On Assignment

What if local news could do more than report problems—what if it could inspire action and connection?

In this episode, host Liz Cochrane speaks with Nari Han about the growing disconnect many people feel when faced with a relentless stream of bad news. Together, they explore how the concept of "civic joy" offers a new path forward: storytelling that builds trust, reflects community resilience, and invites meaningful engagement.

We explore:

• How constant negativity fuels disconnection
• The shift “upstream from news” toward actionable, human-centered information
• What “solutions journalism” looks like in local practice
• How storytelling can foster trust, civic pride, and agency
• Real-world ideas: community spotlights, story skill shares, and neighborhood idea labs

Tune in to hear how reimagining the role of news can transform doomscrolling into a shared sense of purpose.

In this episode of "On Assignment," host Liz Cochrane sits down with expert Malcolm Redd to explore the challenging landscape facing local news outlets in Central Pennsylvania. We dig into the broken business model that has traditionally funded local journalism.

Malcolm explains how the old reliance on local advertising revenue has largely disappeared online, leaving newsrooms struggling to find ways to pay the bills. This has led to many local papers shrinking or even closing.

We discuss the impact of these changes on our communities, including how social media, particularly Facebook, has become the primary source of news for many residents.... While convenient, this shift can sometimes mean less in-depth, fact-checked reporting. We also touch on how fewer than 4 in 10 Central Pennsylvanians feel "somewhat" connected to their community, a number that reliable local news can help improve1....

But it's not all challenging! Malcolm shares insights from community research about the search for sustainable solutions. The conversation goes "upstream from news" to look at building trust, centering solutions, and equipping people for civic action....

Listen in as we discuss promising new approaches, including:

•Nonprofit or hybrid media models

•Membership or community-based funding

•Collaborative efforts among news organizations and community groups...

•The potential of technology like AI to assist journalists

•Focusing on solutions journalism and stories that build "civic joy"...

•Rebuilding trust through relationships and transparency...

This episode highlights that finding a sustainable future for local news isn't just about business models; it's about reimagining how news can serve and empower communities and is an invitation for everyone to help co-create what comes next.

In this special supplemental episode of On Assignment, guest host Marianne Keller explores a growing crisis that’s quietly reshaping life in America: the expansion of news deserts — communities with little to no access to reliable local news.

More than 3,200 newspapers have vanished since 2005. Jobs have disappeared. Local stories go untold. Government oversight weakens. And millions of people — particularly in rural, low-income, and minority communities — are left in an information void.

We break down:

• What news deserts are and where they're spreading
• How a lack of local journalism harms democracy, accountability, and civic life
• The disproportionate impact on underserved communities
• Promising solutions: nonprofit newsrooms, philanthropic support, new ownership models, and policy innovations

With insights from research at Northwestern, Columbia Journalism Review, Nieman Lab, UNC, and more, this episode dives deep into the consequences of vanishing local news — and what can be done to fix it.

Where do people  get their news—and what does that say about the health of our civic life? In this episode of On Assignment, host Gath Townsend is joined by media ecosystem expert Marianne Keller to unpack the findings of Central Pennsylvania first-ever Information Ecosystem Map. They explore how traditional and informal sources—from newspapers to Facebook groups—shape community connection, trust, and participation.

Together, they discuss the decline of legacy news, the rise of social media, and the urgent need to reimagine local information systems for a more inclusive, connected, and action-ready future.

🎧 Topics include:

• News deserts and “information jungles”
• Rebuilding trust through relationships
• Why local voices and solutions matter
• How media can foster “civic joy”

This episode is a starting point for anyone who believes local information should serve everyone—not just those already tuned in.

In this episode of On Assignment, host Liz Cochrane sits down with information ecosystem expert Jane Swisshelm to explore a core issue at the heart of modern journalism: trust. Drawing from research and lived experience in Central Pennsylvania, they unpack why rebuilding trust in news isn’t just about delivering facts—it’s about fostering relationships, transparency, and shared community spaces. From “news deserts” to intergenerational gaps in media consumption, Liz and Jane examine how local connection, humanized storytelling, and civic dialogue can rebuild the social fabric that makes trustworthy information possible.

This conversation highlights concrete ideas for journalists, educators, and communities seeking to reimagine local media in a time of deep division and digital disruption.