The Financial Times understands what it's like to be a digital leader. It launched its first paywall in 2002 and over the last decade, the paper has focused on a "north star" metric based on reader engagement. In April 2019, the FT reached 1 million paying readers, one year ahead of schedule. Due to its digital success, E&Precently named the FT as one of their 10 News Publishers That Do It Right. E&P editor-in-chief Nu Yang goes 1-on-1 with FT chief data officer Tom Betts to discuss their formula, the launch of their boutique consultancy firm FT Strategies, and how publishers can find their own metric "north star."

The 2nd Google NorthAmerican Innovation Challenge is now open for submissions focusing on projects that showcase diversification, equity and inclusion in journalism. "Googler" LaToya Drake, Global Outreach Lead for the Google News Initiative, chats with E&P Publisher Mike Blinder about this year's challenge and how any publisher—no matter what size market—can enter.

Applications are now open, and the deadline to submit is May 12, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. PT. In addition, over the next 10 weeks, Google will hold workshops and bootcamps to get the word out and answer questions about the challenge. The first town hall will be on March 18 at 9 a.m. PT. Tune in using this link.

In 2018, Paxton Media Group acquired the Kentucky New Era and four smaller newspapers (Dawson Springs Progress, Princeton Times Leader, Providence Journal-Enterprise and Oak Grove Eagle Post). Since then, the New Era has experienced big changes like getting a new publisher, editor and a new office to call home. Publisher Brandon Cox shares what it was like to adopt these changes and what's next for the group of newspapers.

Peter Newton was a huge part of GateHouse Media's expansion into the digital service sector with the launch of their Propel and ThriveHive initiatives. But Newton was a big part of driving the entire industry into selling more than just advertising solutions to their customers. It was during those six years in senior management that the company had its most growth in market acquisitions. Now that Newton has left the country's largest newspaper company, he continues to work within our industry consulting some of our digital partners as well as leading a drive to innovation through the Local Media Association's Accelerate Local Project.

Mike Blinder goes one-on-one with Newton as the former GateHouse COO speaks about where he thinks the industry has been and where it is going today in our challenging times. He also gives advice to independent newspapers who lack some of the resources that large company company ownership can provide.

Joey Young purchased his first newspaper at the age of 27. Seven years later, his company, Kansas Publishing Ventures, owns six award-winning community publications with more than 30 employees that is growing audience and revenue against some big company dailies. Moreover, thanks to his passion for local journalism and keen ability to hire and maintain a motivated team, KPV continues to grow and prosper.

This week, E&P editor-in-chief Nu Yang and Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Brad Simpson discuss this year's America East News Media Summit March 30-April 1. The PNA has combined their three signature events: America East, PNA Advertising Conference and Publishers' Convention, to build one robust conference. Simpson will go over what sessions he's excited about and why news publishers should attend this premiere event. This year, E&P also joins the PNA in honoring the next generation of newsroom leaders with a 25 Under 35 awards ceremony.

ProPublica has become a leader in the industry when it comes to collaboration between newsrooms.Rachel Glickhouse, who managed ProPublica's three-year Documentating Hate project, talks to Editor & Publisher about getting newsrooms to work together, convincing readers to contribute, and plans to bring back Electionland to cover the 2020 presidential election.

E&P's Rob Tornoe goes 1-on-1 with Rachel Glickhouse

Ten years ago, Ken Doctor wrote "Newsonomics," a groundbreaking book that changed the way many approached news publishing in the last decade. Now, Ken is incubating a new business model for the newsrooms of the 2020s called Lookout. He does not tell us everything about it in this 45-minute interview, preferring to wait until his market test is complete, but he does reveal many of the concepts he claims can make news publishing thrive and profitable in today's challenging world.

Plus, Mike looks into the industry predictions Ken made 10 years ago in "Newsonomics" to see if those prognostications are accurate today.

Twelve years ago Mike Shapiro left his lucrative position at a NYC law firm to work out of his house to publish a local online newspaper to serve his home town of New Providence, NJ. Today he is CEO of a network of over 80 local news sites with over 1 million monthly visitors. And, they are making money doing it.

Learn the history of this success story of how local journalism can grow and make money with a digital only offering.

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