{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"306  The Medill Report on local news: More urgency than optimism","description":"Local news is collapsing at an alarming pace \u2014 more than 3,500 newspapers have vanished since 2005, with 130 disappearing just last year. In this episode, we interview Tim Franklin and Zach Metzger of Northwestern\u2019s Medill School of Journalism, the researchers behind the 2025 State of Local News report, which paints a dire picture of vanishing watchdogs, expanding news deserts, and a shrinking connection between journalism and the communities it serves. Yet amid the bleak data are signs of reinvention, from public radio stations stepping up to statewide networks and philanthropic partnerships gaining traction outside major metros. This isn\u2019t just a crisis \u2014 it\u2019s a make-or-break moment for rebuilding local journalism from the ground up. Access more at this episode\u2019s landing page, at:  https:\/\/www.editorandpublisher.com\/stories\/the-state-of-local-news-more-urgency-than-optimism,258462 &amp;nbsp; ","author_name":"&quot;E &amp; P Reports&quot; from Editor &amp; Publisher Magazine hosted by Mike Blinder","author_url":"https:\/\/editorandpublisher.com\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/38778475\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/38778475"}