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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 7h

A member of the Washington Post diaspora, @mgg.bsky.social, has launched a series for @poynterinstitute.bsky.social called Grants That Work. Her debut: "The Pittsburgh Downtown Media Hub is a novel way for funders to support local news." www.poynter.org/business-wor...

Grants that Work: The Pittsburgh Downtown Media Hub is a novel way for funders to support local news - Poynter

In a quest to boost a city's downtown, a foundation brought needed space, collaboration to hyperlocal news sites.

www.poynter.org

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 22h

"What Works in Community News," by @ellenclegg.bsky.social and @dankennedy.net, is recognized by the Mass Book Awards as one of the top dozen nonfiction titles for 2025. whatworks.news/2025/10/07/r...

Recognition for ‘What Works in Community News’ from the Mass Book Awards

By Dan Kennedy I was thrilled to attend the Mass Book Awards ceremony at the Statehouse earlier today, when “What Works in Community News: Media Startups, News Deserts, and the Future of the …

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 2d

New at What Works: The @coloradosun.com embraces a democratic nonprofit model that looks a lot like a co-op. whatworks.news/2025/10/06/t...

The Colorado Sun embraces a democratic nonprofit model that looks a lot like a co-op

By Dan Kennedy For at least 15 years, local-news visionaries have been thinking about ways to build a media organization owned and governed by its staff and members of the community. The idea is to…

whatworks.news

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 3d

New at What Works: @dailymemphian.bsky.social columnist cries censorship and quits, but sharp editing wins the day. Great reporting by @ellenclegg.bsky.social. whatworks.news/2025/10/05/d...

Daily Memphian columnist cries censorship and quits, but sharp editing wins the day

By Ellen Clegg The news was posted on Facebook, and it provoked immediate ire. Which, to be fair, is on brand for Facebook. Dan Conaway, a columnist for the Daily Memphian, reported that he had qui…

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 6d

A new study finds that local news organizations shouldn't call journalism journalism when appealing for support. www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/dont...

Don’t dwell on “democracy,” and other new findings about how to market local news

"Here’s the paradox: 93% of people believe reliable local news is necessary for democracy, yet many of these same people react negatively to explicit 'democracy' messaging."

www.niemanlab.org

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 6d

New at What Works: The Bay State Banner marks 60 years of serving the Black community in Greater Boston and beyond.
whatworks.news/2025/10/02/t...

The Bay State Banner marks 60 years of serving the Black community in Greater Boston and beyond

Congratulations to The Bay State Banner, which is embarking on its 60th year of publication. The Banner, founded by Melvin Miller, covers the Black community in Greater Boston and beyond. It was ac…

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 7d

On the brand-spanking-new "What Works" podcast, @tracybaim.bsky.social tells @ellenclegg.bsky.social and me about the LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project and her work with Press Forward Chicago. whatworks.news/2025/10/01/t...

Tracy Baim tells us about the LGBTQ+ Mapping Project and her work with Press Forward Chicago

On the latest “What Works” podcast, Dan and Ellen talk with Tracy Baim, a Chicago-based journalist who directed the recently published LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project, which tracks LGBTQ n…

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 12d

The @thebaltimorebanner.com names Audrey Cooper as its new editor-in-chief. www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-...

The Baltimore Banner names Audrey Cooper as its new editor-in-chief - Editor and Publisher

The Baltimore Banner, a nonprofit, multi-platform, Pulitzer Prize-winning news operation serving Greater Baltimore, Montgomery County and Maryland, announced that Audrey Cooper will be its new editor-...

www.editorandpublisher.com

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 12d

Judge Fredric Rutberg, who led a local group that rescued the @berkshireeagle.com from Alden Global Capital a decade ago, is stepping aside as publisher but will remain as president. www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/r...

Fred Rutberg to step down as publisher of The Berkshire Eagle; Gary Lavariere named successor

Fredric D. Rutberg, who helped restore The Berkshire Eagle to local ownership in 2016 and guided it through nearly a decade of growth, will step aside as publisher Oct. 1.

www.berkshireeagle.com

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 12d

The nonprofit @sltrib.com is starting a free newspaper to cover southern Utah. www.sltrib.com/news/busines...

Lauren Gustus: We’re launching The Southern Utah Tribune

A new, free newspaper will serve people in Washington County — home to more than 200,000 people today and an anticipated 460,000 in the future — with news and information that’s just for them.

www.sltrib.com

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 13d

What Works' @dankennedy.net will be speaking on a panel about "Journalism in Jeopardy" in Waltham, Mass., next Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Details: www.facebook.com/events/13299...

Journalism in Jeopardy: A Panel Discussion

Causes event in Waltham, MA by Waltham Democratic City Committee on Tuesday, September 30 2025

www.facebook.com

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 13d

Writing in the @newjerseyglobe.bsky.social, @njpbs.bsky.social chair Scott Kobler criticizes New Jersey officials for "intransigence or maybe even apathy" about a funding crisis that may lead to the closure of the state's public TV station and cuts to @njspotlightnews.org.

NJ PBS Chairman puts some blame on state - New Jersey Globe

OPINION I obviously am disappointed that the WNET board of trustees voted not to extend its management role of NJ PBS under any circumstances. After June

newjerseyglobe.com

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 14d

New at Media Nation: MAGA's war on public media targets @njspotlightnews.org and @njpbs.bsky.social, an innovative statewide news collaboration in New Jersey. whatworks.news/2025/09/24/m...

MAGA’s war on public media targets an innovative statewide news collaboration in New Jersey

By Dan Kennedy The MAGA right’s war on public broadcasting has come for an innovative statewide news collaboration in New Jersey, leaving its ultimate fate uncertain. NJ PBS, the state’…

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 14d

Kirk Carapezza of @gbhnews.bsky.social reports that a purveyor of pink-slime "local" news sites, is flooding Mass. public colleges and universities with public-records requests aimed at rooting out "anti-American" teaching materials. What Works' @dankennedy.net is among those Kirk interviewed.

Local colleges targeted amid growing campus culture wars

National media and conservative groups are seeking syllabi and student information from public colleges; professors say they feel targeted and harassed.

www.wgbh.org

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 15d

A rare bit of good media news via @sarafischer.bsky.social: The tug-of-war between Hearst and Alden Global Capital over The Dallas Morning News is once again tilting in Hearst's favor following a shareholder vote earlier today. investor.dallasnewscorp.com/news-release...

investor.dallasnewscorp.com

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 20d

>>> @lionpubs.bsky.social and the @barrfoundation.org collaborate on a $265,000 grant to help 40 New England newsrooms meet their sustainability goals. lionpublishers.com/lion-to-help...

LION to help 40 New England publishers thanks to Barr Foundation grant - LION Publishers

This $265,000 Barr Foundation grant will support post-Audit tools and resources for up to 40 New England newsrooms.

lionpublishers.com

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 21d

The Current wants other local publishers to steal its event ideas. From @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/the-...

The Current wants other local publishers to steal its event ideas

“We started as an agency thinking of ourselves as feisty investigative journalists, and now we’re just feisty investigative journalists who also produce two events.”

www.niemanlab.org

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 21d

Alden Global Capital absolutely will not give up in its bid to buy the Dallas Morning News. Let's hope the DallasNews board stands firm. Hearst would be a far better steward. www.axios.com/2025/09/16/a...

Alden Global raises bid for DallasNews, topping Hearst

A bidding war for newspapers seems almost as antiquated as print papers themselves.

www.axios.com

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 21d

Always search out local coverage. Here's @mississippitoday.org on the death of Trey Reed, a Black college student whose body was found hanging in a tree: mississippitoday.org/2025/09/16/b...

Here is the @mississippifreepress.org: www.mississippifreepress.org/trey-reeds-f...

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 21d

Another tough day for public media as "at least 19" employees of Ocean State Media in Rhode Island take a buyout.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/16/m...

At least 19 take buyouts at Ocean State Media, R.I.’s public TV and radio outlet - The Boston Globe

“I don’t know how they’re going to do anything now that many of us have left,” said one longtime staffer who took the buyout.

www.bostonglobe.com

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 21d

The nonprofit Weston Observer, in Boston's western suburbs, has launched with a print paper, an editorial staff of three, an ad rep and an impressive board. Congratulations and best wishes! westonobserver.org

Home – Weston Observer

Welcome to the launch of the Weston Observer website! This could not have happened without the support of our community. We hope this website and its companion newsletter and weekly […]

westonobserver.org

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 22d

The "What Works" podcast is back! On our new episode, Bill Marx of The Arts Fuse and Viva la Book Review tell @ellenclegg.bsky.social and @dankennedy.net how he's working to keep local arts journalism alive. whatworks.news/2025/09/16/b...

Bill Marx tells us how he’s working to keep local arts journalism and book reviews alive

On the latest “What Works” podcast, Dan and Ellen are back from summer break and talk with Bill Marx, the editor-in-chief and founder of the The Arts Fuse. For four decades, he has writ…

whatworks.news

What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 22d

Would your newsroom like to work with a @reportforamerica.bsky.social corps member? Applications are now open. www.reportforamerica.org/2026-2027-ne...

2026-2027 Report for America Host Newsroom Application - Report for America

We are now accepting applications from newsrooms to host a corps member starting in July 2026. If you've applied previously, you'll have the opportunity to update a previous application instead of sta...

www.reportforamerica.org

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 26d

New at What Works: The nonprofit @cambridgeday.com names veteran journalist Michael Fitzgerald as its new editor. Founding editor Marc Levy is staying in a senior position. whatworks.news/2025/09/12/t...

The nonprofit Cambridge Day names a veteran journalist as its new editor

The nonprofit Cambridge Day is beefing up, hiring veteran journalist Michael Fitzgerald as its editor. Founding editor Marc Levy will remain on board as well. For many years the Day operated as pre…

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What Works @whatworks-nu.bsky.social · 26d

New at What Works: Mapping LGBTQ media; plus, news behind bars, going mobile and some well-deserved recognition. whatworks.news/2025/09/12/m...

Mapping LGBTQ media; plus, news behind bars, going mobile and some well-deserved recognition

By Dan Kennedy A new grant-supported project tracks LGBTQ media projects across the country. According to News Is Out, the LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project “offers the first in-depth look at the …

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