"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder

Journalist & best‑selling author Beth Macy returns to the town she once delivered newspapers in to ask: what happens when the civic fabric fractures and no one is left to tell the story? In her new memoir Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, Macy digs into her hometown of Urbana, Ohio — exploring how the collapse of local news, growing economic despair and social isolation reshaped a community she loved. ...

Local news is changing faster than anyone imagined — and Northwestern University’s Medill School just put numbers to the chaos. Its new State of Local News 2025 report reveals a seismic shift: smartphones have overtaken TV, content creators now rival traditional outlets, and only 15% of Americans say they’re willing to pay for local journalism. For Medill’s Tim Franklin and Stephanie Edgerly, the findings are both a wake-up call an...

What happens when a county government tries to silence its watchdog? In Pender County, North Carolina, officials yanked away the Post and Voice’s legal notices — a critical revenue lifeline — not because the paper failed to fulfill its duty, but because it did. Publisher Andy Pettigrew called out backroom deals and ran biting editorial cartoons, prompting the commissioners to strike back. Now, the fight has moved from the courthous...

Polarization isn’t just dividing dinner tables anymore — it’s turning deadly in the wake of the Charlie Kirk tragedy and now the ICE office shooting in Dallas. The role and responsibility of opinion journalism has never been more scrutinized. That’s why we turned to Nicole Russell, one of USA Today’s leading conservative voices, who has spent more than a decade writing on politics, culture, and policy. She has also written for The ...

When billion-dollar networks like CBS and ABC cave to political pressure and late-night stars like Colbert and Kimmel get muzzled, what chance does a small-town publisher have? If Washington can bend the most prominent players in media, local newspapers — already stretched thin by lawsuits, advertiser boycotts, and the rise of AI — are staring down an even harsher storm. That’s why Bob Corn-Revere, one of America’s to...

In a world where speaking out can result in being silenced forever, journalism itself is under attack. Hours before this conversation was taped, commentator and podcaster Charlie Kirk was gunned down at an event at Utah Valley University — a stark reminder that public voices, whether political or journalistic, face real and rising danger. Against that backdrop, Dr. Peter Laufer, world-traveling journalist, author and editor of the ...

When E&P reported on Sept. 2 that Broad + Liberty and Access Network were merging to form the Fideri News Network, the press release generated more questions than answers: What exactly is this new company? How is it structured? Is it truly positioned to become a meaningful player in today's media landscape, or simply a rebranding of existing outlets? To delve deeper into the announcement, E&P sat down with Broa...

Heather Burns has spent three decades breaking barriers in sports journalism — and now she’s making history as USA Today’s first women’s sports editor. From building ESPN’s NFL Nation team to championing deeper coverage of women’s athletics, Burns brings both experience and passion to the role. “It can’t always be cheerleading,” she says. “It’s also got to be good journalism with integrity.” With a new strategy called Studio 9 and ...

The Knight Center for the Future of News at ASU’s Cronkite School isn’t tinkering at the edges of journalism — it’s ripping up the blueprint and starting fresh. Dean Battinto Batts calls this moment “an inflection point,” where trust is eroding and technology is racing ahead faster than most newsrooms can follow. Julia Wallace insists transformation must be rooted in community, warning that too many audiences have been “left alone”...

When Ken Tingley retired after more than two decades leading The Post-Star in Glens Falls, New York, he thought he was closing the book on his newsroom career. Instead, he wrote one. Then he took it a step further—turning his memoir, The Last American Newspaper, into a stage play that sold out four nights in a row at the Adirondack Theatre Festival. The production didn’t just entertain. It pulled audiences to their feet, stirred te...

What if every newsroom in America posted its journalistic values where everyone could see them? That’s the bold vision behind the Center for Integrity in News Reporting (CFINR), founded by Walter Hussman — legendary publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and chairman of WEHCO Media — and led by Executive Director Rufus Friday. Their mission is as ambitious as it is urgent: rebuild public trust in journalism by making transparen...

What happens when more than 250 civic leaders, journalists, academics, and funders gather to face the collapse of local news head-on? In Detroit, it sparked an unfiltered conversation about trust, collaboration, and what it will take to rebuild journalism from the ground up. In this episode of E&P Reports, five media power players unpack the July 22 “Local News Crisis” event — and what must happen next. If you care about the future...

In an era when hedge funds gut local newspapers and trust in media is under siege, Lansing’s fiercely independent City Pulse has found a surprising new lifeline—not in corporate consolidation, but in mission-driven philanthropy. The paper’s founder, Berl Schwartz, turned down multiple offers before striking a deal with the Michigan Independent Media Group, led by civic engagement leader Dr. Jason Franklin. Their partnership isn’t j...

What happens when a local newspaper and a craft brewery join forces? In Spokane, Washington, it results in the First Amendment beer — a bold collaboration between The Spokesman-Review and No-Li Brewhouse that's as much about community as it is about hops. In this episode, we crack open the surprising story behind the beer making headlines and the mission to protect local journalism. It’s a blueprint for sustainability with authenti...

When tragedy struck Coeur d’Alene, the local newsroom didn’t flinch — they mobilized. Within hours, the Press team defied routine, printed on an off day, and delivered vital information to a grieving community. Their leadership didn’t just report the news — they helped shape how the town processed its heartbreak. In this episode, Clint Schroeder and Bill Buley reveal how local journalism rose to the moment when it mattered most.

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Adams Publishing Group is stepping into a new era with a name that reflects its ambition: Adams MultiMedia. As local news organizations everywhere wrestle with disruption, Adams is betting that combining deep community roots with expanded digital services is the path to growth. The rebrand signals more than a cosmetic change—it’s a strategy to stay relevant to audiences and advertisers in a media landscape that never stops evolving...

Pason Gaddis thinks local newspapers don’t have to fade quietly into history. As CEO of Hoffman Media Group, he’s betting that lean operations, local control, and a focus on original reporting can rebuild trust—and profitability—where others have given up. “You have to change or you have to die,” Gaddis said, urging publishers to break free from outdated models. His approach is proving that if you invest in community journalism, au...

Connoisseur Media CEO Jeffrey Warshaw isn’t chasing trends—he’s doubling down on what works: local content, real relationships, and a service-first sales strategy. In a no-nonsense conversation, Warshaw explains why legacy media still has power when it’s community-rooted and advertiser-driven. With digital and radio sales integrated under one roof, he’s building not just reach, but results. “Local, baby,” is still his mantra—and it...

When a suburban newspaper starts thinking like a startup, big things happen. At Current Publishing in suburban Indianapolis, innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s fueling real growth, younger audiences, and serious digital revenue. From influencer-driven reels to a text-based edition with 65% engagement, President Ben Weir is proving hyperlocal doesn’t mean old-school. Here’s how one free weekly is rewriting the playbook for local ...