Medill State of Local News with Tim Franklin

Leading Through a Pivotal Moment | NPR CEO Katherine Maher on Public Media’s Future and the Local News Crisis

Katherine Maher, president and CEO of NPR, joins Tim Franklin to discuss the future of public media in a rapidly changing local news landscape. Maher reflects on NPR’s recent restructuring, the impact of federal funding cuts, and the role of local stations in rebuilding civic trust. The conversation also explores NPR’s investment in digital and video storytelling, and why public media remains essential infrastructure for communities across America.

Why Local News is Like Craft Beer | Chuck Todd on Audience, Trust, and the Future of Local News

In this episode of the Medill State of Local News Podcast, Tim Franklin speaks with journalist and podcaster Chuck Todd about the collapse and reinvention of local news in America. Todd reflects on why trust in national media has eroded, arguing that it was always rooted in local journalism. He discusses emerging business models, from cooperatives to membership and ad networks, and explores how community-driven reporting—especially youth sports and service journalism—can rebuild audience engagement and civic trust.

Growing an Audience in the Digital Age | Ben Cotton on The New York Times’ Growth, Product, and Subscriptions

In this episode of the State of Local News Podcast, host Tim Franklin, Professor, John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, and founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative speaks with  Ben Cotton, General Manager for News at The New York Times. They discuss: * The shift from advertising to a subscription-first model * The rise of product bundles (games, cooking, sports, Wirecutter) * How product, data, and user experience drive engagement and retention * The role of video, creators, and younger audiences in the future of news * Why building direct relationships with readers matters more than ever

Medill State of Local News with Tim Franklin | Steve Grove on AI, Building Trust and Reinventing the Minnesota Star Tribune

In the inaugural episode of the State of Local News Podcast, host Tim Franklin, Professor, John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, and founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative, sits down with Steve Grove, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune. In this conversation, they discuss: * Grove’s unconventional journey from Google executive to leading one of the nation’s largest regional newsrooms * How AI, declining digital traffic, and shifting audience habits are reshaping the local news industry * The Star Tribune’s coverage of Operation Metro Surge,—a major federal immigration enforcement operation launched in Minneapolis in December 2025—and how it helped build trust with audiences in real time