
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 | 121 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | News CommentaryNewsSociety & Culture | ||||

Dan and Ellen talk with Emily Sweeney of The Boston Globe. As the Globe's first social video journalist, Emily broke through the clutter on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram with her Boston accent and her collection of track suits. Not to mention her s... more
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 dev... more
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
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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.
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Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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A thoughtful examination of local journalism's sustainability, audience engagement, and evolving business models. Episodes frequently center on nonprofit newsrooms, philanthropic funding, and innovative partnerships designed to expand coverage without sacrificing trust. Notable guests include editors, publishers, professors, and startup leaders who share practical strategies for sustaining local reporting, from classroom projects that scale into public initiatives to statewide newsroom coalitions. The format blends on-the-ground reporting, policy context, and media-innovation discussions, making it a practical listen for audiences who want concrete approaches to fund, govern, and grow local news ecosystems.
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What Works: The Future of Local News launched 5 years ago and published 121 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. Emily Sweeney
2. Carlene Hempel
3. Sydney Woogerd
4. Sanjana Mishra
5. Joe Kriesberg
6. Laura Colarusso
7. Rachel White
8. Zuri Berry
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