Mike Blinder

The transition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to new ownership began Thursday night with significant newsroom layoffs, according to multiple accounts from staff and union leadership.

Journalism is being forced to answer a question it long avoided: why should the public trust it at all? At a moment when credibility is eroding and the definition of a journalist is increasingly blurred, a new industry-wide framework is attempting to reset the standard. The 2026 Oxford Declaration on Journalistic Integrity and Public Trust is not just another set of principles — it is a direct response to a crisis of confidence. And as Steve Herman makes clear, the stakes are no longer theoretical — “the house is on fire and we need to respond to that.”

As local news organizations continue searching for sustainability, a new national report finds that the path forward may depend less on new ideas and more on executing proven revenue strategies well. Researchers Caroline Porter and Mark Fuerst say the nonprofit news organizations making progress are investing earlier in business operations, building stronger local donor relationships and embedding themselves more deeply in their communities. Their findings suggest sustainability is possible — but only for publishers willing to think like both journalists and business leaders.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, USA TODAY is reviving a nearly forgotten newspaper tradition with the debut of the “USA TODAY March,” a new Sousa-style composition celebrating journalism, patriotism and community connection. In a recent E&P Reports interview, USA TODAY’s Liz Johnson and composer and features writer Jim Beckerman discussed how the unusual project evolved from a piece of newspaper history into a modern effort to reconnect audiences with the civic and cultural role journalism once played in American life.

For decades, local journalism’s business model rested on advertising, subscriptions and philanthropy. Now, according to Rebuild Local News co-founder Steven Waldman, a fourth leg is rapidly emerging: public policy. New state laws, tax credits and government-backed initiatives have already directed more than $129 million into local newsrooms, with tens of millions more expected this year alone. Waldman says the shift signals a major new chapter in how communities may ultimately sustain local journalism.

A recent E&P Reports interview with Rebuild Local News co-founder Steven Waldman has drawn attention from the Wall Street Journal editorial page, which weighed in this week on the growing role of public policy in supporting local journalism.

Can journalism accept public support without sacrificing independence? Can newsrooms pursue audience growth without losing relevance? Those questions ignited two recent debates stemming from E&P Reports episodes, drawing responses from both The Wall Street Journal and local news publisher Christian Hendricks. E&P Publisher Mike Blinder turned to media critic and author Jeff Jarvis to tackle what may be journalism’s biggest questions: who pays for it, what it should produce and where it goes next.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how media sales teams prospect, research, communicate and report results. Yet according to media revenue strategist Ryan Dohrn, the technology itself is not the competitive advantage. The real differentiator remains the same as it has always been: the salesperson using it. In a conversation with E&P, Dohrn argues that AI won’t replace strong salespeople or save weak ones. Instead, it will amplify existing strengths, expose existing weaknesses and reward those who learn how to combine technology with relevance, preparation and authentic human relationships.

A new global study suggests journalism’s biggest challenge may not be AI, declining trust or shrinking revenues. Instead, it may be the widening gap between what news organizations say their priorities are and how their newsrooms actually operate. In a recent E&P Reports conversation, WAN-IFRA CEO Stig Kirk Ørskov and FT Strategies Insights Manager Lamberto Lambertini discussed findings from the Future Newsrooms Study, which surveyed more than 400 newsroom leaders across 86 countries and revealed an industry still spending far more time producing content than building audience relationships. As engagement replaces reach as the defining metric of success, the report raises difficult questions about newsroom culture, strategy and the skills journalists will need for the future.

News organizations have spent years debating whether artificial intelligence will replace journalists, whether social media is helping or hurting democracy, and whether younger audiences still value news. But according to Nebraska Public Media Chief Innovation Officer Chad Davis, those may no longer be the most important questions. During a recent episode of E&P Reports, Davis argued that journalism’s greatest challenge is understanding how audience behavior is changing in a world increasingly shaped by gaming, creator-driven platforms, conversational media and AI. His message: The future of journalism may depend less on protecting old models and more on adapting to entirely new ways people consume information, build habits and engage with media.