With newspaper advertising expected to decline in 2026, Brian Dudley of The Seattle Times says the news business needs state tax credits as well as payments from the giant tech platforms. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/a-ch...

The Providence Journal reports on Elizabeth McNamara, a former ProJo journalist who left to take charge of a hyperlocal nonprofit called EG News in East Greenwich, R.I. www.providencejournal.com/story/news/l...

A tool to help local journalists with science reporting: www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/a-na... And here is our podcast with Matt DeRienzo, director of SciLine, which also provides resources for local journalists. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

On the latest "What Works" podcast, Jennifer Peter, the new editor of The Marshall Project, tells @ellenclegg.bsky.social and @dankennedy.net about how the nonprofit covers criminal justice — including how it is extending its work to local news. Plus our Quick Takes. whatworks.news/2025/12/23/j...

Local news outlets aren't just reporting on the effects of climate change in their communities. In some cases, they're being directly affected by climate change. localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2025/1...

Good news about local news: The editor of the Bulletin newspapers, which cover a number of Boston neighborhoods as well as Norwood, is purchasing the independent chain from its retiring owners. @universalhub.com has the story. www.universalhub.com/2025/editor-...

A biting critique of Big Philanthropy and local news. "These funders — including the American Journalism Project, which drove the creation of Houston Landing — have increasingly been picking the winners and losers in American journalism, with no consequences when their calls go badly wrong."

One of the hardest challenges for a small hyperlocal news site is covering a huge breaking story that is also being covered by much larger media outlets — in this case, The Boston Globe. Here's how @brooklinenews.bsky.social is reporting on the killing of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro.

Reynolds Journalism Institute and Local Media Consortium Launch News Media Help Desk for Local Newsroom Sustainability. www.localmediaconsortium.com/post/reynold...

Nancy Barnes, The Boston Globe's first female editor, will step down at the end of next week. dankennedy.net/2025/12/12/n...

A Boston-area local news roundup by What Works' Dan Kennedy: "Beat the Press with Emily Rooney" hits Substack; Cambridge Day cuts back on Somerville News; and DigBoston co-founder Jeff Lawrence dies. dankennedy.net/2025/12/12/b...

On the new "What Works" podcast, Chris Fitzsimon tells us how @statesnewsroom.com has built a nationwide statehouse news network. Plus: Our Quick Takes on developments in local news. whatworks.news/2025/12/09/c...

The new "What Works" podcast is up, just in time for your holiday driving pleasure! Todd Landfried tells @ellenclegg.bsky.social and @dankennedy.net about The Local, his vision for streaming video newscasts in all 50 states. Plus: Our Quick Takes on developments in local news.

New at What Works: @northeasternu.bsky.social researchers offer a lifeline for TV newsrooms seeking younger audiences. whatworks.news/2025/11/24/n...

The @sltrib.com has been a beacon for large daily newspapers since going nonprofit. Now it's getting ready to drop its paywall. www.sltrib.com/news/2025/11...

New at Media Nation: Layoffs at The Dallas Morning News by Hearst provoke a bitter "we told you so" from Alden Global Capital, which lost a bidding war for the paper despite offering more money. dankennedy.net/2025/11/21/l...

The @apnews.com raises $30 million in philanthropic dollars to provide Associated Press coverage to local newsrooms. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/ap-f...

The @bostonglobe.com launches its long-promised weekly newsletter covering high-school sports. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-...

Great reporting by This Week in Worcester. thisweekinworcester.com/exclusive-tr...

This is so impressive. @ellenclegg.bsky.social and @dankennedy.net profiled The Mendocino Voice in their book, "What Works in Community News." The Voice is a very different project today but still turning out great work. baycitynews.bluelena.io/index.php?ac...

Good story in @niemanlab.org about our friends at @bostonu.bsky.social and the BU Newsroom, which offers student-produced coverage to hyperlocal news outlets in Greater Boston. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/a-wi...

Are there warning signs in rosy announcements about funding for local news? @dicktofel.bsky.social lifts the lid. dicktofel.substack.com/p/why-happy-...

Editor & Publisher's @gretchenapeck.bsky.social reports on new findings that states with fewer newspapers are less likely to comply with public records laws — and that strong press associations are a key to government transparency. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/when...

A couple of quick hits from @niemanlab.org on the local news beat: First: "Want to build a sustainable local newsroom? These 21 steps will help you get there, a new report finds." www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/want... (1/2)

On the brand spanking new "What Works" podcast, Kade Krichko tells us about the global localism of Ori magazine. Plus: Jon Keller is at large, and we talk about the future of local TV news. whatworks.news/2025/11/12/k...

Santa Cruz Local hires a managing editor. Alexandria Bordas is an experienced journalist who currently heads Cabrillo College's journalism department. mailchi.mp/santacruzloc...

New at What Works: The Plymouth Independent names a Pulitzer winner as its next editor. whatworks.news/2025/11/07/t...

The @walthamtimes.bsky.social, a nonprofit startup in the Boston area, is seeking a part-time assistant editor, an ad sales rep and a board member. walthamtimes.org/join-our-team/

For people living in the Deep South, local news is what really matters. deepsouthtoday.org/2025/10/29/w...

Since 2021, @ellenclegg.bsky.social and @dankennedy.net have recorded 107 episodes of the "What Works" podcast, interviewing entrepreneurs and thought leaders on the future of local news. Our latest is with Rick Goldsmith, whose film "Stripped for Parts" is streaming on @pbs.org. Give us a listen!

Another headache for news publishers: How AI browsers sneak past blockers and paywalls. www.cjr.org/analysis/how...

What Works co-leader @dankennedy.net talks with @iandonnis.bsky.social of @oceanstatemedia.bsky.social about why the local-news ecosystem in Mass. (and R.I.) is stronger than it is in some other parts of the country. www.oceanstatemedia.org/news-and-cul...

Call us skeptical: Nextdoor doubles down on local news — here's why publishers should care. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/next...

On the new "What Works" podcast, Rick Goldsmith tells us about "Stripped for Parts," his jeremiad against hedge-fund journalism. whatworks.news/2025/10/28/r...

New at What Works: The New York Times discovers Maine's Midcoast Villager. Here's the rest of the story. whatworks.news/2025/10/27/t...

Alden Global Capital's @denverpost.com owes the city of Denver $2 million in back rent on its former headquarters, @coreyhutchins.bsky.social reports. coloradomedia.substack.com/p/awkward-de...

A new nonprofit, the Tulsa Flyer, achieves liftoff — and is helping to revitalize The Oklahoma Eagle, a historic Black-owned newspaper. tulsaflyer.org/tulsa-flyer-...

The Worcester Guardian and @gbhnews.bsky.social have announced a partnership, debuting with a story about barriers to voting. theworcesterguardian.org/f/worcester-...

📰 @stevenwaldman.bsky.social has taken a look at @localnewsini.bsky.social’s new report on the State of Local News. And he’s deeply worried. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/were...

New at What Works: Digital startups are a bright spot in the latest "State of Local News" report, but rural areas are lagging. whatworks.news/2025/10/21/d...

Do you publish an independent hyperlocal newspaper or digital news outlet in Massachusetts? Make sure you're in our What Works database! Please visit tinyurl.com/mass-indy-news.

New at What Works: How to spot trustworthy news — and how you can tell when it's not. From the @granitestatenc.bsky.social. whatworks.news/2025/10/17/h...

Public journalism redux: Post-academia, @jayrosen.bsky.social returns to where he started. What implications might this have for local journalism? New by @dankennedy.net. dankennedy.net/2025/10/16/p...

Poynter launches public editor project to serve news audiences in Indianapolis. www.poynter.org/news-release...

The nonprofit arm of the Provincetown Independent, based in super-expensive Outer Cape Cod, is raising money to provide housing for young reporters who can't afford to live there. mailchi.mp/localjournal...

New at What Works: John and Kristen Muldoon are retiring from their nonprofit newspaper in Ipswich, Mass. whatworks.news/2025/10/13/j...

Memphis media grapple with a tough assignment: reporting on Trump's troop deployment. New at What Works by @ellenclegg.bsky.social. whatworks.news/2025/10/11/m...

Mapping Black California turns data into stories of equity and resilience. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/mapp...

Meet the 40 news orgs in @lionpubs.bsky.social's expanded Sustainability 360 program. lionpublishers.com/meet-the-40-...