Today Paul speaks with Mark Talkington, founder of Valley Voice Media and co-creator of Satchel, an AI powered reporting tool, about his unique path from traditional journalism to tech powered local news innovation.

Mark shares how a career that began in weekly newspapers led him to help launch ESPN.com, build tools at Microsoft, and ultimately return to community journalism in Palm Springs, California. What started as a side project Substack during the pandemic has grown into a thriving local media company with thousands of subscribers and an AI tool now used by newsrooms around the world.

Links:

Mark Talkington - LinkedIn

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

Valley Voice Media

https://www.valleyvoicemedia.org/

Satchel AI

https://www.satchelai.com/

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In this episode, Paul speaks with Greg Krehbiel, president of The Krehbiel Group, about the accelerating disruption AI poses to publishing, local media, and the broader economy. Greg shares insights from his decades long career in B2B publishing and his current work helping publishers bridge the gap between technology and strategy.

They talk about why AI may not be "just another wave of disruption", the existential threat AI poses to jobs across industries, how local publishers can retain relevance and economic viability, and a lot more.

Links:

Greg Krehbiel - LinkedIn

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

The Krehbiel Group

https://krehbielgroup.com/

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Today on the podcast Laura Rearwin Ward shares the gritty, hands on journey of taking over a struggling local newspaper, turning it around from the brink of bankruptcy, and championing independent journalism across California.

Links:

Laura Rearwin Ward - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-rearwin-ward-564b2466/

Ojai Valley News

https://www.ojaivalleynews.com/

California Independent News Alliance (CINA)

https://cina.news/

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Today Paul talks with Brian Feister, a longtime software engineer and the creator of Meet Near Me: a platform designed to make it easier for publishers to gather and share local event data.

Brian shares how his early WordPress plugin attempts evolved into a full fledged platform aimed at local publishers, newsletters, and community organizations. He explains how Meet Near Me tackles the real challenge of aggregating hyper local events like open mic nights, high school sports, or city parades, events that often get overlooked by major platforms like Eventbrite or Meetup.

Links:

Brian Feister - LinkedIn

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

Meet Near Me beta signup

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoJBiCPlMMjhSmdf-yFnqIptHVPELlTHr1hPM3e6DwZPy-Ww/viewform

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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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