Editor and Publisher Reports

The Australian Financial Review once called Rod Sims "the most feared man in Australian business." Big Tech soon learned why. As chair of Australia's competition regulator, Sims helped design the groundbreaking News Media Bargaining Code that forced platforms like Google and Facebook to negotiate payments with publishers. In this conversation with E&P, Sims explores how the policy now sends roughly $250 million a year back to news organizations and what publishers around the world can learn from Australia's fight to make Big Tech pay for journalism. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/how-australia-forced-big-tech-to-pay-for-journalism-and-what-publishers-everywhere-can-learn,260630  

A new industry survey from the Local Media Consortium (LMC) suggests that while digital revenue across local media remains relatively stable, the path forward is becoming more complicated. One of the most striking findings: the number of publishers identifying audience revenue as a major challenge has surged dramatically year over year. Fran Wills, CEO of the LMC, says the shift doesn't necessarily signal collapse — but it does reflect a new phase of pressure on subscription growth and sustainability. In a conversation with E&P, Wills breaks down what the data reveals about the evolving economics of local journalism and where publishers may need to look next for long-term stability.    Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/new-lmc-report-finds-digital-revenue-stable-as-audience-revenue-pressures-grow,260529  

For decades, media leaders have debated whether journalism can sustain itself as a standalone business. But in a rapidly evolving landscape, Hearst is offering a different perspective — one outlined in its latest annual letter from CEO Steven Swartz, which makes clear the company's center of gravity has shifted far beyond traditional media. In a recent conversation on E&P Reports, David Carey, senior vice president of public affairs and communications at Hearst, expanded on that strategy, explaining how the company's transformation wasn't reactive, but decades in the making. His insights reveal a model that doesn't abandon journalism, but strengthens it through broader business innovation. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/a-blueprint-beyond-media-how-hearst-is-redefining-sustainability,260420  

When a newsroom can't hire reporters, the problem isn't always pay — sometimes it's rent. In one coastal community, the cost of living got so high that journalists simply couldn't afford to cover the news. So instead of raising salaries or cutting coverage, the solution took an unexpected turn: they bought a condo. It's a bold move that may point to a new model for keeping local journalism alive. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/when-journalists-cant-afford-rent-one-newsroom-buys-them-a-home,260288  

Local journalism isn't disappearing — it's being rebuilt in real time, and a new report from FT Strategies aims to show exactly how. Drawing on global data, newsroom case studies and on-the-ground experience, the Local News Playbook shifts the conversation from crisis to what's actually working. Instead of asking how to save journalism, the report examines what the most resilient organizations already have in common — and how others can follow. In a conversation with E&P, George Adelman, director and head of partnerships at FT Strategies, unpacks the patterns, priorities and practical steps that are redefining sustainability for local news.  Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/unpacking-the-local-news-playbook-what-sustainable-publishers-are-doing-differently,260183  

When national attention suddenly converges on a single city, the decisions made inside one local newsroom can shape how the entire world understands what's happening. That is the position The Minnesota Star Tribune now finds itself in as immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis draws intense national and international scrutiny. In this moment, journalism, safety, credibility, and brand strategy are no longer separate conversations — they are happening at once, in real time. This behind-the-scenes look reveals how the Star Tribune's newsroom and leadership are navigating pressure, responsibility, and purpose as the world watches Minneapolis. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/when-minneapolis-becomes-the-story-inside-the-star-tribunes-newsroom-and-brand-response,260084  

Local journalism has no shortage of big ideas about innovation — but far fewer examples of those ideas being funded, tested, and trusted by the people closest to the work. After a year of scrutiny, retrenchment and hard questions about its future, the National Trust for Local News is experimenting with a different approach: putting real money and real authority directly into the hands of journalists. At the center of that shift is a first-of-its-kind Innovation Sprint designed to surface newsroom-driven solutions, not executive theory. This conversation explores what happens when innovation moves from the boardroom to the newsroom floor — and why that change may matter more than any single tool or grant. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/funding-innovation-from-the-ground-up-how-the-national-trust-for-local-news-is-rethinking-change,259959  

Disinformation is no longer a background hazard of modern journalism — it is a coordinated, weaponized assault on truth itself. In a world where lies travel faster than facts and chaos is deliberately engineered to exhaust the public, national security correspondent JJ Green says journalists are now fighting a real war for credibility. Drawing on decades of coverage of intelligence, conflict zones and information warfare, Green frames today's media crisis as an existential battle for democratic survival. His new book, "The Noise War," is not a warning shot — it's a field manual for journalists on the front lines of disinformation. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/inside-the-noise-war-a-field-manual-for-journalists-fighting-disinformation,259836  

Local journalism is shrinking in much of the country — but The Baltimore Banner is moving in the opposite direction. In just two years, the nonprofit newsroom has grown into Maryland's largest reporting operation, expanded beyond Baltimore, and built a fast-growing base of paying subscribers. Now, with their new editor-in-chief Audrey Cooper at the helm, The Banner is doubling down on a belief that many in the industry have quietly abandoned: scale still matters. In this wide-ranging conversation, the newsroom's new leader explains why growth, impact, and sustainability are inseparable — and what local journalism risks losing if it stops thinking big.\ Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-baltimore-banner-enters-a-new-year-and-a-new-chapter-with-a-new-editor-in-chief,259711  

What news consumers are really saying about AI: insights from the Trusting News/LMA study  A new national survey of nearly 1,500 local news consumers reveals growing concern about AI's role in journalism—but also a clear path forward. Funded by the Walton Family Foundation and conducted by the Local Media Association and Trusting News, the study shows audiences overwhelmingly want human oversight, transparency, and clarity about how AI is used. John Humenik of LMA and Lynn Walsh of Trusting News joined E&P Reports to break down the results. Their message: trust is still journalism's greatest asset—AI can't replace that. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/988-say-ai-cant-replace-journalists-new-study-reveals-why-that-matters-now,259577  

http://www.EditorandPublisher.com/Vodcasts  Jeff Jarvis has never been interested in nostalgia. In a wide‑ranging conversation with E&P Magazine, the longtime media critic, author and journalism educator argues that the survival of local news depends not on preserving legacy structures, but on abandoning them. From print to platforms, from content to community, Jarvis insists that journalism's future lies in collaboration, service and listening — not scale or tradition. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/new-year-new-rules-jeff-jarvis-says-local-journalism-must-reinvent-itself-now,259465  

Free expression in America isn't collapsing all at once — it's eroding quietly, often in ways the public barely notices. In a wide‑ranging conversation, First Amendment scholar Stuart N. Brotman warns that political pressure, platform power and public misunderstanding are reshaping the boundaries of press freedom in real time. Drawing on decades of experience across academia, government and media policy, Brotman makes the case that the next few years will be decisive. And he argues that local journalism may be the strongest remaining force capable of rebuilding trust, civic understanding and a shared commitment to free expression. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/scholar-stuart-brotman-sounds-the-alarm-free-expression-is-under-fire,259377    

California isn't just a state. It's a story still being written, and USA Today wants a front-row seat. With the launch of Today Californian, the national news giant is investing in a bold new experiment: statewide coverage designed to meet readers wherever they are — from inbox to Instagram. "We're positioning ourselves as highly relevant," says Greg Burton, the project's editorial lead. The goal? To create a digital-first newsroom that feels local, acts regional and delivers impact at scale. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/rewriting-the-california-story-usa-today-bets-big-on-statewide-local-journalism,259321  

Mark Puente didn't go to j-school — he drove trucks for 15 years before stepping into a newsroom. But when a judge tried to block him from observing a public court hearing, Puente didn't flinch. Armed with experience, instinct, and a phone call to his editor, he stood his ground — ready to risk contempt rather than walk away. What followed wasn't just a clash over access, but a moment that reveals why blue-collar grit still matters in American journalism. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/from-hauling-freight-to-holding-judges-accountable-mark-puentes-fight-for-courtroom-access,259215  

If you think young people aren't paying attention to the news, think again — they are, and they have thoughts. A new study reveals just how skeptical today's teens are about the press, and the results should make every newsroom take notice. From questions of fairness to fears of fabrication, Gen Z is forming strong opinions about who to trust. In this episode, we dive into what teens really believe — and why it matters for the future of journalism.   Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/half-of-us-teens-think-journalists-make-up-quotes-and-do-favors-for-sources-new-report-finds,259102  

Robert Whitehead believes the news industry is entering a make-or-break era defined by AI disruption, collapsing platform traffic and growing public distrust. In a conversation with E&P, he said generative AI is "as transformative as electricity." He warned that publishers are still distracted by "shiny objects" instead of rebuilding the fundamentals that audiences actually value. His new report, authored for the INMA, outlines why newsrooms must urgently rethink distribution, trust, and brand experience to survive. And unless publishers rapidly differentiate their value and restore confidence in their journalism, he argues, they risk losing relevance at the very moment democracy needs them most. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/a-global-perspective-on-what-news-publishers-must-do-next,258967  

For more than 160 years, Stars and Stripes has walked a razor-thin line: serving the U.S. military while holding it accountable. Publisher Max Lederer says that balance remains as vital — and as fragile — as ever, noting that "our staff are paid by the Department of Defense" even as the newsroom is mandated to stay "balanced, objective, independent and impartial." Today, new Pentagon access rules, collapsing trust in media, and seismic digital shifts are putting that independence to the test. Lederer argues the mission endures because "we are dedicated to telling the story of the U.S. military community… from within the Department of Defense," a position no other newsroom occupies. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/stars-and-stripes-at-a-crossroads-inside-its-mission-press-freedom-challenges-and-digital-future,258686  

For nearly five decades, Jim Slusher has been one of the Midwest's most thoughtful voices on what journalism owes its readers — and how it earns their trust. As managing editor for opinion at the Daily Herald, he's spent his career pulling back the curtain on newsroom decisions and defending the value of open, honest dialogue. Now, with his new book To Nudge the World, Slusher is challenging both journalists and audiences to rethink how truth and trust are built in an era of noise and doubt. His message is clear: transparency isn't a luxury for journalism — it's the lifeline that keeps democracy alive.   Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/jim-slusher-on-rebuilding-trust-and-why-his-new-book-aims-to-nudge-the-world,258665  

In a world overwhelmed by AI-generated imagery and shrinking newsroom budgets, the value of authentic photojournalism has never been more at risk — or more essential. The National Press Photographers Association is sounding the alarm: visuals aren't just decoration, they're the backbone of truth, trust, and emotional connection in journalism. In this exclusive interview, NPPA Vice President Lauren Steinbrecher and Grady College's Mark E. Johnson break down why local publishers, students, and reporters must fight for the future of visual storytelling. Because if we lose the image, we may just lose the story itself. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/why-visuals-still-matter-inside-nppas-fight-for-the-future-of-photojournalism,258582  

Local news is collapsing at an alarming pace — more than 3,500 newspapers have vanished since 2005, with 130 disappearing just last year. In this episode, we interview Tim Franklin and Zach Metzger of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, the researchers behind the 2025 State of Local News report, which paints a dire picture of vanishing watchdogs, expanding news deserts, and a shrinking connection between journalism and the communities it serves. Yet amid the bleak data are signs of reinvention, from public radio stations stepping up to statewide networks and philanthropic partnerships gaining traction outside major metros. This isn’t just a crisis — it’s a make-or-break moment for rebuilding local journalism from the ground up. Access more at this episode’s landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-state-of-local-news-more-urgency-than-optimism,258462