Latest E&P Exclusives

Shannon Kinney: Why today’s media sellers must become trusted advisors

Local media sales has entered a new era. Advertisers no longer need a salesperson to launch a marketing campaign, buy digital ads or build an online presence, giving them more choices—and less patience for generic sales pitches—than ever before. According to Dream Local Digital founder and E&P “Ad Sales Life” columnist Shannon Kinney, the sales professionals who thrive won’t be those with the best rate cards or biggest audiences. They’ll be the ones who consistently deliver ideas, insights and strategic value, positioning themselves as trusted advisors rather than order takers.

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Navigating the generational news gap

A growing divide in how Americans consume news is creating profound challenges for journalism and democracy alike. In this month’s Democracy Desk, E&P columnist and media policy expert Stuart N. Brotman examines new research showing younger audiences increasingly turn to social media, creators and AI-powered tools for news, while older generations remain rooted in traditional media habits. The shift raises urgent questions about trust, civic engagement and whether the next generation’s news consumption patterns can sustain an informed democracy.
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The Overlook, betting on boots-on-the-ground journalism

In the Catskill Mountains, where art, music and storytelling have long shaped the identity of small communities tucked among the peaks, something essential had gone missing: local journalism. As newspapers disappeared and coverage faded, residents were left without a consistent source to document their lives, hold institutions accountable and capture the spirit of the region. Jacqueline Kallachan believed the Catskills deserved better. What began as a conversation about filling that void grew into The Overlook, a nonprofit newsroom built to restore community connection one story at a time.
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Journalism now starts with a scroll: Creating visual complements to reporting

Today’s news audiences often encounter journalism long before they ever visit a publisher’s website, discovering stories through social media feeds, short clips and mobile platforms. In this E&P Shoptalk, Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer H. Cunningham argues that video has evolved from a distribution tactic into an essential component of modern journalism, helping publishers reach audiences where they are while guiding them toward deeper reporting and understanding.
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Lenfest connects local newsrooms with the expertise they need to grow

Local news organizations know they need to evolve. The challenge is often figuring out how. As publishers wrestle with audience growth, revenue diversification and long-term sustainability, a growing number are turning to the Lenfest Expert Network, a program that pairs local newsrooms with seasoned media consultants at no cost.
Latest #NewsMedia Headlines
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Jacqueline Smith alleges the government violated her First Amendment rights when she was dismissed in April.

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A senior executive is filing a whistleblower lawsuit against WITF’s parent company, Pennon, in Lancaster County Court.
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A collapsed litigation strategy, a penny stock and a 200% single-day surge — Getty Images just showed the media industry exactly what happens when the courts stop being an option.
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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said Thursday that ABC is running a “campaign of misinformation” about the regulatory agency’s inquiry into the network’s daytime talk show “The View.”
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Poor Meta. Only three Washington Supreme Court justices believed the social media giant’s complaint that it’s “unduly burdened” by the state’s political campaign disclosure law. The law requires media companies selling political advertising to disclose records of those ads when asked by a member of the public. It’s part of Washington’s long commitment to transparency around political campaigns.
Latest #NewsMedia Stocks of Interest

Latest "E&P Reports" Vodcast

The future of news could depend on gaming, creators and creative friction

News organizations have spent years debating whether artificial intelligence will replace journalists, whether social media is helping or hurting democracy, and whether younger audiences still value news. But according to Nebraska Public Media Chief Innovation Officer Chad Davis, those may no longer be the most important questions. During a recent episode of E&P Reports, Davis argued that journalism’s greatest challenge is understanding how audience behavior is changing in a world increasingly shaped by gaming, creator-driven platforms, conversational media and AI. His message: The future of journalism may depend less on protecting old models and more on adapting to entirely new ways people consume information, build habits and engage with media.

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Can a newspaper survive — and even thrive — without a paywall? In this month’s digital media column, E&P columnist Rob Tornoe examines the bold decision by The Salt Lake Tribune to make all of its journalism free after more than 150 years as a subscription-based publication. The move offers a fascinating case study in nonprofit sustainability, audience growth and whether membership, philanthropy and community support can replace traditional digital subscription revenue.
What happens when a major metropolitan newspaper joins forces with a Facebook group? In Houston, the answer is a partnership designed to reach audiences where they already gather online. The Houston Chronicle’s collaboration with Black Houston is creating new opportunities for community dialogue while offering a potential roadmap for audience engagement in the digital age.
How are journalism schools preparing students for a media landscape increasingly dominated by video, streaming and visual storytelling? In this month’s E&P J-School profile, reporter Tandy Lau explores how universities are building documentary filmmaking programs that combine cinematic techniques with the reporting, ethics and media law foundations of journalism. From the University of Maryland to CUNY and UC Berkeley, educators say the goal is to equip students with the storytelling skills needed to thrive across emerging platforms while preserving journalism’s commitment to accuracy and accountability.
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Many newsrooms want to create better vertical videos because they know that their audiences are scrolling on Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. But not every newsroom has expansive resources, like production teams or dedicated videographers. If they want to capture video in the field, often reporters have to do it themselves. 
A Delaware bankruptcy judge approved Spanish Broadcasting System’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan Thursday, clearing the company’s principal court hurdle in a fast-track restructuring that will cut its debt by more than three-quarters and hand ownership to its creditors.
After almost 50 years serving the Athens community, The Athens News has officially shut down shortly after ending its print edition earlier this year.
The Australian government plans to strengthen laws that ban children younger than 16 from social media platforms, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
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Latest E&P Partner Press Releases
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D-R Media and Investments of Venice, Florida, has selected SCS’s Community Advertising System to update and enhance its advertising and production workflows. By implementing CAS, D-R Media will benefit from a unified, organization-wide solution that supports display, classified and digital advertising operations, as well as invoicing, accounts receivable and customer account management.

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As shrinking newsroom staffs continue leaving major gaps in statehouse and government accountability coverage, publishers across the country are searching for ways to preserve essential journalism without adding significant overhead. Increasingly, many are turning to collaborative reporting models and syndicated newsroom partnerships designed to supplement local coverage while allowing already-stretched staffs to stay focused on their communities. Among the organizations expanding rapidly into that space is The Center Square, a nonprofit newswire that distributes state and national reporting to more than 1,350 media partners nationwide.
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Richner Communications, Inc., based in Garden City, New York, has selected SCS’s Community Advertising System to modernize and streamline its advertising, production and customer service workflows.
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When Dublin Inquirer publishes a sensitive accountability story, the challenge isn’t just reporting the facts. It’s deciding whether a small, seven-person newsroom can afford the legal risks that sometimes come with telling the public what it needs to know. For editor and co-founder Sam Tranum and deputy editor Lois Kapila, those decisions once came down to late-night conversations and educated guesswork. Today, the independent Dublin newsroom relies on Reporters Shield’s Legal Risk Assessment service to help identify potential legal vulnerabilities before publication—allowing journalists to move forward with greater confidence while keeping important stories alive.
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On June 3, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, Nota announced the debut of Intelligence. This new offering empowers media professionals by assisting them in selecting coverage topics and generating initial ideas, all seamlessly integrated into their current workflow.
Latest E&P Sponsored Case Studies

As rising production costs and shrinking press runs continue to challenge newspapers in smaller markets, publishers are searching for new ways to keep print profitable. During a recent E&P sponsored webinar, CherryRoad Media shared how a distributed digital printing model is helping smaller newspapers reduce costs, improve margins and position print for a more sustainable future.

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For years, local media companies have invested heavily in digital services, believing they were building the next generation of sustainable advertising revenue. Yet according to digital advertising veteran Zack Watson, many publishers may be overlooking a critical problem: The issue isn’t selling digital marketing solutions — it’s what happens after the sale. During a recent E&P webinar, Watson argued that hidden fulfillment costs, reporting expenses, programmatic markups and operational inefficiencies are quietly eroding margins, leaving publishers with impressive revenue numbers but far less profit than they realize.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in newsroom and business operations, publishers are facing growing pressure to answer difficult questions from readers, advertisers and regulators. How is AI being used? What safeguards are in place? Who is accountable when mistakes occur? To help publishers navigate those challenges, the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) has expanded its Ethical AI Certification program, offering a framework designed to demonstrate responsible AI use while strengthening trust, transparency and accountability.
As CherryRoad Media rapidly expanded to more than 100 newspapers across 18 states, one thing became clear: growth wasn’t being limited by demand — it was being constrained by operational bottlenecks. Instead of adding more internal resources, the company made a strategic shift — outsourcing one of its most complex workflows to unlock efficiency, accelerate revenue, and scale smarter.
Help us recognize the foundation of news publishing, the Operations leaders who help us produce quality products each day while keeping an eye on the bottom line! Nominate an Operations colleague today, so we can profile them and share their ideas with the global news publishing industry in our 2026 class of "Operations All-Stars!"