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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
Boston Globe
AP Fund For Local Journalism
Local TV News
Arts Fuse
Ori Magazine
Commonwealth Beacon
The Marshall Project
Criminal Justice System
Bay City News Foundation
Asheville, North Carolina
Northeastern University
The Banner
Nonprofit News
LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project
Local News Crisis
Press Forward
Social Media
Viva La Book Review
Book Reviews

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 monthlyEpisodes121Founded5 years ago
Categories
News CommentaryNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for What Works: The Future of Local News

Latest Episodes

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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Recent Guests

Emily Sweeney
The Boston Globe's social video journalist
The Boston Globe
Episode: Episode 121: Emily Sweeney
Carlene Hempel
Professor at Northeastern University, journalism educator
Northeastern University
Episode: Episode 120: Carlene Hempel and Sydney Woogerd
Sydney Woogerd
Student journalist, co-lead on the project
Northeastern University
Episode: Episode 120: Carlene Hempel and Sydney Woogerd
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

Hosts

Dan Kennedy
Host focused on local news, journalism, and policy; affiliated with Northeastern University School of Journalism (Center for Transformative Media in some listings)
Ellen Clegg
Co-host and interviewer with deep experience in local news and journalism education

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 States2 years 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 States3 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 States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the practical takeaways on funding and sustaining local journalism.
The show is valued for grounded, experience-based insights into local news ecosystems.
Guests are often leaders in nonprofit and academic spaces, offering diverse perspectives.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 120: Carlene Hempel and Sydney Woogerd
Q: What was the most surprising thing you learned from the community about how they experienced the storm and recovery?
People were surprised by the flood's reach from a small river that somehow became a major threat; they had to adjust quickly with little real groundwork for preparedness, and many highlighted the importance of community networks, especially churches, in providing support when formal relief was slow.
Episode 120: Carlene Hempel and Sydney Woogerd
Q: How did you prepare before your trip to Asheville to identify stories and sources?
We started days after spring break with meticulous planning: reading every relevant magazine and article about the region, listening to podcasts and watching videos to understand the community, building databases, and pitching stories so students could interview people before arriving on-site.
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.

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 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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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. The Ezra Klein Show

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

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

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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