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From print to podcasts: The Pilot’s bold transformation in local journalism

In the current news industry environment, legacy newspapers face two future scenarios. First, they continue to operate with their decades-old business models and experience declining revenue and fewer print days, eventually closing and creating news deserts. Second, they are acquired by new owners with a 21st-century entrepreneurial spirit to build a stronger bond with their communities. The citizens of Pinehurst, Southern Pines and surrounding communities in North Carolina are pleased. The Pilot is following the second path.

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Stop thinking of Press Forward as a single program

I’ve been beating the drum among public media leaders for over a year: You need to understand what’s happening with Press Forward, the $500 million effort to remake local news. So it was heartening — and frustrating — to see dozens of public media leaders show up when three Press Forward leaders appeared at a webinar presented by the consultancy Public Media Company and Current in early July.

1970s redux: Finding a north star for today's public media

We all know this story. Public media’s traditional programming has a waning appeal to younger audiences (part of the largest generation in U.S. history). Finances are a mess, station operators and networks face accusations of political bias, NPR has a revolving door of senior leadership, and activists in Congress are calling for defunding us. Are these today’s headlines? Nope. Try 50 years ago.

Local TV news takes Gen Z beyond broadcast

Mike Beaudet has spent his news career in TV stations and the classroom. Currently, he’s an investigative journalist for WCVB, the ABC affiliate in Boston. He's also a professor of practice in video innovation at Northeastern University, where he has led a multi-phase study of TV news audiences — especially Gen Z viewers — and the content that captures their attention. It’s called The Reinventing Local TV News Project and is providing insight into what resonates with younger news audiences and ponders how to create a talent pipeline for TV newsrooms.

Layoffs in public broadcasting: Addressing the triple threat of declining audiences, podcast glut and underwriting challenges

Hardly a week has passed this year without a layoff announcement from one public broadcaster or another: 20 positions eliminated last September at WNYC, 16 in February at WAMU, 34 in April at WNET, eight at KUOW in May — plus a round of buyouts (potentially followed by layoffs) at KQED and LAist. Nearly 150 jobs have been lost at local stations since last fall, and that's on top of the 100 positions NPR eliminated in the spring of 2023.

The challenge and promise of Press Forward: Funding the nation’s local newsrooms for the future

Data from Medill School of Journalism’s often-cited annual study, which examines the health of local news nationwide, explains the motivation for launching Press Forward last September. The initiative aims to rally major national foundations to reverse the trend of a shrinking news landscape.

Navigating the storm: The disruption of local television (Part 1)

Local television is experiencing significant changes, including the push from networks to move top shows to streaming platforms, audience declines, and the rise of free ad-supported streaming TV. These changes have resulted in a decline in retransmission fees, increased pressure to produce varied content, and a shift in revenue models. Despite these challenges, local content still has value, and local broadcasters can engage with their communities in new ways, pivot their business models, and find new revenue streams.

Closing the experience gap: Understanding Next-Gen news consumption

According to a research report co-produced by FT Strategies and Knight Lab at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, the disconnect in news consumption is growing as some publications focus on consumers they can monetize instead of building relationships with younger readers. Jeremy Gilbert, a Medill professor and Knight Chair in Digital Media Strategy, told E&P that the gap between what people want from news and what they’re getting is getting wider.

Adapting your newsroom to the new era of audience-driven economics

In the past, local newspapers dominated the local news ecosystem with large teams creating the most content. However, today, newsroom size is not necessarily associated with making more money. Being profitable and raising money is a challenge, but carving out distinctive beats may be a path to financial sustainability in an increasingly competitive market.

Latest Industry Headlines

CPB awards up to $1.8 million to four public media stations to improve emergency alerting

Public media stations in four states — California, New York, Oregon and Texas — will receive a total of up to $1.8 million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to upgrade their equipment to provide enhanced emergency alerting.

New England Public Media joins with GBH News and CAI

New England Public Media, GBH News and CAI has announced a partnership to report and expand news coverage statewide, reaching listeners from Springfield to Provincetown and points between. Connecting the Commonwealth, the first initiative of its kind in Massachusetts, will build upon a longstanding relationship between the three public media outlets, as well as GBH News bureaus in Worcester, at the State House, and in Boston.

APTS EVP and COO Lonna Thompson to retire Sept. 1

Lonna Thompson, longtime executive vice president, chief operating officer and general counsel for America’s Public Television Stations, will retire effective Sept. 1.

New York Public Radio will cut at least 8% of staff

In a Wednesday staff memo, New York Public Radio CEO LaFontaine Oliver announced a second round of job cuts at the station in less than 12 months.

Laura Archbold joins KSMQ Public Television as new station manager

KSMQ Public Television has announced the appointment of Laura Archbold as the new station manager. Archbold has three decades of experience in television news, agency work, nonprofit and corporate communications, serving a variety of audience segments and industries.

Criminal charges could be coming in CapRadio financial fiasco

As Sacramento’s Capital Public Radio releases the results of the latest audit highlighting significant financial mismanagement, it has come to light that the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is now involved over vague payments and potential conflicts of interest.

APTS commends US Senate Appropriations Committee’s recommendations for continued investment in public broadcasting

America’s Public Television Stations applauded the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for proposing level funding of $535 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal year 2027 and $60 million for public media stations’ interconnection system for fiscal year 2025.

CPB awards up to $1.37 million to 4 more public media stations to improve emergency alerting

Public media stations KMOS PBS (Missouri), PBS Fort Wayne (Indiana), and KTOO Public Media and Kodiak Public Broadcasting/KMXT-FM (both Alaska), have been awarded a total of up to $1.37 million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to upgrade their equipment to provide enhanced emergency alerting.

Sen. Ted Cruz puts NPR in hot seat over taxpayer funding, perceived political bias

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is keeping the pressure on NPR to explain its funding and its editorial decision-making. It is part of the fallout from the resignation of NPR editor Uri Berliner this spring following his public accusations the public media network engages in biased reporting.

Reporter’s notebook: Covering the attempted assassination of Donald Trump

The 90-degree heat was already bearing down on me at noon in the parking lot across the street from the Butler Farm Show grounds. The last time I parked here, I watched a cow lick corn out of my then 2-year-old son’s hand. This time, I was here to work.

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Engaging the next generation: Mike Beaudet’s vision for Gen Z news consumption

As a follow-up to this month's E&P cover story, Mike Beaudet, an investigative reporter for WCVB-TV in Boston and a journalism professor at Northeastern University, shares his vision for adapting local news to resonate with Gen Z through his pioneering Reinventing Local News Project, designed to help repackage traditional broadcast content to meet the digital consumption habits of younger audiences.

Checking in with the Chicago Sun-Times/ Public Media merger.

In this episode of E&P Reports, we check in with Chicago Public Media, owners of PBS affiliate WBEZ, to find out how their 2022 acquisition of the 149-year-old Chicago Sun-Times is going. Appearing on the program are Jennifer Kho, executive editor for the newspaper and Tracy Brown, chief content officer for the parent company, who discuss their new initiatives, collaborative efforts and how the blending of these two major market brands is working to expand their audience.

Unpacking the Dallas Morning News’ decision to reinstate the public editor position

E&P explores Dallas Morning News Publisher Grant Moise's decision to hire news media veteran Stephen Buckley as their new public editor despite industry trends of cost-cutting that have eliminated that news media position throughout the US.

Detroit PBS CEO Rich Homberg's mission to redefine local media

Detroit Public Television, now rebranded as Detroit PBS, is poised for a transformative journey as it makes a resounding return to the vibrant heart of the city. With a renewed commitment to serving its community with integrity and innovation, the organization, under the leadership of President & CEO Rich Homberg, is embarking on an ambitious mission to redefine local media.

Local Media Association and Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association partner to create fundraising lab

In a groundbreaking move to bolster local journalism across Pennsylvania, the Local Media Association (LMA) and the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association (PNA) have joined forces to launch the Pennsylvania Fundraising Lab. This innovative partnership aims to equip publishers with the essential skills and strategies needed to secure philanthropic funding for reporting projects. E&P speaks with Frank Mungeam, LMA chief innovation officer, and Bill Cotter, PNA president about the initiative and how news media outlets can learn how to tap into these funds.

Latest #NewsPeople on the move

Block Club Chicago hires beat reporter for southwest neighborhoods

The New York Times announces staff news from Digital News Design