Jim O'Rourke, CEO and founder of O'Rourke Media Group, shares his journey in local media, from delivering newspapers as a kid to founding a rapidly growing digital-first publishing chain. O'Rourke discusses his approach to acquiring and revitalizing local newspapers, investing in local talent and growing the digital business. He outlines the strategic choices that have guided O'Rourke Media’s success, including his firm stance against paywalls and his commitment to community-focused journalism and sales.

In the face of industry pressures, O'Rourke explains why he values small and midsize markets and how he's developed O'Rourke Media Group’s sustainable model by prioritizing advertiser relationships, high-quality local reporting, and new digital revenue streams. He discusses his philosophy on embracing sponsored content as a core revenue source while carefully navigating editorial integrity—a delicate balance that he believes is essential for the future of local news.

O'Rourke also explores his renewed investment in print, noting the value print editions hold for both advertisers and local audiences. Reflecting on key lessons learned, he details his experiences working under Berkshire Hathaway, why he finds potential in digital agency services, and his vision for the future, including expanding into more communities and a possible employee ownership model.

Episode chapters:

(00:02:59) - Overview of O’Rourke Media Group

(00:04:51) - Jim’s journey from paper delivery to media leadership

(00:10:32) - Founding O'Rourke Media Group after private equity fell through

(00:17:59) - Why local news is still a great investment

(00:21:46) - Balancing sales and editorial resources, local and centralized support

(00:29:49) - The importance of maintaining brand trust and relationships

(00:37:21) - Expanding digital while avoiding paywalls

(00:42:22) - Sponsored content and adapting digital revenue streams

(00:49:12) - Relaunching print in Milton, Vermont

(00:52:59) - The challenges of printing presses

(01:00:30) - Lessons from working at Berkshire Hathaway’s World Book

(01:03:18) - Rapid-fire questions

(01:22:14) - Media and local recommendations

 

Links:

• Show notes

• Jim O’Rourke: LinkedIn

• O’Rourke Media Group

• Mentioned

• St. Albans Messenger

• Joe Mathes

• Chaffee County Times

• Herald Democrat

• Pagosa Springs Sun

• Aurora Sentinel

• Las Vegas Optic

• Milton Independent

• Founders podcast #368 Rockefeller's Autobiography

• Founders podcast #367 Inside the Contrarian Mind of Sam Zell

• Shark Tank

• Local recommendations

• Hiking in Arizona

• Golf in Arizona

• Media recommendations

• Good Morning America

• ABC World News Tonight with David Muir on TikTok

• New York Times

• LinkedIn

• Founders podcast

• Local News Matters podcast

• E&P Reports vodcast

• Local Marketing Trends podcast with Gordon Borrell

• Local News Matters: web, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

• Pirate Audio

• Colorado Press Association: web, Twitter, Facebook

• Tim Regan-Porter: bio, Twitter

 

For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.

Past guests on the Local News Matters podcast include: Teri Finneman, Nick Mathews and Pat Ferrucci (Reviving Local News), Nic Dawes (THE CITY), Allison Taylor Levine (Local News Initiative Delaware), Crystal Good (Black by God),  Lisa Snowden (Baltimore Beat), Karen Rundlet (INN), Jim Brady (Knight Foundation), Candice Fortman (Exit interview, Outlier Media), Jean Friedman-Rudovsky (Resolve Philly), Jay Rosen (NYU), Sue Cross (Exit interview, INN), Mary Margaret White (Mississippi Today), Amy Kovac-Ashley (Tiny News Collective), Michael Shapiro (TAPinto), Kenny Katzgrau (redbankgreen and Broadstreet), John Garrett (Community Impact), Shannon Kinney (Dream Local Digital), Larry Ryckman (The Colorado Sun),  Frank Mungeam (Local Media Association), Kelly Ann Scott (Alabama Media Group), Sara Lomax and S. Mitra Kalita (URL Media), Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro (National Trust for Local News), Mike Rispoli and Richard Young (via When the People Decide), Sarabeth Berman (American Journalism Project), Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg (Intermountain Jewish News),  Lyndsay C. Green (via The Journalism Salute), Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser (New Mexico Local News Fund), Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt (The Mountain-Ear), Dan Grech (BizHack), Zack Richner (Easy Tax Credits), Tracie Powell (Pivot Fund), Dan Oshinsky (Inbox Collective), Linda Shapley (via What Works), Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton (Zette, Column), Charity Huff (January Spring), Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry (Aurora Sentinel), Steve Waldman (Rebuild Local News), Maritza Félix (Conecta Arizona), Michael Bolden (American Press Institute), Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins (CFOIC, Colorado College), Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson (Spaceship Media), Jennifer Brandel (Hearken, Democracy SOS), Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh (Sopris Sun).