In what is being called a 'monumental' and 'historic' win for local news, New York lawmakers have approved $90 million worth of payroll tax credits over the next three years to hire local journalists as part of the state's 2025 budget.
axios.com/2024/04/21/ny-…

BIG NEWS: NY State leaders agree on landmark, bipartisan plan to help counter the collapse of community news – $30 million in employment tax credits for news outlets. First in the nation. Most significant state effort yet.

Exciting development in Illinois. The State Senate yesterday passed a bill requiring that there be a 120 day waiting period before a newspaper can be sold to an out of state company (to give time to communities to organize to keep it local) senatorstadelman.com/news/15-press-…

The news industry needs to use AI in a “human-in-the-loop way” to ensure accuracy, quality and credibility, ⁦Jeremy Gilbert⁩ of ⁦Northwestern Medill⁩ told local news leaders at MegaConference in Phoenix.

Generative AI may not make the best journalists better, but used correctly it could help raise the game of everyone in the newsroom, ⁦Jeremy Gilbert⁩ of ⁦Northwestern Medill⁩ says in speech at local news MegaConference in Phoenix.

The The Daily Northwestern goes in-depth on pending legislation in Illinois that would require Big Tech to compensate local news organizations for use of their content.

dailynorthwestern.com/2024/04/09/lat…

Former news executive ⁦Vivian Schiller⁩ said at “Trust.News.Democracy” conference in Austin that robust local news is the “only way out” of a “Liar’s Dividend” world of cynicism about journalism in AI era.

At “Trust.News.Democracy” conference at@LBJ Library in Austin, ⁦Susan Page of ⁦USA TODAY⁩, ⁦an Northwestern Medill⁩ grad, says “both sides journalism” is not ideal, but diversity of opinion is.

“Disclosure and transparency are the new powers of trust’” the ⁦Texas Tribune⁩’s top editor ⁦Sewell Chan⁩ says at “Trust.News.Democracy” conference in Austin. He says news consumers have “cognitive overload” from proliferation of information.

Speaking at “Trust.News.Democracy” conference at LBJ Library in Austin, John Palfrey of ⁦MacArthur Foundation⁩ says his foundation will invest in local news outlets where there’s demand for their journalism.

⁦Gannett⁩ projects it will show revenue growth by the end of this year, says CEO Mike Reed ⁦Mather Economics⁩ Symposium in Atlanta. The growth will come on the digital side as print revenue continues its slide.

CEO Mike Reed of ⁦Gannett⁩ says ⁦Mather Economics⁩ Symposium in Atlanta that his company is dropping ⁦The Associated Press⁩ because those stories don’t perform as well as locally produced company stories and the savings can be reinvested in local news orgs.

Is local news accessible in your area? New research from Northwestern reveals a stark divide: wealthier communities have more robust journalism ecosystems — but solutions like collaboration and philanthropy offer hope. More: bit.ly/43gMInS #localnewsmatters

Will Illinois pass what Anna Brugmann of Rebuild Local calls 'the most ambitious package of local journalism policy' in the nation? State Senator Steve Stadelman says he doesn't expect every proposal to pass, but that even if a few are approved it would help local news
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2024/02/…

Illinois' State Senator Steve Stadelman has introduced the most sweeping legislation in the nation to help local struggling news outlets. It would require Big Tech to compensate local news orgs, provides tax breaks and creates a new journalism scholarship program.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2024/02/…

Investments in public policy to help local news are one of the priorities for “Press Forward” and may eventually have one of the highest ROIs, says ⁦Jim Brady⁩ ⁦Local Media Association⁩ summit in Austin.

At ⁦Local Media Association⁩ summit in Austin, ⁦Jim Brady⁩ of ⁦Knight Foundation⁩ tells ⁦Nancy Lane⁩ that despite recent layoffs, he’s more encouraged about local news now than 5 years ago. And he says “Press Forward” will begin accepting proposals soon.

In an interview with Medill Local News Initiative, Dan Kennedy says, 'if we could revitalize local news, people might learn to be able to talk with each other and cooperate again.' Agreed. Kennedy and Ellen Clegg's new book 'What Works' is a must read.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2024/01/…

Urgent words from Penny Muse Abernathy in her Medill Local News Initiative Northwestern Medill column: 'The actions we collectively take over the next couple of years will determine whether we can revitalize and refurbish our local news ecosystem.'
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2024/01/…

This commission really did quite a good job.