Medill Local News Initiative
@localnewsini.bsky.social
October 9, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Listen to the full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/1...
October 6, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Listen to the full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/1...
Watch the full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
September 30, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Watch the full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
The Medill Local News Accelerator invites journalists to join Perspectives (perspectives.info) on Oct. 14 for a hands-on workshop with Chicago public health experts. Learn strategies to engage skeptical audiences & build trust amid misinformation. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/tips-from-...
September 29, 2026 at 8:28 PM
The Medill Local News Accelerator invites journalists to join Perspectives (perspectives.info) on Oct. 14 for a hands-on workshop with Chicago public health experts. Learn strategies to engage skeptical audiences & build trust amid misinformation. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/tips-from-...
📊 Chicago-area local news habits are changing: Radio’s share of local news consumption fell from 34% to 25% in three years, while daily local TV usage dropped from 52% to 47%. Just 14% pay for local news.
Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
The Medill Survey 2026: How the Chicago Area Gets its News
This text was adapted from the introduction of our report on how Chicago-area residents consume local news. Download a full PDF version of the report.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
September 29, 2026 at 5:41 PM
📊 Chicago-area local news habits are changing: Radio’s share of local news consumption fell from 34% to 25% in three years, while daily local TV usage dropped from 52% to 47%. Just 14% pay for local news.
Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Reposted by Medill Local News Initiative
The third annual survey by @localnewsini.bsky.social found that respondents are deeply skeptical of AI in news for anything more than helping to check spelling or grammar. https://localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/09/15/chicago-area-news-consumption-survey-2026/index.html
The Medill Survey 2026: How the Chicago Area Gets its News
This text was adapted from the introduction of our report on how Chicago-area residents consume local news. Download a full PDF version of the report.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
September 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM
The third annual survey by @localnewsini.bsky.social found that respondents are deeply skeptical of AI in news for anything more than helping to check spelling or grammar. https://localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/09/15/chicago-area-news-consumption-survey-2026/index.html
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
September 28, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
AI vs Real Humans: Why Local Authenticity Wins Every Time.
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
September 18, 2026 at 5:54 PM
AI vs Real Humans: Why Local Authenticity Wins Every Time.
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Read the Medill 2026 survey: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
September 16, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Read the Medill 2026 survey: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
How is Chicago getting its news in 2026?
📱 Smartphones are increasingly dominant
📺 Local TV audiences are declining
🤖 Audiences remain skeptical of AI in news
👥 Young people are increasingly turning to content creators
Read the Medill 2026 survey: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
📱 Smartphones are increasingly dominant
📺 Local TV audiences are declining
🤖 Audiences remain skeptical of AI in news
👥 Young people are increasingly turning to content creators
Read the Medill 2026 survey: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
September 15, 2026 at 3:37 PM
How is Chicago getting its news in 2026?
📱 Smartphones are increasingly dominant
📺 Local TV audiences are declining
🤖 Audiences remain skeptical of AI in news
👥 Young people are increasingly turning to content creators
Read the Medill 2026 survey: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
📱 Smartphones are increasingly dominant
📺 Local TV audiences are declining
🤖 Audiences remain skeptical of AI in news
👥 Young people are increasingly turning to content creators
Read the Medill 2026 survey: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
The AI Productivity Paradox. Full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
September 14, 2026 at 3:31 PM
The AI Productivity Paradox. Full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
"Subscriptions are the bedrock of what we do."
Full episode with Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full episode with Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
September 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM
"Subscriptions are the bedrock of what we do."
Full episode with Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full episode with Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Eric Barnes, CEO of The Daily Memphian, joins Tim Franklin on the latest State of Local News Podcast to discuss paywalls, subscriptions, philanthropy, AI and the future of local journalism.
Read the Q&A + listen/watch: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Read the Q&A + listen/watch: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
How Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes Grew a Robust Nonprofit News Outlet with a Paywall and a Base of Loyal Subscribers
In the eighth 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 Eric Barn...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
September 2, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Eric Barnes, CEO of The Daily Memphian, joins Tim Franklin on the latest State of Local News Podcast to discuss paywalls, subscriptions, philanthropy, AI and the future of local journalism.
Read the Q&A + listen/watch: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Read the Q&A + listen/watch: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Medill Dean Charles Whitaker & @localnewsini.bsky.social Founding Director Tim Franklin rang the @nasdaqexchange.bsky.social Bell yesterday! 🔔 They celebrated LNI's Chicago Innovation Award win for its R&D work helping transform the local news ecosystem nationwide. 🗞️
September 1, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Medill Dean Charles Whitaker & @localnewsini.bsky.social Founding Director Tim Franklin rang the @nasdaqexchange.bsky.social Bell yesterday! 🔔 They celebrated LNI's Chicago Innovation Award win for its R&D work helping transform the local news ecosystem nationwide. 🗞️
Full Episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
August 24, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Full Episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full Episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
August 19, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Full Episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
What happens when local news includes communities behind prison walls?
A new LNI story explores the growing movement of journalism in prisons — from the Prison Journalism Project to newspapers run by incarcerated women in Oklahoma.
Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
A new LNI story explores the growing movement of journalism in prisons — from the Prison Journalism Project to newspapers run by incarcerated women in Oklahoma.
Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Journalism Behind Bars
Yukari Kane co-founded the Prison Journalism Project in 2020 with a clear goal in mind: to not only shed light on the experiences of incarcerated people across the country but empower them with the wr...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
August 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM
What happens when local news includes communities behind prison walls?
A new LNI story explores the growing movement of journalism in prisons — from the Prison Journalism Project to newspapers run by incarcerated women in Oklahoma.
Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
A new LNI story explores the growing movement of journalism in prisons — from the Prison Journalism Project to newspapers run by incarcerated women in Oklahoma.
Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
August 10, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
August 7, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
August 5, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
At a time when many are retrenching, The Post and Courier Publisher P.J. Browning is expanding, adding nine newsrooms in South Carolina, creating collaborations with local news outlets on investigative projects & launching a robust events series.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Charleston CEO P.J. Browning is Investing and Growing the Post & Courier While Many Other Local News Outlets Retrench
In the seventh 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 P.J. Bro...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
August 3, 2026 at 4:40 PM
At a time when many are retrenching, The Post and Courier Publisher P.J. Browning is expanding, adding nine newsrooms in South Carolina, creating collaborations with local news outlets on investigative projects & launching a robust events series.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full Episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
July 31, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Full Episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
July 30, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Can Reddit become a new audience pathway for local news?
A new report from the Medill looks at how newsrooms like The Dallas Morning News and KQED are using Reddit to reach communities, engage readers, and discover story ideas.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
A new report from the Medill looks at how newsrooms like The Dallas Morning News and KQED are using Reddit to reach communities, engage readers, and discover story ideas.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
Is this Reddit’s moment for local news?
Last October, the Big 12 conference issued a rule change that only really makes sense if you watch Big 12 football: Fans at Texas Tech’s Jones AT&T Stadium were no longer allowed to throw tortilla...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
July 28, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Can Reddit become a new audience pathway for local news?
A new report from the Medill looks at how newsrooms like The Dallas Morning News and KQED are using Reddit to reach communities, engage readers, and discover story ideas.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
A new report from the Medill looks at how newsrooms like The Dallas Morning News and KQED are using Reddit to reach communities, engage readers, and discover story ideas.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...
New from @lionpubs.bsky.social: the Sustainability Audit Dashboard provides an interactive look at data from nearly 450 independent local news organizations, offering new insights into the business health of the sector.
lionpublishers.com/audit-dashbo...
lionpublishers.com/audit-dashbo...
July 22, 2026 at 8:33 PM
New from @lionpubs.bsky.social: the Sustainability Audit Dashboard provides an interactive look at data from nearly 450 independent local news organizations, offering new insights into the business health of the sector.
lionpublishers.com/audit-dashbo...
lionpublishers.com/audit-dashbo...