Breaking news doesn’t wait for experience — and increasingly, it doesn’t wait for professional newsrooms either. As local media resources shrink, student journalists are stepping into high-stakes reporting roles, covering events as they unfold in real time. In Minneapolis, University of Minnesota students found themselves on the front lines of a rapidly developing and dangerous story. In this month’s J-school profile, E&P looks at how the Hubbard School of Journalism is preparing students to report in the real world — and why their work is already making an impact. more

The News-Gazette in Champaign, Illinois, has spent more than a century delivering local journalism in print. Now, the award-winning newspaper is bringing that reporting to the airwaves. In January 2026, the newsroom launched News-Gazette Radio, a fast-paced local talk show that airs four days a week. The program blends newsroom reporting, community voices and podcast distribution to expand the reach of the paper’s journalism. more

At a time when free expression is facing pressure from multiple directions, media scholar and E&P columnist Stuart N. Brotman examines a series of remarkable federal court rulings in which judges are defending First Amendment rights with unusual moral clarity, constitutional conviction and literary force reminiscent of some of the nation’s most celebrated jurists. more

How well do Americans actually understand the First Amendment? A new initiative from the Freedom Forum is trying to answer that question while helping the public learn more about the constitutional freedoms that shape everyday life. Through its First Amendment Academy, the organization offers free online courses and interactive quizzes designed for lifelong learners. The program also provides embeddable quizzes and ready-to-use content that news organizations can easily share with their audiences. more

Trust in political news has become one of the industry’s most pressing challenges, with audiences increasingly skeptical of bias and unsure where to turn for balanced information. Many publishers are experimenting with new formats and approaches to rebuild credibility and reconnect with readers. One emerging strategy is radical transparency — presenting multiple perspectives side by side and allowing audiences to draw their own conclusions. In this month’s Company Profile, E&P looks at how Tangle is using that approach to grow its audience and redefine trust in political journalism. more

Late-night television has long been a pressure valve for American politics, where comedians challenge those in power through satire and sharp monologues. But in today’s polarized environment, those jokes are colliding with regulatory threats, corporate caution and questions about the limits of free speech. As political pressure intensifies, the role of late-night hosts is evolving from entertainment to something closer to cultural commentary — and sometimes confrontation. In this month’s News Media Today column, Rob Tornoe examines how Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and others have found themselves at the center of a growing battle over comedy, criticism and the boundaries of free expression. more

Graduating into journalism today means stepping into a profession defined as much by uncertainty as by purpose. Newsroom layoffs, low pay and shrinking opportunities have left many students questioning whether there’s a future in the field at all. Yet for some, the mission still outweighs the risks. This month’s ShopTalk comes from Bjorn Bergstrom, a University of Oregon journalism student who is choosing to pursue the profession anyway. more

For journalists, getting the story often means pulling hard in a constant tug of war for information. Public records requests stall, sources disappear and officials increasingly respond to questions with silence — or hostility. Now, new research from the Reynolds Journalism Institute and Smith Geiger is examining how the growing use of “no comment” is reshaping public perceptions of journalism itself. more

Investigative journalist Walker Bragman isn’t interested in simply debunking misinformation. He wants to identify the people funding it, the networks spreading it and the political forces benefiting from it. Through his nonprofit Accountability Journalism Institute, Bragman is tracing the dark money and influence campaigns that undermine science, journalism and public trust. more

In this year’s Tomorrow’s News Trailblazers package, E&P Editor-in-Chief Robin Blinder spotlights a new class of rising media professionals whose ideas, resilience and creativity are helping redefine the future of journalism. Drawn from newsrooms, audience teams, revenue operations and editorial leadership roles across the industry, this year’s honorees reflect the many ways the next generation is already shaping what comes next. more

When Georges Budagu Makoko arrived in Maine in 2002 after fleeing violence in Central Africa, he spoke five languages — but English wasn’t one of them. Finding housing, healthcare or even basic services in his new home proved frustrating and often confusing. Years later, those early struggles inspired him to launch Amjambo Africa, a multilingual newsroom dedicated to helping new Mainers navigate life in the United States while sharing the stories of immigrant communities too often overlooked. more

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant disruption for journalism. From Pentagon disputes over military AI use to global newsroom campaigns demanding compensation from tech companies, the industry is confronting a defining question: who will control how journalism is used, represented and monetized inside the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem? more

Few news organizations carry the historical weight of The Washington Post. Yet after a year marked by layoffs, leadership upheaval and high-profile resignations, the paper that once defined investigative journalism is confronting a far more uncertain question: what does The Washington Post become in the next era of American media? In the April cover story for E&P Magazine, Gretchen A. Peck examines the newsroom turmoil, strategic shifts and leadership decisions now shaping the future of one of journalism’s most storied institutions. more

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, debates over free expression are once again front and center. In this month’s column, Stuart N. Brotman argues that the rise of “cancel culture” reflects a deeper struggle over who gets to speak — and who gets silenced. While public shaming may feel new, he reminds us that efforts to suppress ideas have long shaped American culture. Brotman calls for a cease-fire, urging a renewed commitment to open dialogue as a defining principle of the nation’s next chapter. more

This month’s Association Profile examines how Lawyers for Reporters is stepping in to provide free legal support to local and nonprofit newsrooms navigating rising costs and legal risks. Backed by the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, the program connects journalists with experienced attorneys across the country, helping protect both reporting and operations. For many outlets without in-house counsel, the service offers critical guidance — from investigative review to everyday contracts — without the financial burden. As legal pressures on journalism grow, the initiative aims to ensure accountability reporting can continue without fear of crippling legal exposure. more

E&P’s Gretchen A. Peck examines the evolving relationship between the White House and the press, arguing that recent actions signal a sharper escalation in political pressure on journalism. While presidential criticism of media coverage has long been part of American history, she suggests the current tactics raise new concerns about accountability and trust. The creation of a public-facing portal to flag alleged media bias underscores a broader effort to challenge journalistic credibility. Peck ultimately points to a familiar but urgent question for newsrooms: how to reinforce trust through transparency, verification and a commitment to rigorous reporting. more

In this month’s News Media Today, Rob Tornoe takes a hard look at what’s gone wrong at The Washington Post — and what it will take to rebuild. After sweeping layoffs gutted core coverage areas, including sports and metro reporting, industry insiders are offering a path forward. Their ideas range from nonprofit ownership to restoring essential beats that drive engagement and community connection. At stake is more than one newsroom — it’s whether a legacy institution can find its way back to relevance and trust. more

In this report, Gretchen A. Peck examines how data and digital forensics are transforming investigative journalism. From satellite imagery to local data analysis, reporters are uncovering stories once hidden from view. These tools are becoming more accessible, even for smaller newsrooms. The result is stronger, evidence-driven reporting that resonates with audiences. more

In this month’s Ad Sales Life column, Shannon Kinney argues that the future of media sales is no longer about selling inventory — it’s about delivering expertise. As advertisers demand strategy, insights and measurable results, the role of the salesperson is evolving from order taker to trusted adviser. Kinney draws on decades of digital marketing leadership to outline how sellers can build credibility, confidence and stronger client relationships. Her message is clear: those who position themselves as experts won’t just close more deals — they’ll redefine the value of local media. more

Journalism can be a single sentence in a social media post that breaks important news or shares critical information with the public. It could be a 60-second vertical video that advances a story. It could be a two-minute report on the nightly news. It might be a 1,000-word story with several sources. It could be a series of articles over several days. A podcast. Or even a full-length documentary. The professors and instructors at the University of Southern California-Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism have built an ecosystem that respects the entire spectrum. more