Local News Matters

We've taken a little time off to focus on the Colorado Press Association's 145th annual convention last month. It was a great event, featuring many of the guests you've heard on this podcast. But it's an all-consuming event, and I'm excited to go back to putting out episodes.

For now, I'm dropping a guest episode of When the People Decide, a show about how everyday people are shaping democracy. It's hosted by Jenna Spinelle, who is also a journalism instructor at Penn State and produced the News Guest podcast for LION Publishers. In this episode, she discusses the relevance of civic information with Mike Rispoli of Free Press, and then delves into how that can be put into practice with Richard Young, founder of CivicLex, a non-profit that is bridging the gap between news and news consumers in Kentucky.

I encourage you to follow When the People Decide in your favorite podcast app and visit the website at thepeopledecide.show.

Check back next episode for my interview with Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro of the National Trust for Local News.

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: Sarabeth Berman, Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg, Lyndsay C. Green (The Journalism Salute), Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser, Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt, Dan Grech, Zack Richner, Tracie Powell, Dan Oshinsky, Linda Shapley (What Works), Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton, Charity Huff, Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry, Steve Waldman, Maritza Félix, Michael Bolden, Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins, Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson, Jennifer Brandel, Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh.

Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project, discusses the organization's approach to helping nonprofit news organizations build strong, sustainable businesses. She shares insights from her unique vantage point, having come from outside the world of journalism. The conversation also delves into AJP's collaboration with OpenAI, examining the evolving role of AI technologies in shaping the future of news.

Episode chapters:

(02:46) - The mission of the American Journalism Project

(06:48) - Coming from outside of journalism with a sense of what's possible

(16:52) - Why local news matters to communities

(23:34) - AJP's partnership with OpenAI and AI's implications for journalism

(34:01) - AJP's programs for newsrooms

(41:56) - Philanthropy and building strong business teams and practices

(47:13) - Supporting ethnic media and collaborating across the ecosystem

(55:21) - Diversifying newsroom revenue

(58:08) - Rapid-fire questions

• American Journalism Project: web, Facebook, Instagram, Medium, Twitter/X

• Sarabeth Berman: LinkedIn, Twitter/X

• Mentioned:

• Mississippi Today

• VTDigger

• Capital B

• Signal Ohio

• Houston Landing

• Indiana Local News Initiative

• Press Forward

• Houston Endowment

• Enlace Latino NC

• Outlier Media

• Recommendations:

• New York Times audio app

• Smartless podcast

• Local news newsletters

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

• Colorado Press Association: web, Twitter, Facebook

• Tim Regan-Porter: bio, Twitter

Past guests on the Local News Matters podcast include: Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg, Lyndsay C. Green (The Journalism Salute), Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser, Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt, Dan Grech, Zack Richner, Tracie Powell, Dan Oshinsky, Linda Shapley (What Works), Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton, Charity Huff, Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry, Steve Waldman, Maritza Félix, Michael Bolden, Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins, Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson, Jennifer Brandel, Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh.

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

Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg reflect on the legacy of the Intermountain Jewish News (IJN) as it marks its 110th year. They delve into IJN's dedication to unbiased journalism, its profound impact on the Jewish community, and the evolving landscape of news. IJN's journey underscores the value of balanced journalism, the significance of community engagement, and the importance of adaptability in the ever-changing media landscape.

Episode chapters:

(01:58) - The importance of the Intermountain Jewish News to its community

(06:49) - IJN's footprint and approach to news

(12:17) - The 110th Anniversary Edition

(15:39) - The importance of national news for local audiences

(21:46) - Changes to the business of news at IJN and the Jewish press more broadly

(31:57) - Words of wisdom

• Intermountain Jewish News: web, Facebook

• Rabbi Hillel Goldberg: about

• Shana Goldberg: LinkedIn

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

• 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: Lyndsay C. Green (The Journalism Salute), Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser, Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt, Dan Grech, Zack Richner, Tracie Powell, Dan Oshinsky, Linda Shapley (What Works), Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton, Charity Huff, Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry, Steve Waldman, Maritza Félix, Michael Bolden, Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins, Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson, Jennifer Brandel, Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh.

I'm excited to share an episode of The Journalism Salute podcast from Mark Simon. Mark describes the podcast as a "journalism appreciation" podcast. His interviews with a diverse cast of working journalists are nice compliments to the interviews Local News Matters does on the newsrooms and support systems that enable that work.

In this episode, Mark talks to Lyndsay C. Green. Lyndsay is a dining and restaurant critic for the Detroit Free Press. This past year she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for criticism for a body of work described thusly by her employer:

"Eye-opening, thought-provoking and mouthwatering, Lyndsay's work brings fresh perspective and uncommon courage to readers hungry for brave dining criticism. She taps into Detroit's culturally expansive and unpretentious spirit as she reviews area eateries."

Lyndsay talked about her path from beauty writer to food critic, how she spoke a personal passion project into existence, a column she wrote about how Black women can go unseen in fine dining, the process by which she does restaurant reviews and other extensive coverage of her beat, and how both eating food and growing food inspire her.

Read Lyndsay's work here: https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/lyndsay-c-green-detroit-free-press

I encourage you to follow The Journalism Salute in your favorite podcast app, visit their website at thejournalismsolute.org and follow them on Twitter/X @journalismpod.

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: Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser, Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt, Dan Grech, Zack Richner, Tracie Powell, Dan Oshinsky, Linda Shapley, Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton, Charity Huff, Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry, Steve Waldman, Maritza Félix, Michael Bolden, Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins, Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson, Jennifer Brandel, Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh.

New Mexico is one of a number of state-level bright spots in local news, thanks in large part to the efforts of our guests. Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser shed light on the New Mexico Local News Fund's initiatives to bridge gaps in local journalism. From fostering young talent to securing state funding, they explore the Fund's impact on communities and the future of news in New Mexico.

Episode chapters:

(02:07) - How the New Mexico Local News Fund Started

(07:15) - The Local News Fund's mission and programs

(14:43) - State funding of the Fund

(21:07) - Supporting young journalists, especially journalists of color and those in rural areas

(26:04) - Funding as a crucial component of diversifying newsrooms

(29:30) - Class diversity in newsrooms

(31:53) - Impacts on newsrooms and communities

(41:10) - Accelerators and building sustainability with programs

(46:45) - Collaborating with non-journalists

(50:22) - Rapid-fire questions

• New Mexico Local News Fund: web, Twitter/X, Facebook

• Rashad Mahmood: LinkedIn, Twitter/X

• Mark Glaser: LinkedIn, Twitter/X

• Wind Power Media

• Mentioned:

  • Sarah Gustavus

  • Democracy Fund

  • Thornburg Foundation

  • KUNM

  • MediaShift

  • Report for America

  • Journalism department at the University of New Mexico

  • Knight Foundation

  • Center for Collaborative Journalism

  • Solutions Journalism Network

  • Reyes Mata III

  • Generation Justice

  • Searchlight New Mexico

  • Empowerment Congress

  • Colorado News Collaborative (COLab)

  • The Lenfest Institute

  • Downtown Albuquerque News

  • New Mexico In Depth

  • Source NM

  • NM Political Report

  • Santa Fe Reporter

  • American Ghost: A Family's Haunted Past in the Desert Southwest

  • Platonic

  • Inasmuch Foundation

  • McCune Charitable Foundation

  • Con Alma Health Foundation

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

• 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: Christian Vanek and Barbara Hardt, Dan Grech, Zack Richner, Tracie Powell, Dan Oshinsky, Linda Shapley, Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton, Charity Huff, Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry, Steve Waldman, Maritza Félix, Michael Bolden, Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins, Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson, Jennifer Brandel, Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh.

The Mountain-Ear, nestled in Nederland, Colorado, has long been a cherished source of community journalism. With a tech entrepreneur's recent investment aimed at preserving the paper's legacy and supporting its evolution, both he and editor/publisher (and former owner) Barbara Hardt join us to discuss their journeys. Barbara discusses her multifaceted role, the challenges and rewards of "professional juggling," and the paper's innovative ventures, from podcasting to community partnerships. It's a glimpse into the enduring value of local news and the individuals dedicated to its future.

Episode chapters:

(02:10) - Why a tech entrepreneur bought this print newspaper

(06:30) - Barbara Hardt's background at the paper and plans for the future

(09:33) - About Nederland, Colorado and the Mountain-Ear

(15:17) - On being a "professional juggler"

(18:32) - Producing a local news podcast

(21:46) - Managing interns with a small team

(23:43) - Partnering with local organizations

(30:03) - Advice for small publishers looking to engage the community beyond print

(33:47) - Accountability reporting at a small community paper

• Mountain-Ear: web, Facebook, Instagram

• The Mountain-Ear Podcast: web, Apple Podcasts, Spotify

• Barbara Hardt: LinkedIn

• Christian Vanek: LinkedIn

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

• 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: Dan Grech, Zack Richner, Tracie Powell, Dan Oshinsky, Linda Shapley, Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton, Charity Huff, Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry, Steve Waldman, Maritza Félix, Michael Bolden, Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins, Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson, Jennifer Brandel, Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and journalism with Dan Grech, a Pulitzer-winning former journalist and news director who has transitioned into the world of marketing and AI. Grech shares his unique perspective on the potential of AI to transform storytelling, marketing, and more, while also discussing the emotional, personal, and ethical implications of his transition from journalism to business. The conversation delves into the potential impacts of AI on journalism and local news, the unique value that human intelligence provides, and the transformative potential of AI.

Episode chapters:

(03:57) - Dan's journey from journalism to business and AI

(13:31) - The destructive way journalists talk about business roles

(18:28) - The epochal change presented by generative AI

(31:03) - AI's impact on the 5 pillars of journalism

(35:09) - AI's implications for intellectual property and curation

(41:18) - AI's implications for the business models of journalism

(46:10) - Using AI in newsrooms

• Dan Grech: LinkedIn, Twitter

• BizHack Academy: web, Twitter

• BizHack's "AI for Marketing and Sales" course

• WLRN

• Center for Collaborative Journalism

• "Schweddy Balls" SNL skit

• ChatGPT

• Stable Diffusion

• Midjourney

• Planet Money makes an episode using AI

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

• 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: Zack Richner, Tracie Powell, Dan Oshinsky, Linda Shapley, Yehong Zhu and Jake Seaton, Charity Huff, Joaquin Alvarado and Dave Perry, Steve Waldman, Maritza Félix, Michael Bolden, Jeff Roberts and Corey Hutchins, Eve Pearlman and Erica Anderson, Jennifer Brandel, Corey Hutchins with Bay Edwards, Todd Chamberlain and Raleigh Burleigh.

Zack Richner, founder of Easy Tax Credits and third-generation community newspaper owner, demystifies the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) and its potential benefits for news organizations. Zack explains how his company assists businesses, including newspapers, in applying for the ERTC, and how this process can generate substantial referral revenue. The discussion delves into the specifics of the tax credit, the application timeframe, and the overall benefits for newsrooms.

Episode chapters:

(02:03) - ERTC program for newsrooms and Zack's newspaper background

(04:56) - How ERTC works

(09:24) - Newsroom success in generating revenue by helping local businesses

(12:46) - How newsrooms are promoting program, what types of communities have seen success, and timeframes

(16:43) - How to sign up

• Zachary (Zack) Richner: LinkedIn

• Easy Tax Credits: web (use code COPRESS)

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

• Colorado Press Association: web, Twitter, Facebook

• Tim Regan-Porter: bio, Twitter

Zachary Richner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Arrandale Ventures, a mission-driven, strategic venture capital firm that is creating a truly innovative and sustainable business model for local media companies. Now more than ever, it is critical for the health of our democracy to have an independent and vibrant free press. Zack has successfully invested in startups through his family's three-generation media firm, Richner Communications, Inc. (RCI), which is one of the largest local content providers in New York State. By leveraging RCI's core competencies—trusted community relationships with consumers and businesses—he has generated outsize returns on these investments through a uniquely accretive performance equity model. Zack further honed his venture investing skills at Fifth Wall Ventures, where he not only evaluated early-stage companies but also developed strategy for new funds. Zack has been repeatedly recognized at the national and local levels for his leadership growing and scaling nascent organizations in innovative ways. He has spent extensive time in high-profile public sector roles, including serving in the White House Office of the Chief of Staff, working as director of the $1 billion NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program and managing the largest state budget in campaign history as Ohio Budget Director for the Obama 2012 campaign. A graduate of Harvard College, Zack received an MBA from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and an MS Design Innovation from Northwestern University - McCormick School of Engineering. He is a NEXUS Global delegate and serves on the Kellogg Admissions Leadership Council.

Tracie Powell, the engaging and provocative founder and CEO of the Pivot Fund, shares her unique perspective on the intersection of journalism, philanthropy, and racial equity. Drawing from her rich experiences spanning j-school, advertising and circulation, reporting, law school, and her current role in philanthropy, Tracie provides a nuanced view of the media landscape.

She delves into the mission of the Pivot Fund, emphasizing its commitment to centering BIPOC communities and the importance of participatory grantmaking. Tracie underscores the need for comprehensive, wraparound services for newsrooms, highlighting the importance of holistic support that extends beyond mere financial aid.

A significant part of the discussion is dedicated to addressing both the race and often overlooked class problems in journalism. Tracie provides actionable insights on how white-led newsrooms can foster inclusivity and better represent the communities they serve.

This conversation is a deep exploration of the challenges and opportunities in today's media landscape, offering valuable insights for anyone interested in the future of journalism and the role of philanthropy in shaping it.

Episode chapters:

(02:31) - What is the Pivot Fund and how is it distinctive?

(05:04) - Centering BIPOC communities (vs. BIPOC founders), participatory grantmaking

(13:47) - Tracie's journey through J-school, advertising & circulation, reporting, law school & philanthropy

(21:48) - Wraparound services for newsrooms

(25:36) - Journalism's class problem

(32:20) - What white-led newsrooms should do to include people of color

(42:16) - Rapid-fire questions

• Tracie Powell: LinkedIn, Twitter

• Pivot Fund: web, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube

• The Pivot Fund Pod: Apple, Spotify

• Recommendations

• Prison Town podcast

• Kansas City Defender

• Black Joy

• The hyperlocal newsrooms in your community

• Mentioned:

• Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy

• JSK Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University

• LION Publishers

• Racial Equity in Journalism (REJ) Fund at Borealis Philanthropy

• Public Square Initiative at Democracy Fund

• Columbia Journalism Review

• Poynter

• Georgetown Law Center

• Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

• El Tîmpano

• Local Media Association interview

• Pasa la Voz

• Black America Web

• Local Media Association

• Media Impact Funders

• American Journalism Project

• Nieman Lab

• Atlanta Daily World

• Indians in Cummings GA

• Wendy Thomas and Amethyst Davis interview

• MLK 50

• Documented New York

• Enlace Latino

• Sahan Journal

• Axios Atlanta

• Decaturish

• ATLSCOOP

• butter.atl

• Reynolds Journalism Institute

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

• Colorado Press Association: web, Twitter, Facebook

• Tim Regan-Porter: bio, Twitter

Tracie Powell is a leader in philanthropic efforts to increase racial equity and diversity in news media. She is the founder of The Pivot Fund, which seeks to support independent BIPOC community news.

Powell was a Fall 2021 Shorenstein Center Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, where she researched mechanisms for funding and capacity building for media outlets run by and for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, other people of color, and traditionally marginalized) communities. Powell is the immediate past board chair of LION Publishers, a professional journalism association for independent news publishers where she had served on the board since 2017.

Prior to her work with The Pivot Fund and Harvard, Powell was founding fund manager of the Racial Equity in Journalism (REJ) Fund at Borealis Philanthropy. Powell is also the founder of AllDigitocracy.org, which focuses on the media and its impact on diverse communities. She was a senior fellow with the Democracy Fund, where she worked on the Public Square Initiative that seeks to support informed dialogue through nonprofit journalism investments. Powell was a 2016 JSK (Knight) Fellow at Stanford University and has written regularly for the Columbia Journalism Review and Poynter Online. Her work has been highlighted by countless journalism and academic institutions, including Harvard's Nieman Journalism Lab. She is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and The University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Dan Oshinsky, founder of Inbox Collective, is one of the foremost experts on building, growing and monetizing newsletters. Oshinsky discusses how email newsletters remain a powerful tool for local newsrooms to build an audience and generate revenue, best practices for creating successful newsletters, and the benefits of AI-powered tools for writers. Oshinsky provides examples of successful newsletters and offers advice on how local newsrooms can grow their audience and provide value to paying subscribers.

Episode chapters:

(02:11) - Why should people care about newsletters in 2023?

(07:48) - Accidentally becoming an email power user and newsletter expert

(12:40) - Translating lessons from large national brands to smaller local publications

(14:55) - Local newsroom success stories

(19:56) - Building relationships via different types of newsletters

(24:38) - What is the jobs-to-be-done for your newsletter?

(28:17) - Optimizing your newsletters

(33:13) - Pricing newsletter ads

(37:54) - Paid and subscriber-only newsletters

(43:37) - AI in the newsletter space

(48:12) - Rapid-fire questions

• Dan Oshinsky: web, LinkedIn, Twitter

• Inbox Collective: web, LinkedIn, Twitter

• Not a Newsletter

• Mentioned:

• The Information

• Buzzfeed

• The New Yorker

• Tools for Reporters

• New York Times

• Politico Playbook

• theSkimm

• Quartz

• Searchlight New Mexico

• NewsMatch

• WBUR

• Boulder Reporting Lab

• Colorado Sun

• Punchbowl News

• Clayton Christensen's Jobs to Be Done framework

• Jax Today

• Rough Draft Atlanta

• Naptown Scoop

• The Post and Courier

• Puck

• Summari

• Recommendations

• The Town podcast

• Amusing Ourselves to Death

• Growth Croissant newsletter

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

• Colorado Press Association: web, Twitter, Facebook

• Tim Regan-Porter: bio, Twitter