Grant Marek’s Post

As local newsrooms face increasing challenges, today's panel explored how counties and media organizations can work together to keep residents informed, strengthen public trust, and ensure communities have access to timely, accurate information. The conversation highlighted innovative approaches to sustaining local journalism and the critical role trusted information plays in maintaining informed, engaged communities. Thank you to our panelists Kristen Go of CalMatters and The Markup, Christina Leonard of NEWSWELL, Joe Kieta of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, as well as our moderator Mendocino County Supervisor Madeline Cline, for sharing their insights on the future of local news and county-media partnerships. #RCRCAM

📚 Local News 101 | Lesson 4 We've spent the month talking about the challenges facing local journalism. But here's the most important lesson: Local news isn't just disappearing — it's being rebuilt. Across the country, nonprofit news organizations are proving that local journalism can grow, innovate, and better serve their communities with the right investment and support. That's the work we do every day. Thanks for following along with Local News 101. We hope these lessons gave you a deeper understanding of both the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of #localnews.

Most of us consume news alone behind a screen, read something tough, and just sit with it. That makes this experiment in Vermont worth a look. A couple of local outlets and the Vermont Journalism Coalition are teaming up with a new independent bookstore to start a monthly Journalism Club. Think book club, but for local enterprise reporting. People read the work ahead of time, then show up to talk through it with the reporters who did the digging. Back in August 2025, Marita Pérez Díaz wrote a piece for the American Press Institute's Better News about this very dynamic. She looked at how spaces like Radio Ambulante’s listening clubs turn news from solitary reading into a shared civic habit. Hosting this in an indie café alongside neighboring newsrooms does two smart things: it uses a real third space instead of a sterile panel, and it splits the organizational lift so small shops aren't burning out trying to do community engagement solo. Trust isn't built on a mission page. It happens when neighbors can ask a reporter why they made a specific call, and the reporter can explain it over a cup of coffee. Have you tried a news club or community reading format in your market? How did it go? #LocalNews #CommunityEngagement #Journalism

It was great to host a conversation with Joseph Kieta and Jim Boren. The loss of about 40% of The Fresno Bee's newsroom raises further concerns about journalism's future here in Fresno. Here at KVPR / Valley Public Radio and at Central Valley Daily, we'll continue to do our best to cover the issues that matter to our community. I know the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative shares that sentiment.

"They got it spectacularly wrong." Tony Mecia's take on the Charlotte Observer is an absolute bullseye: their path is the result of disastrous business decisions. "A lot of people fondly recall the days of strong local newspapers. It’s unclear that anyone today, though, is enamored of the odd mash-up of local journalism and national clickbait that McClatchy has engineered and served up on nearly unreadable websites. That is more likely to be the reason why revenues plunged 41%, not the overhiring of investigative reporters." What comes next will be great in ways that are different from how the Observer was great -- but they will be great all the same. #localnews https://lnkd.in/ehBGPtA5

THE GREAT GREEDY GULL GUARANTEE Our latest reactive campaign for Compare the Market delivered wall-to-wall coverage across print, broadcast and social news. Seagulls stealing lunch isn't just an annoying summer trope, it’s a £171M problem for UK pedestrians. To shine a light on the scale of the issue, we turned a universal British nuisance into a news moment. Our research revealed that 71% of Brits have had their food targeted or stolen by seagulls, sparking a nationwide debate. The results: ⚪ 206 total coverage pieces secured to date ⚪ 636M+ total editorial reach across UK media ⚪ 160+ broadcast pieces, including syndication across 22 Heart stations ⚪ Social hits on The Independent, The Daily Mail, Metro News, The Express, Lad Bible & more! ⚪ Segments on This Morning, Good Morning Britain and GB News    h/t: Sophie McIntosh, Jo Chapell, Caitlin Goldsmith, Francesca Holden, Shadia Muse, Grace Jackson, Jack Peat, Tawa Kazembe, Rupinder Jawanda, Alana Moorhead, Danyaal Hussain

Environmental harm, and the decisions that enable it, thrive in the dark where they are less likely to be noticed. For more than four decades, award-winning journalist Sammy Fretwell noticed, and he made sure others did too. His departure from The State as part of McClatchy Media’s nationwide layoff is a real loss for South Carolina, and a reminder that good journalism – like good legal advocacy – depends on people willing to do the slow, essential work of getting it right. 📬 Our September e-news reflects on Sammy’s work and includes updates on data centers, Pine Island and more. Sign up to get it delivered straight to your inbox later this week: https://lnkd.in/ermcKFvb

STATE COLLEGE — People across the Pennsylvania Wilds still believe local news matters. They simply want more of it. That was the central message conveyed on Monday, Aug. 24 as Press Forward PA Wilds unveiled the results of a yearlong research project that gathered feedback from more than 2,000 residents across nine counties, including 804 survey respondents, about how they access news, what they trust and where they believe coverage is lacking. https://lnkd.in/eiCZs-Gy

For thriving online groups, finding the right community stewards is everything. These aren’t just moderators — they’re unicorns 🦄 Stewards need to be entrepreneurial, emotionally intelligent, and discerning. Trei Brundrett, leading Roundabout at New_ Public, lays it out in Nieman Journalism Lab:

Local and independent newsrooms are an essential part of a healthy democracy. Every day, they report on the stories that matter, ask tough questions, and hold decision-makers to account. Their work helps keep communities informed, connected and engaged. On this International Day of Democracy, we're celebrating the newsrooms serving communities across Australia and the vital role they play every day.