Lenfest Institute CEO Jim Friedlich on What’s Working in Local News: Beneficial Ownership Combined with Strong User Revenues

Lenfest Institute CEO Jim Friedlich on What’s Working in Local News: Beneficial Ownership Combined with Strong User Revenues

Friedlich joins Tim Franklin on the State of Local News Podcast to reflect on the Lenfest Institute's decade-long journey to becoming one of the most influential journalism organizations in the country: investing more than $117 million in more than 600 news organizations and initiatives to support local news innovation, business sustainability and newsroom transformation. He also discusses The Philadelphia Inquirer's digital transformation, the growing role of nonprofit ownership in local news, challenges facing commercial news organizations today and how AI is reshaping journalism. Friedlich discusses why local news organizations must embrace emerging technologies while continuing to invest in trusted reporting, sustainable business models and serving the community’s information needs.

Axios Local's Holly Moore on Newsletters, Networks and AI

What does it mean to "use the whole buffalo" in local journalism? For Axios Local Executive Editor Holly Moore, it means finding ways to adapt reporting across platforms while maintaining strong community connections and sustainable business models. In this episode, Moore joins Tim Franklin to discuss Axios Local's expansion across 37 markets in the United States, the philosophy behind smart brevity, the future of local news newsletters, and how AI can help journalists focus more of their time on reporting and serving audiences.

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