Survey examines current state of local newspapers and the outlook for the next few years

By Heidi Wright, COO, EO Media Group, and Publisher, The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon

One of the best things about the newspaper industry is how we come together on the critical issues that impact our business. And there probably isn’t a more important initiative than the advocacy efforts America’s Newspapers is leading for the Community News and Small Business Support Act (H.R. 4756) that’s been introduced in Washington. The Act would bring significant benefits to local newspapers across the country through refundable tax credits tied directly to newsroom employees.  

To help support our advocacy efforts, America’s Newspapers, along with our partners at Coda Ventures, is conducting a study on the current health of local newspapers.

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Q&A: Heidi Wright, America’s Newspapers president, on saving local news

Heidi Wright, the newly elected president of America's Newspapers, says publishers are especially focused now on increasing reader revenue, or subscriptions, and supplementing that with other revenue and outside support.

“That’s what we’re all working toward, building up that side of the business, and also other revenue streams, philanthropy and government,” she said. “To me those are the three areas we need to focus on. Whatever America’s Newspapers can do as an association to support that needs to be a major area of focus.”

READ MORE from this Q&A with Brier Dudley

Anniston Star publisher dies at 83

Long before she assumed the title and duties of publisher and chairman of Consolidated Publishing in January of 2018, Josephine Ayers had been a strong influence throughout the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s to promote the arts in Calhoun County, in Alabama and around the world.

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Andy Flynn named editor and publisher of Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Lake Placid News

The Ogden Newspapers has named Andy Flynn as editor and publisher of Adirondack Publishing’s two newspapers, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise (Saranac Lake, New York) and Lake Placid News.

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Amber Hall named chief compliance and privacy officer of Cox Enterprises

Cox Enterprises has announced that Amber Hall has been named its chief compliance and privacy officer. In this new role, Hall will oversee the Compliance and Privacy team as part of the Cox Law and Policy Center of Excellence. This new team better positions Cox to scale support as business needs expand, standardize compliance and privacy strategies, and align tools, processes and programs.

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Cliff Harrington retires as executive editor of The Herald in Rock Hill, S.C.

"I’ve been through the great times and tumult. But I always said I would know when it’s time to walk away. Now’s my time. I’m retiring from my position as executive editor of The Herald." — Cliff Harrington, The Herald

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Tennessean and USA TODAY Network appoint inaugural Taylor Swift reporter

Veteran journalist Bryan West emerged as the standout choice from a pool of hundreds of applicants in a nationwide quest to become The Tennessean and USA TODAY Network’s dedicated Taylor Swift reporter.

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Margaret Sullivan joining Columbia Journalism School as executive director of the Newmark Center

Margaret Sullivan, weekly columnist for the Guardian US, will become the executive director for the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security on Jan. 1, 2024. She is returning to Columbia Journalism School, where she previously taught Audience and Engagement courses.

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The end of an era in Bartlesville, Oklahoma: Sports editor Mike Tupa retires

The Bartlesville (Oklahoma) Examiner-Enterprise has reached the end of an era. Mike Tupa, sports editor of nearly 30 years, has retired.

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