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
Release Date: 05/04/2024
A legal stand against Google: Helena World v. Google and the battle for journalism’s future
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
In a landmark case with significant implications for journalism and democracy, Emmerich Newspapers Inc., Helena World Chronicle and Boone Newspapers have joined forces in a class-action lawsuit against Google, challenging what they describe as an unfair “tying” relationship. Filed in December 2023, Helena World Chronicle LLC v. Google LLC alleges that Google’s control over search and content indexing is undermining publishers’ abilities to attract traffic and monetize content independently. In this interview, Wyatt Emmerich, president of Emmerich Newspapers, shared insights into the...
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259 Inside the Lenfest-OpenAI-Microsoft partnership: One-on-one with Jim Friedlich
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, in partnership with OpenAI and Microsoft, has introduced a $10 million AI Collaborative and Fellowship program to support innovation, sustainability, and new business models across five major U.S. metro newsrooms. Lenfest CEO Jim Friedlich, in a discussion on E&P Reports, highlighted how the initiative leverages AI for diverse newsroom applications, from business model optimization to increasing public data accessibility. The program aims to restore the depth of local reporting through AI-assisted research, enabling newsrooms to cover more ground with...
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258 Exploring the boundaries of journalism: Amy S. Mitchell on CNTI’s Defining News Initiative
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
In an era defined by an information deluge, rapidly advancing technology, and the decentralization of media, how society perceives news and journalism has become increasingly complex. Addressing this crucial issue, the Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI) has launched the “.” Amy S. Mitchell, CNTI’s founding Executive Director, recently joined E&P Reports to delve into the initiative’s insights and discuss the challenges facing journalism’s evolving definition. Access more on this episode's landing page, at:
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258 From survival to sustainability: RFA’s new Accelerator Program helping newsrooms tap into new revenue
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Since its founding in 2017, has supported nearly 400 local newsrooms across the United States, helping them collectively raise $30 million from local communities. Now, the nonprofit journalism initiative has launched an ambitious new pilot project — . The Accelerator Program is designed to further boost the sustainability of both for-profit and nonprofit local news organizations by diversifying their revenue streams and tapping into local philanthropic support. In this interview with Editor & Publisher’s Mike Blinder, Morgan Baum, director of Local News Sustainability at RFA,...
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256 Unlocking the value of local news consumers: Data-driven strategies for media growth
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
As the digital age reshapes the media landscape, local news publishers face a crucial challenge: staying relevant and profitable. At the heart of this challenge is the ability to deeply understand and engage with their audiences. Sammy Papert, President of Wormhole and sales representative for , and Phillip Beswick, CEO of , recently shed light on how their audience studies are helping local news organizations thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. Their research offers powerful insights into how consumers interact with local news platforms and why these insights are pivotal...
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255 Unpacking the NNA/ HHS rural public health ad campaign
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
(NNA) has long been a key advocate for rural newspapers, championing their importance as trusted sources of information in communities across the United States. In this episode of E&P Reports, Mike Blinder sat down with Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, the newly elected chair of the NNA, and Brett Wesner, the past chairman, to discuss the association’s recent collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the “. This initiative, aimed at promoting public health messages about COVID-19, RSV, and the flu, is not only a public health victory but also a significant...
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254 An interview with ChatGPT: How AI responds to tough questions
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
In a unique interview, E&P Publisher Mike Blinder sat down with Version 1.2024.240 of ChatGPT, enhanced by Siri Voice 4, to explore the intersection of AI and journalism. The conversation tackled the critical issues facing the news industry today — from copyright and licensing to search traffic, newsroom integration and the future of journalism. Topics covered, include: Copyright and licensing: Navigating the legal and ethical landscape AI in newsrooms: Boosting efficiency without sacrificing integrity The future of AI’s impact on newsroom jobs: A collaborative or competitive...
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253 Inside the newsroom of the Springfield (OH) News-Sun
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Josh Sweigart, editor of investigations and solutions journalism at Cox First Media Ohio, shares insights into the local media’s role in addressing misinformation. He focuses on how his newsroom at the Springfield News-Sun handled the recent surge of false claims about Haitian immigrants, amplified by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and vice presidential nominee and senator from Ohio, JD Vance. Access more at:
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252 Redefining value: Neil Brown breaks down Poynter’s vision for journalism’s future
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
In a media environment that is often dominated by narratives of decline, layoffs, and shrinking local news outlets, The Poynter Institute’s newly released report offers a refreshing perspective. Titled “” the study showcases optimism and innovation in journalism despite well-known challenges. In this recent interview, Neil Brown, President of Poynter, shared insights on the report and how local journalism is evolving in ways that provide significant value to communities. The conversation highlighted the vitality of smaller, local news startups, alternative forms of content distribution,...
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251 A journalist secretly under fire: The hidden investigation of Maya Lau by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
"E & P Reports" from Editor & Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder
Maya Lau, a former investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times, recently found herself at the center of a shocking revelation. For over three years, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department conducted a secret investigation against her, accusing her of receiving stolen property related to her reporting on a leaked list of problematic deputies. In a conversation on the podcast, Lau shared her experiences, reflections, and the chilling implications of law enforcement’s actions with E&P Publisher Mike Blinder. Lean more on the episode's landing page at:
info_outlineDaniel 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 Richardson Media Group 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 Media.
Richardson's journey into media ownership is deeply rooted in family tradition. His late father, Dennis Richardson, another UT Martin alumnus, initiated the family's involvement in journalism by acquiring the Carroll County News in 1983, marking the genesis of Magic Valley Publishing.
The inception of Richardson Media Group emerged when Apex Bank sought assistance from him to revive several shuttered newspapers in Middle Tennessee, that were owned and shut down by Holler Media.
During this exclusive interview with E&P Publisher Mike Blinder, Richardson revealed, "The bank reached out to me to reopen some publications that they had financed and had subsequently been closed. Apex didn't want to see the communities without newspapers. They didn't want to see the newspapers shut down. However, at the end of the day, they're also responsible to their shareholders. They wanted to recover as much of the capital as they could, which required an ongoing business that was marketable and sellable.”
When asked about how those communities he is now serving initially reacted to the loss and then saving of their local newspapers, Richardson stated: “A newspaper is something that I think most communities take for granted. You don't think much about it until it's gone.” Richardson added: “These towns had a terrible experience with a previous publisher. So, how did they know that I would be any different? It wasn’t real to them until there was a pretty newspaper in their mailbox and on the newsstands. That is a big testament to the power of printed media. The website stayed up. But it's just not the same.”