As more Americans get their news from social platforms, the fight against misinformation is increasingly being waged outside traditional newsrooms. In this feature, Tandy Lau examines how the News Creator Corps is training online creators in newsroom-style practices to help close trust and accuracy gaps. Through an eight-week fellowship, the nonprofit equips creators with reporting, sourcing and verification skills without trying to turn them into journalists. The result is a growing experiment in whether better-trained creators can become credible allies in delivering trustworthy information where audiences already are. more

As social platforms increasingly reward personality over institutional branding, news publishers are rethinking how they reach and retain digital audiences. Once rare, collaborations between newsrooms and content creators have quickly moved from novelty to necessity as 2026 begins. Influencers bring built-in trust, relatability and reach — qualities that often outperform traditional mastheads in crowded feeds. Reporting by Gretchen A. Peck explores how these partnerships are reshaping audience strategy, revenue opportunities and the future face of journalism. more

As local news outlets disappear across the country, an unexpected network is helping fill the gaps: college newsrooms. In this article, Tandy Lau explores a new national database mapping more than 1,100 student-run newspapers and where they operate. The data reveals that hundreds of these outlets sit in or near communities with little to no local news coverage. Together, they point to student journalism’s growing — and often overlooked — role in sustaining local information ecosystems. more

After decades of chasing every promise dangled by Silicon Valley, newsrooms are once again being told that the next technological fix will save journalism. In a sharp, unsparing column, Rob Tornoe argues that artificial intelligence is not a lifeline for the press but the latest weapon Big Tech is using to marginalize it. Drawing on recent traffic collapses, newsroom embarrassments and the long history of broken platform promises, Tornoe makes the case that publishers have seen this movie before. His warning is blunt: trusting AI to rescue journalism risks repeating the same mistakes that helped put the industry in peril in the first place. more

Covering immigration enforcement in the U.S. is no longer just a beat — for many journalists, it has become a physical safety risk once associated with foreign war zones. As federal crackdowns intensified in 2025, reporters from Los Angeles to Chicago faced detention, injury and intimidation while doing their jobs. In response, local newsrooms began building grassroots safety networks, sharing training, protocols and resources once reserved for international correspondents. Reporting by Diane Sylvester shows how these efforts are reshaping what it means to protect journalists at home. more

Shannon Kinney, founder of Dream Local Digital and longtime media sales strategist, believes 2026 could be a record-breaking year — but only for sellers who prepare with intention. In this guide, she shares seven proven tactics for building pipeline, delivering insight, leveraging AI and closing deals with confidence. Her approach blends decades of industry expertise with today’s most effective tools. For media pros ready to grow, the path starts here. more

Media executive Imtiaz Patel believes it’s time for publishers to think like retailers — and he’s got the résumé to back it up. With experience leading both media and retail strategy, Patel argues that newsroom-branded merchandise, when done right, can become a meaningful revenue stream. From The Wall Street Journal’s wildly successful WSJwine to Block Club Chicago’s viral T-shirt sales, he highlights how storytelling and commerce can intersect. His message: newsrooms must stop selling just the news and start selling the brand behind it. more

Recently E&P Magazine proudly unveiled the winners of the 30th annual EPPY Awards, celebrating the world’s best digital media across more than 45 bold and diverse categories. From hard-hitting investigations to breakthrough audience engagement, this year’s winners — selected from over 400 global entries — prove that digital journalism is not just alive but thriving. Judged by a panel of top media minds, only the highest-scoring entries earned the honor, making this year’s list a true showcase of storytelling excellence. more

Local communities power the nation’s economy, and local media remain the essential link connecting consumers to the businesses that serve them. Even as economic uncertainty lingers into 2026, publishers and advertisers must stay focused and strategic, resisting the pessimism that only deepens instability. That’s why E&P turned to its marketing partners for insights, predictions and practical guidance to help local media navigate a challenging year with confidence. more

In his latest column, journalist and former CNN executive producer Gerry Harrington argues that legacy newsrooms can no longer rely on traditional models as audiences fragment and trust erodes. Drawing lessons from commerce rather than journalism, he makes the case that a hybrid marketplace approach — one that blends institutional reporting with curated contributions from independent journalists — may offer a sustainable path forward. Harrington contends that embracing this model isn’t just innovative but necessary if news organizations hope to remain relevant in a rapidly shifting media ecosystem. more

As the world prepares to celebrate, we at E&P Magazine are revisiting this moving 2022 feature by Gretchen A. Peck, E&P’s Contributing Editor, as a tribute to the journalists who remain on duty while others gather with family and friends. Their stories of dedication, sacrifice, and unexpected moments of joy on holiday shifts still resonate deeply today. We hope this reflection reminds you — as it reminds us — of the essential public service journalists provide, every day of the year. more

In this column, Jeff Sleete challenges the long-held belief that December is a lost cause for sales teams. He lays out why the final month of the year is actually primed for connection, planning and unexpected wins. By reframing December as a strategic advantage, he urges salespeople to seize momentum while competitors coast. more

As public media confronts unprecedented financial strain and shifting audience habits, Tom Davidson asks a question many in the system have quietly feared: What happens if PBS can no longer sustain itself? In this analysis, he traces the mounting pressures — from collapsing linear viewership to station defections and escalating dues — that threaten the network’s very structure. Davidson argues that without swift, coordinated action, a once-unthinkable scenario could rapidly become reality. more

In his latest column, Rob Tornoe admits he has a soft spot for those quirky holiday gift lists that flood inboxes this time of year. That same spirit of curiosity inspired him to assemble a collection of newsroom tools, ideas and innovations he’s been admiring in 2025. His hope is that these favorites spark creativity — or at least a few useful shortcuts — for journalists everywhere. more

In a year defined by legal threats, political hostility and sudden firings, contributing editor Gretchen A. Peck examines how a culture of fear is reshaping the American newsroom. Her reporting reveals an industry under unprecedented pressure — from lawsuits and federal investigations to the growing expectation that journalists police every word they post online. Peck shows how this risk-averse environment is quietly altering the way reporters work, the decisions leaders make and the future of a free press itself. more

As misinformation rises and hostile policies spread across the country, the Trans Journalists Association is stepping into a critical leadership role. What began as an online support network has evolved into a national nonprofit pushing for accuracy, safety and equity in coverage of transgender communities. Now, with growing membership and new resources, its leaders are working to ensure that journalism’s first draft of history reflects trans lives with nuance, rigor and respect. more

Southern California reporter Ryanne Mena turned her passion for immigration coverage into a fight for press freedom. While documenting protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, she was twice injured by federal agents using “less-than-lethal” rounds. Her experience became part of a lawsuit filed by the LA Press Club, NewsGuild-CWA and others accusing the Department of Homeland Security of targeting journalists. In September, a federal judge issued an injunction barring DHS agents from using force against reporters, a ruling advocates say could set a national precedent. more

In a neighborhood often defined by outsiders through a narrow lens, three Bay Area newsroom veterans are working to shift power to the people who live there. “We realized it was about listening first,” Laura Wenus told E&P. She, Noah Arroyo and Daphne Magnawa have launched News Relay Network to build a new kind of hyperlocal newsroom. Their first project, The Tenderloin Voice, is being developed with residents of one of San Francisco’s most diverse neighborhoods. more

Last May, the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) launched its First Amendment Collaborative, a regional initiative uniting newsrooms to report on threats to press freedom and offer training rooted in solutions journalism. Born during a charged town hall at NENPA’s 2025 convention, the effort aimed to remind communities that press freedoms are their freedoms, too. Led by Melanie Plenda of the Granite State News Collaborative, it debuted on Constitution Day with 27 stories reasserting journalism’s vital role in protecting democracy. more

News organizations across the country continue long-standing traditions of charitable giving during the holiday season. To capture the breadth of that generosity, Editor & Publisher reached out across its network to learn how local media support their communities this time of year. The responses reveal a wide range of efforts — from hands-on toy deliveries to special editorial initiatives highlighting nonprofits and community needs. Together, they show how deeply rooted the spirit of service is within the news industry, especially during the holidays. more