
From Northeastern University's School of Journalism. Local news, the bedrock of democracy, is in crisis. Dan Kennedy of Northeastern University and veteran Boston Globe editor Ellen Clegg talk to journalists, policymakers and entrepreneurs about what's working to keep local news alive.
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 119 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureNewsNews Commentary | |||

Dan and Ellen talk with Ron Mitchell, publisher and editor of the Bay State Banner. In 2023, Mitchell and Andre Stark, both seasoned television news journalists, purchased the Banner, a newspaper covering the Black community in Boston.
The Banner w... more
Dan talks with Joe Kriesberg, the publisher of CommonWealth Beacon, and Laura Colarusso, the editor. CommonWealth Beacon is a digital nonprofit that's part of the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth, better known as MassINC, and Joe is the... more
Dan and Ellen talk with Rachel White, CEO of the Associated Press Fund for Journalism. Rachel joined the nonprofit AP Foundation in 2024, after a 10-year run with The Guardian, the one-time print newspaper in the UK that has become a global digital... more
Dan and Ellen talk with Zuri Berry, the executive editor of The Banner in Montgomery County, Maryland. He's also a Boston Globe colleague of Ellen's from days of yore. Zuri is one of those journalists who's done a little bit of everything. We're talk... more
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Discovered show on mastodon social media.
My spouse and I have worked in newsrooms in Wisconsin and California, and have a lot of reporter friends still.
Papers are shrinking and their responsibilities are growing, even as major funding is drying up.
This show covers a lot of that material even as they discuss a toolbox for local sustainable journalism.
I love this show and the material, and the podcasters are getting better at presenting the material so it sounds more off the cuff and unscr... more
Great podcast to learn that there really is a lot of good work being done at both new and old outlets, despite all the pressure on the industry.
In 2022 my wife and I suddenly found ourselves purchasing and owning a weekly newspaper in rural Idaho.
We have no background or training in journalism and this podcast has been a significant part of my education about the industry and what other small outlets are doing to solve some of the same problems we face. Highly recommend. (I was born and raised in Maine so I enjoy hearing the accents of hosts and guests as well.)
Great interviews of local news people. Localnjournalism is essential. Dan and Ellen are gteat at finding and exploring hoe local news outlets are surviving.
An interesting lineup of guests from around the country. I really enjoy hearing about their experiences and different perspectives on covering local news. This is a good podcast on a vital topic. And the two hosts have a great rapport.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #183 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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A thoughtful program focused on local news ecosystems, funding, and sustainability. It often centers on how community outlets navigate ownership changes, digital transitions, and philanthropic support, with concrete examples from newspapers, TV stations, and nonprofit initiatives. Guests range from journalists and editors to funders and researchers, offering practical strategies for sustaining trusted local reporting and shaping policy-friendly funding models. Noteworthy is the blend of on-the-ground reporting, scholarly context, and real-world case studies that listeners can translate into newsroom strategy, philanthropy, or policy advocacy.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with What Works: The Future of Local News:
1. Up First from NPR
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4. The 404 Media Podcast
5. Fresh Air
What Works: The Future of Local News launched 5 years ago and published 119 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on What Works: The Future of Local News include:
1. Sanjana Mishra
2. Joe Kriesberg
3. Laura Colarusso
4. Rachel White
5. Zuri Berry
6. Barbara Allen
7. Dale Anglin
8. Charlie Sennott
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