"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:  https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/innovating-hyperlocal-how-current-publishing-redefines-suburban-news,256246 [https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/innovating-hyperlocal-how-current-publishing-redefines-suburban-news,256246]

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: https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/turning-a-small-town-newspaper-into-a-community-hub,256115 [https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/turning-a-small-town-newspaper-into-a-community-hub,256115]

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:  https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/from-sales-to-saas-todd-handys-playbook-for-sustainable-local-media,256009 [https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/from-sales-to-saas-todd-handys-playbook-for-sustainable-local-media,256009]

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 pivot. Access more from this episode’s landing page:  https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/gordon-borrell-warns-local-media-tipping-into-irrelevance-unless-urgent-changes-are-made,255823 [https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/gordon-borrell-warns-local-media-tipping-into-irrelevance-unless-urgent-changes-are-made,255823]

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 this episode’s landing page, at:  https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/coalition-unites-press-associations-to-defend-journalisms-future,255713 [https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/coalition-unites-press-associations-to-defend-journalisms-future,255713]