The Future of Local News • From Northeastern University’s School of Journalism and the Center for Transformative Media
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By Dan Kennedy There’s good news to report about the future of NJ Spotlight News, a 16-year-old website that covers politics and public policy in New Jersey. We learned in June that NJ PBS, the public television network that partners with Spotlight, would be moving to Montclair State University because of federal and state budget … Continue reading "A hoped-for deal between NJ Spotlight News and…
By Dan Kennedy Ken Paulson, the former editor-in-chief of USA Today, has written a lament for the decline of newspaper editorials. Now the director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, Paulson argues in The Conversation that editorials are a key part of civic engagement. He bolsters his case by quoting the … Continue reading "Editorials aren’t the only way for local news…
This video about a break-in at a mansion in Beverly, Mass., helped launch Emily Sweeney to stardom. On the latest “What Works” podcast, Ellen and Dan talk with Emily Sweeney of The Boston Globe. As the Globe’s first social video journalist, Emily has broken through the clutter on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram with her Dorchester … Continue reading "Emily Sweeney tells us how she uses social video…
On the latest “What Works” podcast, Dan and Ellen talk with Professor Carlene Hempel at Northeastern and her student Sydney Woogerd. This spring, Carlene brought a team of student journalists to Asheville, North Carolina, for a week-long intensive reporting trip that focused on the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The result: a digital multimedia investigation called “Caught in ……
By Dan Kennedy I’m sorry, but this is just appalling. South Shore News, which uses AI to generate lifelike stories about local government meetings in 19 communities south of Boston, is rolling out subscription fees — and some people are actually paying. Aidan Ryan reports (sub. req.) in The Boston Globe that Justin Evans, the … Continue reading "Why AI-generated local news coverage undermines…
By Dan Kennedy An agreement has been reached that would save NJ PBS. If it’s approved by the state legislature, it could prove to be a lifeline for NJ Spotlight News as well. Spotlight, a 16-year-old website covering politics and public policy, merged with NJ PBS in 2019. The television network’s daily half-hour newscast is … Continue reading "A deal is reached to save public TV in New Jersey —…
By Dan Kennedy Since Colonial times, state and local governments have been required to publish legal advertisements in newspapers about official proclamations, court citations, vital records, and the like. Also known as public notices, these agate-size ads inform the community of important public business — and provide the press with a crucial revenue stream. Now, … Continue reading "Ending the…
By Ellen Clegg Just a month ago, The Minnesota Star Tribune won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News for “powerful stories marked by thoroughness and compassion” in its coverage of the Annunciation Church shootings last year. Who wasn’t moved by the photo of a mom running barefoot toward the church — a strappy summer pump … Continue reading "A coming seismic shift at The Minnesota Star Tribune as…
By Dan Kennedy A promising idea to support local news has been dealt a major setback in Maryland, where Gov. Wes Moore has vetoed a bill that would direct state agencies to place at least 50% of their advertising in local news outlets. Even though the bill passed the state Senate unanimously and the House … Continue reading "Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland vetoes a bill to direct half of state ad money…
On the latest “What Works” podcast, Dan and Ellen talk with Ron Mitchell, publisher and editor of The Bay State Banner. In 2023, Mitchell and André Stark, both seasoned television news journalists, purchased the Banner, a newspaper covering the Black and brown communities in Boston and beyond. The Banner was started in 1965 by Melvin … Continue reading "Ron Mitchell tells us how The Bay State…
