The future of local journalism is increasingly being shaped by two fundamental questions: Who should pay for it, and what should it produce?

Those questions were at the center this conversation between E&P Publisher Mike Blinder and media critic, author and journalism educator Jeff Jarvis. The discussion grew out of two recent E&P Reports episodes that sparked debate beyond E&P's audience: an interview with Rebuild Local News founder Steven Waldman about public policy funding for journalism that drew a response from The Wall Street Journal, and a New York Press Association panel on newsroom cadence, AI and audience expectations that prompted a published rebuttal from publisher Christian Hendricks.

Together, the debates raised larger questions about journalism's future, sustainability and purpose—questions Jarvis was eager to tackle.

Access more at this episode's landing page, at:

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/jeff-jarvis-challenges-conventional-wisdom-on-public-policy-funding-ai-and-audience-growth,261858

For decades, local journalism's business model rested on advertising, subscriptions and philanthropy. Now, according to Rebuild Local News co-founder Steven Waldman, a fourth leg is rapidly emerging: public policy. New state laws, tax credits and government-backed initiatives have already directed more than $129 million into local newsrooms, with tens of millions more expected this year alone. Waldman says the shift signals a major new chapter in how communities may ultimately sustain local journalism.

Access more at this episode's landing page, at:

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/tens-of-millions-flow-into-local-news-as-public-policy-becomes-journalisms-fourth-leg,261799

As America approaches its 250th birthday, USA TODAY is reviving a nearly forgotten newspaper tradition with the debut of the "USA TODAY March," a new Sousa-style composition celebrating journalism, patriotism and community connection. In a recent E&P Reports interview, USA TODAY's Liz Johnson and composer and features writer Jim Beckerman discussed how the unusual project evolved from a piece of newspaper history into a modern effort to reconnect audiences with the civic and cultural role journalism once played in American life.

Access more at this episode's landing page, at:

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/why-usa-today-created-a-newspaper-march-for-americas-250th,261672

For years, the local news industry has searched for a sustainable business model while navigating shrinking legacy revenues, rising costs and growing uncertainty. A new report, Meeting the Revenue Challenge: Philanthropy's Role in Local News Growth, examines how nonprofit local news organizations are attempting to build long-term durability through diversified revenue strategies and stronger community relationships.

Access more at this episode's landing page, at:

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/inside-the-search-for-a-sustainable-local-news-model-a-new-report-reveals-whats-actually,261560

Journalism is being forced to answer a question it long avoided: why should the public trust it at all? At a moment when credibility is eroding and the definition of a journalist is increasingly blurred, a new industry-wide framework is attempting to reset the standard. The 2026 Oxford Declaration on Journalistic Integrity and Public Trust is not just another set of principles — it is a direct response to a crisis of confidence. And as Steve Herman makes clear, the stakes are no longer theoretical — "the house is on fire and we need to respond to that."

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https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/journalism-at-a-crossroads-a-new-declaration-aims-to-rebuild-trust-in-the-news,261320

E&P Reports went on the road as Mike Blinder hosted a live panel at the New York Press Association's annual spring conference in Saratoga Springs. Joined by newsroom leaders Casey Seiler, Walter Sanchez and Kirstyn Brendlen, along with voices from the audience, the discussion tackled a question at the heart of modern journalism: are we delivering the news audiences want—or the news they truly need?

Access more at this episode's landing page, at:

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/what-audiences-want-vs-what-they-need-ep-reports-goes-on-the-road-to-confront-journalisms,261318

In this episode of E&P Reports, we examine one of the most consequential local news stories in the country — the near-collapse and sudden reinvention of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — through separate interviews with two key voices: Andrew Conte, a leading local news advocate and managing director of the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University, and Bob Cohn, president and CEO of The Baltimore Banner and The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, the organization now stepping in to lead the paper's future.

Access more at this episode's landing page, at:

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/inside-the-pittsburgh-post-gazette-turnaround-what-its-new-owners-plan-next,261214

For decades, local media relied on a simple formula: build audience, and advertisers would follow. Now, Gordon Borrell notes, that formula has quietly failed as the local business landscape and marketing decision-makers have shifted. Service businesses, in-house marketers, and AI-driven tools increasingly control ad spending. Borrell warns traditional media must rethink their sales approach to stay relevant with today's advertisers.

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https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/borrell-why-local-media-advertising-got-harder-to-sell,261030

Investigative journalism has never been easy. But according to the latest State of Accountability Journalism report from the University of Florida's Collier Prize, the reporters doing that work today say the obstacles are growing even as their commitment to watchdog reporting remains strong. Shrinking newsroom staffs, rising costs for public records and increasing resistance from government agencies are making investigations harder to pursue. Yet many journalists say the very pressures threatening accountability reporting are also reinforcing why it matters. As Collier Prize director Rick Hirsch put it, "this is a hard business. If you're going to stick in it, you've got to be committed and believe in the impact that it can have."

Access more at this episode's landing page, at:

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/commitment-over-capacity-why-investigative-journalism-persists-despite-shrinking-newsrooms,260965

Rebuilding the statehouse beat: Inside The Center Square's growing newswire model

The decline of traditional newsroom staffing has thinned one of journalism's most important beats: statehouse reporting. As fewer reporters cover legislative chambers and the policy decisions shaping taxpayers' lives, new models have emerged to fill the gap. Among the fastest-growing is The Center Square, a nonprofit newswire focused on government accountability reporting that publisher Chris Krug says was built to address what he sees as a structural hole in the American news ecosystem.

Access more at this episode's landing page, at:

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/rebuilding-the-statehouse-beat-inside-the-center-squares-growing-newswire-model,260877