E&P Reports with Mike Blinder

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 power of the USA Today Network behind her, she's determined to give women's sports the coverage it has always deserved.

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

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/usa-today-doubles-down-on-womens-sports-with-heather-burns-at-the-helm,257504

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" without information they can rely on. Together, they're pushing for flatter newsrooms, bold experiments with AI, and business models that do more than keep the lights on — they rebuild confidence in what news is for.

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

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-future-of-news-a-deeper-look-at-asus-knight-center-experiment,257394

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 tears, and forced a community to reckon with what happens when a local newsroom fades away.

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https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-last-american-newspaper-takes-the-stage,257267

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 transparency impossible to ignore. In this conversation, they reveal how a simple statement of values could transform how audiences see — and support — the news.

Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-cfinr-mission-clear-values-stronger-trust,257142

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 of local journalism, this is the conversation you can't afford to miss.

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

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/in-detroit-a-powerful-case-is-made-for-saving-local-journalism,257028

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 just a transaction—it's a bold experiment in saving local journalism with values at the center and sustainability in sight.

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

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/new-chapter-for-lansings-city-pulse-philanthropy-backs-fierce-independence,256921

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 authentic flavor — and one you'll want to sip on.

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

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/brewing-trust-how-a-newsroom-and-brewery-built-community-through-beer,256793

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.

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

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/when-tragedy-strikes-local-journalism-leads-coeur-dalene-press-responds-with-clarity-and,256682

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. This move offers a glimpse into how a large, family-owned publisher plans to thrive when so many others are struggling to survive.

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

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-evolution-of-adams-from-publishing-to-multimedia,256583

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, audiences will still show up—and pay for it.

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

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/rebuilding-local-news-by-thinking-like-an-entrepreneur,256483