Today Paul speaks with Jordan Brechenser, president and publisher at Vermont News and Media, about the unique and pressing challenges facing local newspapers in rural America. The discussion dives deep into the economics of print journalism, the critical shift to mail based delivery due to rising costs, and the strain placed on rural postal infrastructure. Jordan offers candid insight into how these shifts impact both newspapers and the communities they serve.

Links:

Jordan Brechenser - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-brechenser-71769147/

Email Jordan directly:

[email protected]

Brattleboro Reformer

https://www.reformer.com/

Bennington Banner

https://www.benningtonbanner.com/

Manchester Journal

https://www.manchesterjournal.com/

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Today Paul chats with Cliff Hightower, managing editor of the Johnson City Press, a regional daily newspaper in East Tennessee. Cliff shares his winding journey from teenage fiction writer to Army veteran to award winning journalist. He discusses the realities of sustaining a local newsroom, from balancing print and digital media to navigating natural disasters.

Links:

Cliff Hightower - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliff-hightower/

Johnson City Press

https://johnsoncitypress.com/

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Today Paul sits down with Jill Manuel, founder of JCat Group and creator of the Trust Shift newsletter, to explore how trust in media is evolving, and what local newsrooms must do to stay relevant. With over two decades in national and local news, Jill brings deep insight into the seismic shifts reshaping journalism in the age of vertical video, TikTok, and creator led storytelling.

Links:

The Trust Shift

https://the-trust-shift.beehiiv.com/

Jill Manuel - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillannmanuel/

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In this episode, Paul welcomes Ben Jacobs, Editor and Associate Publisher at BridgeTower Media, for a deep dive into the evolution of local business journalism, the unique challenges of leadership in media, and how AI is reshaping news operations.

Links:

BridgeTower Media

https://bridgetowermedia.com/

Benjamin Jacobs - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjacobsroch/

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Today Paul sits down with Alisa Cromer, a veteran journalist and the force behind NichePublisher.biz, to explore the shifting landscape of local and niche media. Alisa shares lessons from selling alt weeklies for millions, insights from decades of media evolution, and practical strategies for thriving today.

Links:

NichePublisher.biz

https://www.nichepublisher.biz/

Alisa Cromer - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacromer/

Lutra AI

https://lutra.ai/

Replit AI app builder

https://replit.com/

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In this episode, Christina Lords shares her path from reluctant journalism student to leading one of Idaho’s most impactful nonprofit newsrooms. As Editor-in-Chief of the Idaho Capital Sun, Christina offers a candid look at what it means to cover state politics in the often overlooked Mountain West, and why it matters now more than ever.

Links:

Idaho Capital Sun

https://idahocapitalsun.com/

States Newsroom

https://statesnewsroom.com/

Christina Lords

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-lords/

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Today Paul sits down with Kristen Go, Editor-in-Chief at CalMatters. Kristen talks about her story in local media and Digital Democracy, CalMatters’ ambitious transparency tool that aggregates California legislative data: bills, hearings, transcripts, lobbying money, and more, and makes it searchable and actionable.

Links:

CalMatters

https://calmatters.org/

Digital Democracy

https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/

Kristen Go - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-go-9a01aa6/

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In this episode, Paul talks with Michael Phillips, the founding editor of The Richmonder, a nonprofit news outlet based in Richmond, VA. Michael shares his journey from sportswriter to civic watchdog, the challenges of launching a nonprofit newsroom, and how The Richmonder is rekindling local media engagement. From covering City Council meetings no one else would to building trust one newsletter at a time, Michael breaks down what makes local journalism matter and why being general interest is a radical choice in today’s media landscape.

Links:

The Richmonder

https://www.richmonder.org/

Michael Phillips - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-phillips-16139462/

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In this episode, Paul sits down with David Gehring, co-founder and CEO of Distributed Media Lab, to explore how innovative distribution models can revitalize local journalism. David shares his journey from enterprise software to news partnerships at Google, and eventually to launching a platform that empowers local publishers to share content, grow revenue, and maintain editorial independence.

Links:

Distributed Media Lab

https://www.distributedmedialab.com/

David Gehring - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgehring/

AMP Protocol

https://amp.dev/

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In this episode, Paul is joined by Leigh Munsil, Editor in Chief of the San Antonio Report, a nonprofit, hyperlocal newsroom. Leigh shares her journey from national media powerhouses like Politico and CNN to leading a local newsroom in one of America's fastest growing cities. She reflects on the contrasts between national and community journalism, and why local newsrooms might hold the key to the future of trustworthy, impactful journalism.

Links:

San Antonio Report

https://sanantonioreport.org/

Leigh Munsil - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighmunsil/

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