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“The Paper” premieres on Peacock — and local publishers are hopeful the newsroom mockumentary will get it right

When The Paper debuted this week on Peacock, it promised laughs — but inside America’s newsrooms, the reaction was anything but simple. Co-created by Greg Daniels of The Office fame, the mockumentary follows a struggling local paper. For publishers and editors who’ve lived that story, the premiere raised big questions: can a sitcom capture the grit, humanity, and relentless optimism of real journalism, or will it play into tired clichés? We want to hear your take — join the conversation on our LinkedIn page and be part of the story.

Over the past decade, Donald Trump has waged a relentless campaign against the press — not just in rallies or interviews, but in the 75,000 social media posts he’s fired off since 2015. More than 3,500 of them singled out journalists and news outlets by name, catalogued in a database that shows clear patterns of attack. What emerges is not off-the-cuff bluster but a deliberate strategy, one that senior reporter Stephanie Sugars says is reshaping how millions of Americans view the press — and raising alarms about the future of democracy itself.

When the Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4, it wasn’t just Kerrville, Texas, that was under siege — it was its people, homes, summer camps and way of life. National media swooped in to capture the devastation, but it was the town’s own journalists who stayed, delivering life-saving information, correcting misinformation and documenting both the tragedy and the resilience of their neighbors. From the Kerrville Daily Times’ all-hands-on-deck coverage to The Kerr County Lead’s relentless real-time updates, two small newsrooms proved that in a disaster of international scale, local press still matters most.
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Jeffrey Sleete likes to say that great sales careers — and long, fulfilling ones — are built on mindset as much as skill. In a recent column, he drew inspiration from the 1945 hit “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” reminding sellers that eliminating the negative isn’t just a catchy lyric — it’s a survival skill in a high-pressure profession. Borrowing wisdom from gerontologist Dr. John Dunlop, Sleete suggests that waking up with a plan and ending the day knowing you’ve helped someone aren’t just good rules for aging well; they’re the foundation for staying sharp, productive and fulfilled in sales, no matter your stage in the game.
With threats against journalists escalating in the tense post-election climate, five of the nation’s leading press freedom organizations have joined forces to launch the Journalist Assistance Network — a coordinated hub offering legal, safety and security resources to reporters under pressure. Announced in May, the alliance unites the Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom of the Press Foundation, International Women’s Media Foundation, PEN America and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, formalizing years of informal cooperation into a one-call system that connects journalists with the help they need — fast.
The gap between journalists and the funders who can sustain their work has long been wide — sometimes a chasm. This spring, two back-to-back conferences in Philadelphia set out to narrow it, bringing hundreds of newsroom leaders and philanthropists face-to-face to trade ideas, share hard truths and explore ways to keep local journalism alive. From practical fundraising bootcamps to frank conversations about power, equity and trust, the Lenfest Philanthropy Summit and the Media Impact Funders Forum offered a rare space where those who produce the news and those who finance it could meet as equals, united by a shared belief: a free and thriving press is worth investing in.
At Long Lead, stories aren’t churned out for clicks — they’re commissioned, curated and crafted to endure. Co-founded by hedge fund manager and media patron Bill Perkins and led editorially by veteran journalist John Patrick Pullen, Long Lead is a journalism studio that treats deep reporting as an art form. In a media landscape dominated by speed, scale and algorithms, Long Lead is rejecting the race and building a body of work meant to be preserved, not just published.
Guy Tasaka has a blunt question for media executives: You’re still using free ChatGPT for everything, aren’t you? He sees it all the time — leaders treating AI like a novelty instead of the business transformation tool it is. “They’ll spend $500 on a dinner,” he says, “but won’t invest $20 a month in technology that could revolutionize their content creation, proposal building and marketing operations.” For Tasaka, that reluctance isn’t just short-sighted — it’s money left on the table every single day.
You’ve got 30 seconds. That’s how long you have to prove to a prospect that you’re not just another rep with a rate card and a recycled pitch. In today’s crowded, distracted, AI-accelerated world, walking into a sales call unprepared isn’t just lazy — it’s a deal killer. Over the next several columns, I’ll give you the exact prompts, tools and tactics to research smarter, pitch better and close faster by ethically leveraging AI. Let’s start with the sales call prep that turns you from a vendor into a trusted adviser — before you ever say a word.
A 2020 Pew Research Center survey found that three-fourths of Americans believe it’s possible to improve public confidence in the media. So, what can news organizations do to repair relationships with their most skeptical audiences? Stuart N. Brotman, a Digital Media Laureate and Distinguished Senior Fellow at The Media Institute, believes it's “especially timely to explore the possibility of a National News Council 2.0 as one way forward.” In this column, he suggests some essential principles and operating procedures to consider.
For the first time, more Americans are getting their news from social media and video platforms than from television. The Reuters Institute’s 2025 Digital News Report marks this turning point — a wake-up call for legacy outlets and a signal that the next generation of news consumers is swiping past traditional models. Local newsrooms now face a choice: evolve into platform-native storytellers or risk losing their audience entirely. But behind the data lies a more urgent truth — trust, relevance and community connection may still be local journalism’s secret weapon.
Micropayments have long been the media industry’s white whale — elusive, enticing and ultimately disappointing. But in today’s reader revenue landscape, the question isn’t whether micropayments will replace subscriptions — it’s whether they can strategically complement them. In this column, former Gannett and Baltimore Banner executive Imtiaz Patel revisits the debate with fresh eyes and practical use cases. From out-of-town readers to subscription-phobic skeptics, he argues that short-term access passes may finally make micropayments worth another look.
As legal threats, political attacks and corporate pullbacks mount, the future of newsroom diversity, equity and inclusion is on shaky ground. From shuttered DEI offices to Supreme Court decisions with industry-wide implications, many media leaders now find themselves asking how — or if — DEI can survive. In this in-depth report, advocates, journalists, executives and legal experts weigh in on where things stand and what’s at stake. The message is clear: retreating isn’t just risky — it’s a step backward for journalism’s credibility, sustainability and connection to the communities it serves.
Capital B isn’t just reporting on Black America — it’s redefining what it means to serve it. Founded by two media powerhouses who saw the gaps and said “enough,” this nonprofit newsroom is now setting the pace for inclusive, investigative journalism in Black communities nationwide. From Atlanta to Gary and beyond, Capital B is proving that when Black journalists lead the coverage, the stories hit deeper — and the accountability runs higher. E&P explores how Capital B is reshaping local news, and why its mission has never been more urgent.
Journalism professor John Morano hears it all the time: “Students just aren’t what they used to be.” But in classrooms where the First Amendment is debated weekly and “All the President’s Men” still inspires awe, he sees something very different — a generation deeply engaged with truth, ethics and the fragile future of the Fourth Estate.
Imagine a place where the brightest minds in journalism, technology and policy don’t just study the problems threatening a free press — they roll up their sleeves to solve them. That’s the vision behind the Center for News Technology and Innovation, or CNTI, a “do tank” determined to tackle everything from AI’s impact on news to global misinformation and the erosion of independent media. Led by veterans like Craig Forman and Amy Mitchell, CNTI is already reshaping how the industry thinks about research, policy and collaboration. If you care about the future of credible journalism, this is the story you can’t afford to skip.
When Chris Coates took the helm as executive editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, he knew the paper needed to get closer to the people it served. So he launched a Reader Advisory Board, gathering a diverse group of locals to share ideas, critique coverage and offer fresh perspectives. The board quickly became a wellspring of story ideas and helped inspire new initiatives like a mobile newsroom. For Coates and his team, listening to the community wasn’t just good practice — it was the spark that reignited their mission to tell meaningful stories.
Local journalism is under siege in California, and the latest casualty may be the people’s right to know. In this powerful op-ed, Laura Rearwin Ward, publisher of the Ojai Valley News and founder of the California Independent News Alliance, lays bare the consequences of unchecked media consolidation — and the legislature’s failure to stop it. As hedge funds tighten their grip on community newsrooms, Ward argues that press freedom and public trust are on the line. Her message: If we want journalism that serves the people, we must fight to keep it in the hands of the people.
In his new E&P column, Todd Handy — a proven growth architect behind major transformations in digital media, AdTech and SaaS — brings Silicon Valley strategy to Main Street media. Each month, Handy will show local media leaders how to think (and grow) like a SaaS company, breaking down essential metrics like CAC, LTV, MRR and NRR — and translating them into real-world, revenue-driving strategies for publishers. If you’ve ever felt lost in the alphabet soup of growth metrics, this column will be your decoder ring — built for media insiders, not tech bros.
E&P’s “Media That Matters” program returns for 2025 to spotlight the people and organizations redefining what success looks like in news publishing. From groundbreaking audience engagement strategies to creative revenue models and bold technological innovation, this year’s honorees set a new standard for the industry. Each winner demonstrates that journalism can thrive when it evolves to meet modern challenges with courage and ingenuity. Their stories are meant to inspire, encourage and remind us all why this work matters.
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James Braddock was a down-and-out boxer who couldn’t buy a win — until he shocked the world and became heavyweight champion. His secret wasn’t better technique or a stronger punch, but something far more powerful driving him forward. His story holds a lesson every salesperson needs to hear about grit, preparation and purpose. If you’ve ever felt like the underdog, you’ll want to read how Jeff Sleete believes Braddock turned impossible odds into victory.
After years documenting the scars of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Andrea Bruce came home to North Carolina and found a different kind of crisis — a county starved of reliable news. In a place where conspiracy theories passed for journalism and local stories went untold, she picked up her camera again, determined to fill the void herself. What began as a simple newsletter has blossomed into a lifeline for thousands of residents hungry for connection and truth. Her journey proves that even one determined journalist can bring vital reporting back to the places that need it most.
For centuries, the humble article has been journalism’s beating heart — a sturdy container of facts, stories and public accountability. But as AI-powered chatbots and generative tools reshape how people consume information, some newsroom leaders are wondering if its time has finally come. Gard Steiro, editor and publisher of Norway’s Verdens Gang, thinks the article should die so journalism can survive. In an age where audiences expect conversations, videos and personalized feeds, the classic story form may be the next casualty of the digital revolution.
Public media is once again fighting for its life. In a razor-thin vote, the U.S. House moved to strip $1.1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — a move critics call an existential threat to NPR, PBS and hundreds of local stations that millions of Americans rely on. From Detroit to Hartford, station leaders are scrambling to prepare for a future without federal support, even as they double down on their mission to serve diverse communities with trusted news and programming. At stake isn’t just a budget line — it’s whether public media will survive as one of the last locally owned, independent voices in American journalism.
Prospecting is the lifeblood of any successful sales career, yet it’s often the first thing to slip when you get busy closing deals. Fortunately, today’s AI tools can help you spot the best prospects faster, gather fresh insights and fill your pipeline without sacrificing precious time. From generating targeted lead lists to uncovering hidden opportunities on a prospect’s website, AI can become your most powerful — and ethical — sales assistant. But remember, technology is only as good as the human behind it, so pair these tools with your expertise and personal touch to stand out and win more business.
A new national survey by the Collier Prize for State Government Accountability reveals just how difficult it has become for journalists to cover state governments. Two-thirds of reporters said they’d been excluded from official briefings, while more than half struggled to obtain public records through FOIA requests. The findings, though based on a small sample, paint a troubling picture of shrinking access and rising hostility toward accountability reporting. As public trust erodes and newsroom budgets tighten, these barriers threaten to keep citizens in the dark about the institutions that most directly affect their lives.
Publishers continually strive to build sustainable revenue models, typically choosing between subscription-first or ad-driven approaches. Currently, there’s a strong industry sentiment favoring subscription revenue for long-term sustainability. Advocates frequently highlight successful subscription models like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Boston Globe. However, recent successes at Newsweek and the Daily Mail suggest that the ad-driven approach still has significant merit.
As attacks on journalists escalate across the U.S., Maria Ressa is sounding the alarm: the dismantling of press freedom is happening faster than most Americans realize. From federal lawsuits against newsrooms to armed crackdowns on reporters covering protests, a coordinated campaign of intimidation is taking shape. “This feels like déjà vu and PTSD,” Ressa warned, recalling how Duterte’s government crushed independent media in the Philippines. Now, with lawsuits, shutdown orders and threats of license revocations piling up, U.S. journalists are facing a defining test of whether they will fight to defend a free press — or watch it slip away.
Tom Davidson has watched media spend a decade ceding its audience relationships to tech platforms that know everything about their users — and share nothing in return. As Amazon, YouTube and Spotify collect granular data to drive loyalty and revenue, public media still relies on broad demographics and outdated fundraising tactics. Davidson argues that if media doesn’t build direct, data-rich connections with individual readers, viewers and listeners, they’ll be left behind for good. In his view, the time to act isn’t someday — it’s today.
For nearly two centuries, The Associated Press has been at the forefront of delivering trusted news to the world. Now, as press freedom faces fresh threats and AI reshapes the media landscape, the AP is doubling down on innovation and accountability. From defending its First Amendment rights in court to launching programs that strengthen local journalism, the AP is proving that age is no barrier to reinvention. “You must be adaptable to shift and evolve as audiences change,” said Executive Editor Julie Pace — a philosophy that has kept the AP relevant since 1846.
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