January 07, 2026

Who’s watching the city? Why local journalism still has teeth

28 minutes

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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