216 Shannon Kinney’s entrepreneurial advice
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Release Date: 12/16/2023
289 Rebuilding local news by thinking like an entrepreneur
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Pason Gaddis thinks local newspapers don’t have to fade quietly into history. As CEO of , he’s betting that lean operations, local control, and a focus on original reporting can rebuild trust—and profitability—where others have given up. “You have to change or you have to die,” Gaddis said, urging publishers to break free from outdated models. His approach is proving that if you invest in community journalism, audiences will still show up—and pay for it. Access more at this episode’s landing page, at:
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288 Staying local, staying strong: Jeffrey Warshaw on what still works in media
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Connoisseur Media CEO Jeffrey Warshaw isn’t chasing trends—he’s doubling down on what works: local content, real relationships, and a service-first sales strategy. In a no-nonsense conversation, Warshaw explains why legacy media still has power when it’s community-rooted and advertiser-driven. With digital and radio sales integrated under one roof, he’s building not just reach, but results. “Local, baby,” is still his mantra—and it’s paying off. If you’re in media and missing this mindset, you’re leaving money (and trust) on the table. Access more at this...
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287 Innovating hyperlocal: how Current Publishing redefines suburban news
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
When a suburban newspaper starts thinking like a startup, big things happen. At Current Publishing in suburban Indianapolis, innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s fueling real growth, younger audiences, and serious digital revenue. From influencer-driven reels to a text-based edition with 65% engagement, President Ben Weir is proving hyperlocal doesn’t mean old-school. Here’s how one free weekly is rewriting the playbook for local news success. Access more at this episode’s landing page, at:
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286 Turning a small-town newspaper into a community hub
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Four years ago, Max Kabat left Manhattan to reinvent local journalism in the remote West Texas town of Marfa. He didn’t just take over a newspaper—he built a café, bar, event space, and community hub to fund it. Now, that bold experiment is not only thriving but inspiring others to rethink what local media can be. We caught up with Kabat to find out how it’s working, what’s next, and what lessons other publishers can take from the journey. Access more at this episode’s landing page, at:
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285 From sales to SaaS: Todd Handy’s playbook for sustainable local media
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
What if local media companies stopped acting like publishers and started thinking like SaaS platforms? That’s the provocative challenge laid down by veteran digital strategist Todd Handy in a recent episode of E&P Reports. Drawing from decades in media, tech, and recurring revenue models, Handy believes the path to sustainability lies in ditching short-term campaigns and embracing lifetime customer value. His message to news leaders: the future of publishing won’t look like a newsroom — it’ll look like a software company. Access more at this episode’s landing page:
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284 Local media’s tipping point into oblivion — a 1-on-1 with Gordon Borrell
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Local media isn’t just struggling — it’s at a tipping point, and most companies are leaning the wrong way. In a brutally candid conversation, Gordon Borrell lays out why 85% of local outlets are capturing less than 10% of their digital ad potential and why newspapers, in particular, have seen zero digital revenue growth since 2020. He calls out broken sales cultures, invisible new businesses, and the dangerous illusion that hard paywalls are a sustainable fix. If you’re in news publishing and not reading this, you’re missing your wake-up call — and possibly your last chance to...
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283 Coalition unites press associations to defend journalism’s future
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
With legislative threats mounting at the state level, America’s Newspapers has launched a new coalition to unite press associations and publishers in defense of local journalism. In a recent E&P Reports episode, CEO Dean Ridings was joined by Alan Fisco, president of The Seattle Times and AN board member, and Debbie Anselm, the new executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, to unpack the coalition’s goals. Together, they made the case for why statehouse advocacy is longer optional — and how a collective voice can drive meaningful policy change. Access more at...
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282 Print proud, data smart: Inside Charity Huff’s reinvention of 5280
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
After helping hundreds of publishers navigate digital transformation, Charity Huff decided to walk the walk — by acquiring Denver’s 5280 Magazine. Just four months in, she’s proving that legacy brands can thrive with a modern strategy rooted in audience, authenticity, and innovation. From rethinking revenue to doubling down on events and email, Huff is blending bold ideas with respect for tradition. Her mission: to build a community-first, future-ready media company — and show others it can be done. Access more at this episode’s landing page, at:
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281 Should opinion journalism evolve or disappear? Live panel from the 2025 Mega-Conference
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
At a time when trust in journalism continues to erode, the future of opinion content is under intense scrutiny. Should newspapers continue publishing unsigned editorials and political endorsements, or is it time to rethink the role of opinion altogether? That was the focus of a live panel at the 2025 America’s Newspapers’ Mega-Conference, where hundreds of news executives gathered for this live panel discussion to share strategies, struggles, and shifting audience expectations. What emerged was a candid, sometimes surprising conversation about how opinion journalism must evolve — or risk...
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280 Saving the free press — before it’s too late
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Press freedom is under attack — not in some distant land, but right here in the United States. From newsroom intimidation to funding cuts targeting public media, the threats are multiplying while public awareness remains dangerously low. In this powerful episode of E&P Reports, three key voices behind the Press Freedom United initiative expose the scope of the crisis — and what every publisher, journalist, and citizen can do about it. Sally Lehrman (The Trust Project), Anh-Thu Vo (PEN America), and Daniel Williams (BlueLena) don’t just ring the alarm — they offer a blueprint for...
info_outlineShannon Kinney is the founder and client success officer of Dream Local Digital, a digital marketing agency headquartered in Rockland, Maine. Dream Local Digital works with newspapers, media companies, ad agencies and directly with small to medium-sized businesses on all aspects of their online marketing plans.
Kinney is also a news media digital pioneer who has held start-up positions at some of the industry's most iconic legacy brands, such as the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, over the past 25 years. She was also on the cusp of helping move traditional classified advertising into the worldwide web. Kinney worked in the late nineties at Cars.com and later as Senior Director of Classifieds of Knight Ridder. She has also helped develop new industry initiatives as a Local Media Association board member.
Today, hundreds of media companies turn to Kinney and her "honey badgers" team for advice, training and product development, helping thousands of businesses acquire essential multimedia solutions.
Recently, Kinney issued a list of "tips" from her "entrepreneurial journey" in a newsletter. She offers valuable advice to anyone who wishes to do business in a disruptive environment. She also points out how some of her frustrating experiences trying to get legacy media companies to adapt will offer hard lessons for anyone who resists change.
In this episode of “E&P Reports,” we chat with respected media executive Shannon Kinney about the entrepreneurial advice she offers that is derived from her 25+ year journey, starting as an integral part of legacy media's early adoption of the digital world to today's massively complex multimedia ecosystem.