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Artwork for What Works: The Future of Local News

What Works: The Future of Local News

Dan Kennedy and Ellen Clegg
Local News
AP Fund For Local Journalism
Bay City News Foundation
Arts Fuse
Ori Magazine
The Marshall Project
Criminal Justice System
Local TV News
Commonwealth Beacon
Nonprofit News
The Banner
LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project
Local News Crisis
Mendocino County
Artificial Intelligence
Viva La Book Review
Book Reviews
Masslive
Alden Global Capital
WBZ

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.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes119Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for What Works: The Future of Local News

Latest Episodes

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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Recent Guests

Sanjana Mishra
Northeastern Journalism and Criminal Justice graduate, student researcher
Northeastern University
Episode: Episode 119: Ron Mitchell
Joe Kriesberg
Publisher of Commonwealth Beacon and CEO of MassINC
CommonWealth Beacon / MassINC
Episode: Episode 118: Joe Kriesberg and Laura Colarusso
Laura Colarusso
Editor of Commonwealth Beacon, former Nieman Reports editor, GBH News digital editor
CommonWealth Beacon
Episode: Episode 118: Joe Kriesberg and Laura Colarusso
Rachel White
CEO of The AP Fund for Local Journalism
Associated Press Foundation
Episode: Episode 117: Rachel White
Zuri Berry
Executive editor of The Banner in Montgomery County, Maryland
The Banner (Montgomery County Edition)
Episode: Episode 116: Zuri Berry
Barbara Allen
LA-based journalist, trainer, and consultant; founder and director of College Journalism
College Journalism.org
Episode: Episode 115: Barbara "Bob" Allen
Dale Anglin
Executive Director, Press Forward
Press Forward
Episode: Episode 114: Dale Anglin
Charlie Sennott
Founder and CEO of GroundTruth Media Partners, LLC
GroundTruth Media Partners / Report Local (formerly GroundTruth Project)
Episode: Episode 113: Charlie Sennott and Alexis Algazy
Alexis Algazy
Editor-at-large at Huntington News; Northeastern student
Northeastern University
Episode: Episode 113: Charlie Sennott and Alexis Algazy

Hosts

Dan Kennedy
Host of What Works: The Future of Local News
Ellen Clegg
Co-host and former editor; Host of What Works: The Future of Local News

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Love the show

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Epu (original)
    United Statesa year ago
  • 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.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    curmudgeon
    2 years ago
  • Engaging & Informative

    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.)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Not-nate
    United States2 years ago
  • Great interviews of local news people. Localnjournalism is essential. Dan and Ellen are gteat at finding and exploring hoe local news outlets are surviving.

    Podcast Addict
    Skeptic
    3 years ago
  • Informative look at local journalism

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    irisg
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests provide diverse perspectives from journalists to funders, enriching strategic discussions.
The mix of research-informed context and field stories helps translate complex issues into actionable ideas.
Shows consistently highlight real-world challenges and concrete strategies for funding and partnerships.
Listeners appreciate practical toolbox content for sustaining local journalism.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#183
India/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 104: Katherine Rowlands
Q: Katherine, Mendocino County tends to be heavy into Facebook and that was probably even more true five years ago when I was out there. How have you navigated social platforms and audience engagement to reach diverse readers?
Rowlands explains they deliberately diversify across platforms (Facebook, TikTok, etc.), tailor content for specific demographics (like a TikTok initiative aimed at 18‑25 voters), and emphasize editorial oversight to ensure accuracy while using AI tools to repurpose content for different formats.
Episode 110: Chris Fitzsimon
Q: How do partnerships work in practice in states where you don't operate your own newsroom, and what role does Stateline play after the Pew acquisition?
We partner with thriving nonprofits to avoid duplicating work, and Stateline provides trends in state government; these collaborations help us extend coverage without rebuilding existing efforts from scratch.
Episode 110: Chris Fitzsimon
Q: What is your goal when you're covering national news, and is the national coverage free to republish like the state coverage?
All content is free to republish as part of the nonprofit mission; the national coverage is designed to show how federal developments impact states, while still emphasizing local relevance for state outlets.
Episode 109: Todd Landfried
Q: How do you envision revenue beyond platform payments and what role does advertising play?
Revenue will come from multiple streams: licensing content to streaming platforms, monetizing longer-form and shorter-form versions on social platforms to drive traffic back to the platform, advertising within distributed clips, and leveraging sponsored content and partnerships while maintaining editorial independence and quality.
Episode 109: Todd Landfried
Q: What are the pilot steps and why start in Colorado before expanding?
Starting in Colorado allows testing the reporting, production, and distribution model at a state level to refine processes before branching out to additional states with different geographies and industries, ensuring the production and collaboration mechanisms work across diverse regions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About What Works: The Future of Local News

What is What Works: The Future of Local News about and what kind of topics does it cover?

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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Which podcasts are similar to What Works: The Future of Local News?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What Works: The Future of Local News:

1. Up First from NPR
2. The Daily
3. Mixed Signals from Semafor Media
4. The 404 Media Podcast
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of What Works: The Future of Local News are there?

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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What guests have appeared on What Works: The Future of Local News?

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

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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