215 Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins. A one-on-one with the SPJ’s new president.
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Release Date: 12/10/2023
238 Unpacking Dallas Morning News’ decision to reinstate a public editor
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Dallas Morning News (DMN) publisher Grant Moise explains the decision to reintroduce the public editor position despite industry trends of cost-cutting, stating, "We looked at data points, we looked at our own internal reasons why subscribers were leaving us, and we just decided we couldn't afford not to make a bold move like this. So, we said, some papers will say, 'They can't afford it.’ We said, ‘We can't afford not to do this.'" Stephen Buckley, who recently began the role of public editor at DMN, explained: "I'm a bridge between our audience and the newsroom. So, as I get feedback...
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237 CherryRoad Media's 32-month journey: Revitalizing and rebirthing local newspapers in 18 states
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
In September of 2021, , a Parsippany, New Jersey-based technology company, surprised the news media industry with its purchase of 20 newspapers from the Gannett. Since then, the company has continued to grow and expand its US holdings, now owning 85 newspapers across 18 states.\ Beyond purchasing existing titles, CherryRoad has also built new operations in some “news desert” communities who lost their local papers. Two of the most recent print/ digital “rebirths” were the mid-May 2024 launches of the and The , replacing the Hutchinson Leader and the Litchfield Independent Review,...
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236 Detroit PBS CEO Rich Homberg's mission to redefine public media
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Detroit Public Television, now rebranded as , is making a notable return to the heart of the city, signifying a renewed dedication to serving its community with quality, trust, and fairness in media. In this exclusive interview with Rich Homberg, President & CEO of Detroit PBS, he reflects on his journey into public media and the organization's strategic shift towards strengthening local content. Homberg, whose background lies in commercial radio sales and news operations, shares insights into the evolving landscape of public media and the imperative for strong local journalism. During his...
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235 Turning the Page: Daniel Richardson's journey to restore local news to Tennessee towns.
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Daniel Richardson, a Marine Corp veteran, UT Martin business management graduate and former CEO of Magic Valley Publishing, is making waves in the world of local community media. With a vision to bolster local journalism, Richardson has reopened several recently closed Tennessee newspapers once owned by Holler Media, adding to his growing media empire under the new banner. Richardson’s company now encompasses nine Tennessee titles, including The Fentress Courier, Livingston Enterprise, Citizen Statesman, the Jackson County Sentinel and Shelbyville Times-Gazette, formerly owned by Holler...
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234 Local Media Association and Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association partner to create fundraising lab
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
(LMA) and the (PNA) have united to establish the Pennsylvania Fundraising Lab. This groundbreaking venture is designed to empower Pennsylvania news organizations with the expertise and understanding needed to secure philanthropic funding for their reporting projects , thereby enhancing their financial sustainability and enabling them to continue delivering high-quality journalism. In a recent episode of 'E&P Reports,' Frank Mungeam, LMA chief innovation officer, and Bill Cotter, PNA president, shared the success story of the LMA’s Lab for Journalism Funding. With over $23...
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233 New York State implements historic tax credits to support local journalism.
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
In a groundbreaking move, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a 2025 state budget that includes $90 million in tax credits for local news media outlets, marking a significant victory for the press and local journalism. , which helped champion this legislation, initially formed with 100 news publishers in February 2024 to work together and advocate for what was originally introduced as the In just a few months, the coalition expanded to over 200 news outlets. Rebuild Local News, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances public policies to help local news and community journalism,...
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232 Facebook blocks State’s Newsroom’s Kansas Reflector: A threat to free press and first Amendment?
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
In a dramatic turn of events, the , a news affiliate of the non-profit , found itself at the center of a contentious battle with Facebook. Sherman Smith, the Editor-in-Chief of the Kansas Reflector, revealed the unfolding saga during an exclusive interview with Mike Blinder, Publisher of E&P Magazine. The saga began when Facebook rejected an editorial titled "" authored by Dave Kendall and published on the Kansas Reflector's website. The piece highlighted Facebook's rejection of Kendall's documentary on climate change as too divisive, emphasizing the importance of local media in...
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231 Addressing America's Divides: The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s newest chapter1
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
For more than three decades, The has stood as the foremost beacon of insight and information for professionals and organizations within the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. Through its printed and online platforms, The Chronicle offers comprehensive coverage of trends, challenges, and best practices in the philanthropic world, serving as an invaluable resource for those dedicated to charitable giving and social impact. On April 2, 2024, The Chronicle embarks on a new chapter, launching an innovative line of coverage aimed at dissecting America's widening divides and the burgeoning...
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230 Understanding the skills necessary to lead the newsroom of tomorrow
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
While attending the Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, Laura Krantz McNeill decided to interview 26 separate media leaders she considered to be “change-makers and innovators” and asked them what they think the essential skills that the next generation of news leadership will need to move us closer to a healthier and more sustainable future for the news media industry.1 The result of that work is a self-published paper entitled " which was later posted by Nieman Labs. McNeill, who began...
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229 The “whats, whys and hows” of The Association of Community Publishers (ACP)
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
(ACP) is a dynamic organization dedicated to supporting and empowering free, community-based media outlets across the United States. Founded to promote excellence in local journalism and foster collaboration among community publishers, the ACP represents a diverse array of publications, including newspapers, shoppers, magazines, directories and digital news platforms — all with no paid access to the print or online content they provide. This year's annual conference will be held May 1-3 in Norfolk, Virginia and will offer programs mainly centered on building revenue. It also will feature a...
info_outlineRecent reports concerning the future of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) have stated, with one September post from NiemanLab saying that both membership and revenues are so low that the organization is set to "end the year $391,000 in the red," according to an audit prepared by an external accountant and dated August 2023. The same article by Sarah Scire featured the sub-head, "If we don’t change our thinking, the next incoming president will be the last president.”
That new president was sworn in at the October 1, 2023, annual convention in Las Vegas. She is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, journalism professor and associate dean for the Center for Media Design at the Santa Monica College, Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins.
Hopkins also made history on that date as the first black woman ever to be elected to that post.
Hopkins feels confident that the financial issues reported are not insurmountable, stating during this interview with E&P Publisher Mike Blinder, "I can firmly and unequivocally say that I will not be the last president of the SPJ. All of the journalism organizations across the country are facing financial situations. We have the benefit of having a foundation that was created to be in support of the society. That foundation has $12 million in the bank." She continued, "We are on our way to 'righting the ship,' and I can firmly say that will happen before the end of my term."
Diversity within the SPJ and the journalism industry is another goal of Hopkin's. As quoted in the press release announcing her presidency, "I hesitated to join SPJ for several years because I just didn't see anyone who looked like me in leadership positions. It made me feel like I didn't belong in the organization. But I decided to be the change that I wanted to see in SPJ," she said. "Representation matters, and I hope to show through my leadership and diverse board of directors that there is a place for everyone at SPJ."
In this episode of "E&P Reports," we go one-on-one with newly sworn-in Society of Professional Journalists President Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins to discuss how she plans to keep the organization prospering during a time of lagging membership and conference attendance, as well as her plans for SPJ's success. We also hear her views on the news media ecosystem as a whole and how we can define what is journalism in a world of disinformation and "fake news."