoring that legacy while embracing new ways to reach and serve its community. In this profile of The Atlanta Voice, E&P’s Tandy Lau explores how the historic Black newspaper honors its past while evolving for the future.

As Congress debates policies with impact to local newspapers — from rising postal rates to AI companies scraping original journalism — America’s Newspapers President and CEO Dean Ridings argues that news media publishers need to bring their concerns and suggested solutions to the legislative branch. In this debut of Riding’s monthly E&P opinion column, Ridings makes the case for why news media leaders need to show up, speak out and make sure Washington hears “The Newspaper Perspective.”

While much of the news media community races toward the next digital innovation, one Oregon publisher is betting on something decidedly old-school: local news, printed on paper and delivered by mail. Active Media Publishing Group has grown to more than 60 publications by focusing on stories communities care about most — and giving local advertisers a compelling way to reach them. In this exclusive profile, Editor & Publisher’s Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck explores how the organization is not merely surviving; it’s thriving.

What would a digital platform built around the needs of a city — rather than simple another news site — look like? Chicago Public Media unveiled its plans for Chicago.com, an ambitious new digital brand that will provide civic resources, community connections and a platform for neighborhood conversations. In this E&P Quick Read, Taayoo Murray explores how the organization plans to capitalize on a coveted domain name and create civic infrastructure for the people of Chicago.

Is the press unintentionally providing free promotion every time it names President Trump’s social media platform? In his latest “Democracy Desk” op-ed column, Stuart N. Brotman argues that the launch of a lucrative Truth Social API should prompt news organizations to reconsider how they refer to the Trump Media platform.

Facing funding pressures and an uncertain future for public media, Black public radio stations are finding strength in collaboration. The newly formed Black Public Radio Network will share resources, programming and ideas, all while amplifying stories and preserving cultural history. In this E&P Quick Read, Bob Miller reports on the network’s collaborative path.

The greatest forces reshaping American education — from declining enrollment and school funding to AI — may make national headlines, but their consequences are profoundly local. In this E&P exclusive, Taayoo Murray explores how education reporters are uncovering the human stories about children, parents and the communities impacted by policy and legislative decisions.

Customer surveys, feedback requests and engagement prompts have become a fixture of modern marketing, but they may be hurting customer loyalty rather than strengthening it. In his latest “The Corner Office” op-ed installment, Doug Phares — E&P columnist and managing director of Silverwind Enterprises — shares why companies should apply a lighter touch when soliciting feedback.

Weather apps can tell you what’s coming, but CNN’s new mobile weather strategy aims to explain weather and provide real-time analysis. In this E&P Quick Reads report, Contributing Writer Bob Miller explores how meteorologist Jennifer Fritz and CNN are rethinking weather coverage for the mobile era and deliver a product that’s distinctive in the weather-app marketplace.

Stars and Stripes was never meant to be the Pentagon’s mouthpiece. It exists to serve as an independent voice for those who serve, and for the military families who depend on its reporting to understand the decisions shaping their lives. The Pentagon’s firing of the publication’s publisher, editor and a Middle East reporter now puts that independence, and the trust it has earned over 164 years, in jeopardy. E&P Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck examines what these actions mean for the future of Stars and Stripes and the people who rely on it.

In his August “Innovation in Practice” op-ed, Chad Davis — chief innovation strategist at Nebraska Public Media and E&P columnist — explores what comes after the “filter bubble.” How will artificial intelligence usher in a new era of algorithm-driven information consumption? Drawing insights from Eli Pariser’s latest work, Davis examines the rise of agentic interfaces, the challenges AI poses for journalism, and why news organizations must rethink how they build trust and reach audiences in an increasingly AI-mediated world.

As artificial intelligence, shrinking newsroom and shifting audience habits reshape journalism, the next generation of reporters is preparing for a profession that looks nothing like the one their predecessors entered. In this in-depth look, E&P Contributing Writer Taayoo Murray explores how Michigan State University’s School of Journalism is adapting its curriculum — teaching students to embrace new tools while preserving the skills that remain at the heart of great journalism: curiosity, critical thinking and the ability to ask the right questions.

Eighteen months after a devastating wildfire displaced thousands of residents, The Palisadian-Post is back, with a new ownership team, a digital-first strategy and a mission to help rebuild a fractured community. In this E&P Quick Reads report, contributing writer Alyssa Choiniere explores how Tim and Laura Schneider are reviving a beloved local news brand, reconnecting scattered Palisadians and reimagining what community journalism can look like after disaster.

As public media organizations navigate layoffs, shrinking budgets, evolving technology and the loss of federal support, the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) is building new ways to help journalists connect, learn and adapt. In conversation with PMJA’s Executive Director Christine Paige Diers, E&P’s Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck explores PMJA’s mission, its professional development opportunities, and its distinctive ability to maintain connections among the public media community.

The Supreme Court’s decision to leave the landmark “actual malice” standard intact may have passed quietly, but its impact on press freedom, public debate and defamation law is enormous. In his latest “Democracy Desk” op-ed, Digital Media Laureate and E&P columnist Stuart N. Brotman explains why the legal doctrine at the heart of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan remains a crucial safeguard against efforts to silence criticism of powerful figures.

When The Valley Independent shut down in 2015, many feared Monessen, Pennsylvania, had lost more than a newspaper. But just four months later, a new publication emerged in its image, thanks to some local community leaders. In this special report, which marks The Mon Valley Independent’s 10th anniversary, E&P’s Tandy Lau explores how the local news brand not only survived the brief closure, but built a new newsroom, compelled subscribers and proved its long-range viability.

Behind prison walls are stories that are rarely seen and often difficult to tell. In this powerful examination, E&P’s Alyssa Choiniere explores the challenges of covering America’s correctional systems — from limited access and monitored communications to protecting sources who risk retaliation. Read how journalists from The Marshall Project, ProPublica and the Prison Journalism Project are uncovering abuses, amplifying incarcerated voices and finding ways to create meaningful change through difficult and sensitive reporting.

Can AI help solve one of journalism’s oldest business challenges instead of accelerating its decline? In this Shoptalk op-ed, Bill Densmore — Reynolds Journalism Institute fellow and founder of ITEGA.org — argues that AI has finally made it practical to build a long-envisioned marketplace that would let publishers collectively sell and share trusted digital content while giving readers a simpler way to pay for journalism. His proposal could reshape how news organizations think about subscriptions, licensing and the future of online information.

As search traffic disappears and Gen Z increasingly gets its news from social media, YouTube and AI, news media publishers are confronting a question that could determine their future: How do you build loyalty with an audience that rarely visits your website? In this thought-provoking “Voices” column, E&P columnist Rob Tornoe explores why younger readers are abandoning traditional news habits — and offers some practical strategies for reaching the next generation before it’s too late.

What happens when students run a real newsroom? In this inspiring Quick Read, E&P’s Taayoo Murray takes us to the Bronx River News, a high school newsroom in New York City. Here, students are developing the confidence to ask tough questions, learn how to cover breaking news, and discover the power of their own voices. Through reporting, editing and leading one another, these students aren’t just learning journalism; they’re becoming more engaged citizens and members of their community.

What does it take to report the news while missiles fall, drones buzz overhead and air-raid sirens interrupt daily life? E&P’s Bob Miller profiles The Kyiv Independent in this month’s cover story. The award-winning newsroom continues to document the war in Ukraine, expose corruption and tell the human stories behind the headlines. At the link, discover how this “local newsroom” has become an indispensable source of information for a global audience.