"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder

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. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/shannon-kinney-why-todays-media-sellers-must-become-trusted-advisors,262305

A new global study suggests journalism's biggest challenge may not be AI, declining trust or shrinking revenues. Instead, it may be the widening gap between what news organizations say their priorities are and how their newsrooms actually operate. In a recent E&P Reports conversation, WAN-IFRA CEO Stig Kirk Ørskov and FT Strategies Insights Manager Lamberto Lambertini discussed findings from the Future Newsrooms Study, which surveyed more than 400 newsroom leaders across 86 countries and revealed an industry still spending far more time producing content than building audience relationships. As engagement replaces reach as the defining metric of success, the report raises difficult questions about newsroom culture, strategy and the skills journalists will need for the future. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/newsrooms-know-what-they-need-to-do-why-arent-they-doing-it,262126

The future of local journalism is increasingly being shaped by two fundamental questions: Who should pay for it, and what should it produce? Those questions were at the center this conversation between E&P Publisher Mike Blinder and media critic, author and journalism educator Jeff Jarvis. The discussion grew out of two recent E&P Reports episodes that sparked debate beyond E&P's audience: an interview with Rebuild Local News founder Steven Waldman about public policy funding for journalism that drew a response from The Wall Street Journal, and a New York Press Association panel on newsroom cadence, AI and audience expectations that prompted a published rebuttal from publisher Christian Hendricks. Together, the debates raised larger questions about journalism's future, sustainability and purpose—questions Jarvis was eager to tackle. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/jeff-jarvis-challenges-conventional-wisdom-on-public-policy-funding-ai-and-audience-growth,261858

As America approaches its 250th birthday, USA TODAY is reviving a nearly forgotten newspaper tradition with the debut of the "USA TODAY March," a new Sousa-style composition celebrating journalism, patriotism and community connection. In a recent E&P Reports interview, USA TODAY's Liz Johnson and composer and features writer Jim Beckerman discussed how the unusual project evolved from a piece of newspaper history into a modern effort to reconnect audiences with the civic and cultural role journalism once played in American life. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/why-usa-today-created-a-newspaper-march-for-americas-250th,261672

When a newsroom can't hire reporters, the problem isn't always pay — sometimes it's rent. In one coastal community, the cost of living got so high that journalists simply couldn't afford to cover the news. So instead of raising salaries or cutting coverage, the solution took an unexpected turn: they bought a condo. It's a bold move that may point to a new model for keeping local journalism alive. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/when-journalists-cant-afford-rent-one-newsroom-buys-them-a-home,260288

When national attention suddenly converges on a single city, the decisions made inside one local newsroom can shape how the entire world understands what's happening. That is the position The Minnesota Star Tribune now finds itself in as immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis draws intense national and international scrutiny. In this moment, journalism, safety, credibility, and brand strategy are no longer separate conversations — they are happening at once, in real time. This behind-the-scenes look reveals how the Star Tribune's newsroom and leadership are navigating pressure, responsibility, and purpose as the world watches Minneapolis. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/when-minneapolis-becomes-the-story-inside-the-star-tribunes-newsroom-and-brand-response,260084

Disinformation is no longer a background hazard of modern journalism — it is a coordinated, weaponized assault on truth itself. In a world where lies travel faster than facts and chaos is deliberately engineered to exhaust the public, national security correspondent JJ Green says journalists are now fighting a real war for credibility. Drawing on decades of coverage of intelligence, conflict zones and information warfare, Green frames today's media crisis as an existential battle for democratic survival. His new book, "The Noise War," is not a warning shot — it's a field manual for journalists on the front lines of disinformation. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/inside-the-noise-war-a-field-manual-for-journalists-fighting-disinformation,259836

What news consumers are really saying about AI: insights from the Trusting News/LMA study A new national survey of nearly 1,500 local news consumers reveals growing concern about AI's role in journalism—but also a clear path forward. Funded by the Walton Family Foundation and conducted by the Local Media Association and Trusting News, the study shows audiences overwhelmingly want human oversight, transparency, and clarity about how AI is used. John Humenik of LMA and Lynn Walsh of Trusting News joined E&P Reports to break down the results. Their message: trust is still journalism's greatest asset—AI can't replace that. Access more at this episode's landing page, at: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/988-say-ai-cant-replace-journalists-new-study-reveals-why-that-matters-now,259577