Best Colab Media Podcasts (2025)

Dan Harris, podcast host, author of 10% Happier and former ABC News anchor, shares his journey from covering war zones to discovering mindfulness and meditation. He discusses the toll of high-stress journalism on mental health, including his on-air panic attack, and how meditation became a transformative tool. Harris also addresses misconceptions a…

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Prioritizing people, well-being and resilience in journalism with API’s Samantha Ragland 1:35:03

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10M ago1:35:03

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Samantha Ragland, vice president of journalism programs at the American Press Institute, shares practical strategies for fostering mental health and well-being in newsrooms. She highlights how prioritizing people can lead to exceptional journalism and stronger newsroom culture. Ragland explores the balance between leadership and care, offering insi…

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Tackling burnout in journalism with RJI’s Randy Picht and SmithGeiger’s Andrew Finlayson 1:16:33

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Randy Picht, executive director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, and Andrew Finlayson, executive vice president of digital and AI strategies at SmithGeiger, share insights from their landmark study on burnout in journalism. They discuss why 80% of journalists see burnout as a critical issue, how it's driving attrition and the solutio…

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From “fried and frozen” to thriving: Helping local newsrooms serve communities with COLab’s Laura Frank 1:38:33

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Laura Frank, head of the Colorado News Collaborative (COLab), shares insights into sustaining local journalism through collaboration, innovation, and addressing critical challenges. She highlights COLab’s role in supporting over 180 Colorado newsrooms with reporting, engagement, revenue models, and resource sharing, while addressing the “fried and …

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Slowing down and training the next generation of storytellers with Lede New Orleans’ Jennifer Larino 1:31:56

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Jennifer Larino, executive director of Lede New Orleans, shares how her organization is reshaping local journalism by training young BIPOC storytellers to address community information needs. She discusses the origins of Lede New Orleans, the challenges of building an inclusive newsroom, and the importance of creating trusted spaces where community…

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Bay City News’ unconventional model to serve newsrooms and communities with Katherine Ann Rowlands 1:08:02

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Katherine Ann Rowlands, owner and publisher of Bay City News, shares insights into the unique hybrid model of her organization, which has served the San Francisco Bay Area with round-the-clock news coverage for 45 years. She discusses Bay City News’ evolution from a pure newswire service into a dual operation that includes the nonprofit site Local …

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Inside O'Rourke Media Group’s community-first approach with Jim O’Rourke 1:27:41

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Jim O'Rourke, CEO and founder of O'Rourke Media Group, shares his journey in local media, from delivering newspapers as a kid to founding a rapidly growing digital-first publishing chain. O'Rourke discusses his approach to acquiring and revitalizing local newspapers, investing in local talent and growing the digital business. He outlines the strate…

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Evolving the business model for community news with Reviving Rural News’ Teri Finneman, Nick Mathews and Pat Ferrucci 1:04:44

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Teri Finneman, Nick Mathews and Pat Ferrucci, authors of Reviving Rural News: Finding a Sustainable Future for Community Journalism, explore the unique challenges facing rural newspapers in the wake of the local news industry's financial crisis. They discuss their yearlong experiment with a Kansas newspaper, offering insights into how small communi…

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The fight for local news in the world’s media capital with THE CITY’s Nic Dawes 56:06

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Nic Dawes, executive director of THE CITY, discusses the vital role nonprofit journalism plays in New York’s shrinking local news ecosystem. He explains how his organization fills coverage gaps left by retrenching legacy media, focusing on investigative reporting and service journalism to meet the needs of New Yorkers across all boroughs. Dawes als…

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Strengthening democracy through local journalism and collaboration with Allison Taylor Levine of Delaware’s Local Journalism Initiative 1:00:04

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Allison Taylor Levine, founder and CEO of the Local Journalism Initiative, shares her insights into building a nonprofit collaborative newsroom and the importance of local news to democracy. She discusses the challenges of launching the initiative in Delaware, from creating internship programs to fostering collaboration among local newsrooms. Levin…

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Rethinking local news for BIPOC communities in rural America with Black by God’s Crystal Good 56:55

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Crystal Good, founder and publisher of Black by God | The West Virginian, discusses her journey from poet and advocate to media entrepreneur, building a publication that centers on Black voices and stories in Central Appalachia. She shares her approach to rural journalism, blending reported news, features, and community writing to serve a populatio…

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Fostering civic participation and community resilience through journalism with Baltimore Beat’s Lisa Snowden 1:06:20

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Lisa Snowden, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Baltimore Beat, shares her journey from being a reporter to running a Black-led newsroom dedicated to covering Baltimore’s diverse communities. She discusses the challenges and opportunities of sustaining a nonprofit news outlet, supported by a seven-figure donation that helped stabilize the Beat afte…

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It’s going to take a multifaceted approach to save informed communities with INN’s Karen Rundlet 1:00:34

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Karen Rundlet, CEO and executive director of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), discusses the increasing importance of philanthropy in sustaining local journalism. She shares insights from her time at Knight Foundation, where she helped launch initiatives like NewsMatch and Press Forward, and explores how nonprofit newsrooms can diversify reve…

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The path to sustainability through innovation, collaboration and infrastructure with Knight Foundation’s Jim Brady 1:09:03

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Jim Brady, vice president of journalism at Knight Foundation, shares his insights into the current state of local journalism and the quest for sustainability. He discusses Press Forward, a $500 million-plus national initiative aimed at supporting local news. Drawing on his extensive experience in digital media, Jim reflects on the challenges and op…

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Reinventing local journalism with community at its core: Exit interview with Candice Fortman 1:03:58

1y ago1:03:58

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Candice Fortman, former executive director of Outlier Media, shares her journey transforming local journalism in Detroit. She reflects on the innovative service journalism model she helped build, which focuses on filling critical information gaps for underserved communities. Candice discusses how Outlier evolved from a scrappy startup into a well-r…

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Equity-driven journalism with Resolve Philly’s Jean Friedman-Rudovsky 1:09:38

1y ago1:09:38

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Jean Friedman-Rudovsky, executive director of Resolve Philly, delves into the evolution of the nonprofit newsroom and its mission to address the information needs of underserved communities in Philadelphia. She discusses the critical role of equity in journalism, sharing how Resolve Philly has integrated this principle into both its internal practi…

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Reimagining local election coverage for community trust with NYU’s Jay Rosen 1:10:36

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Jay Rosen, a prominent media theorist and professor of journalism at New York University, discusses the critical role of local election coverage and the Citizens Agenda model as an alternative to the traditional horse race approach. He emphasizes the need for local journalists to ground election coverage in the concerns of their communities, addres…

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The rise and evolution of nonprofit news: Exit interview with INN's Sue Cross 1:06:16

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Sue Cross, the recently retired executive director of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), shares her insights on the remarkable growth and impact of nonprofit news. She highlights the evolving landscape of newsroom founders, the crucial role of community support, and strategies to maintain journalistic independence from funders. Cross also addr…

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Building a Nonprofit News Powerhouse with Mississippi Today’s Mary Margaret White 52:52

1y ago52:52

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Mary Margaret White, CEO and executive director of Mississippi Today, discusses her journey in helping readers and philanthropy understand the value of journalism as a civic good. She shares insights on the history and growth of Mississippi Today, which launched in 2016 to fill a need for Capitol reporting and has since expanded to cover a wide ran…

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Carving out new lanes for early-stage news startups with Tiny News Collective’s Amy Kovac-Ashley 1:02:59

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Amy Kovac-Ashley, the executive director of Tiny News Collective shares insights on how Tiny News Collective supports early-stage news founders, particularly those from traditionally excluded communities, by providing resources, tools, and a supportive community. The discussion covers the importance of diverse voices in local journalism, the challe…

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How TAPinto's franchise model powers local newsrooms with CEO Michael Shapiro 57:06

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In this episode, Michael Shapiro, founder and CEO of TAPinto, delves into his innovative franchise model for local news. He shares insights on how TAPinto helps local news publishers focus on local content and advertising by handling backend services like billing, technology and graphic design. Shapiro highlights success stories from various franch…

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New approaches to thriving in community news with Kenny Katzgrau of redbankgreen and Broadstreet 59:26

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Kenny Katzgrau, majority owner of redbankgreen and founder of Broadstreet, shares his vision for revitalizing community journalism. He discusses strategies to help hyperlocal websites and small community weeklies thrive. Katzgrau’s approach involves enhancing advertising efficacy and community engagement through digital tools, advocating for news t…

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Defying Trends: John Garrett of Community Impact on Growing a Hyperlocal Chain Leading with Print 56:35

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John Garrett, CEO and founder of Community Impact, shares insights from his journey of launching and expanding a family of hyperlocal weekly newspapers from the game room of his Texas home in 2005 to reaching 2.5 million homes across 70 communities today. Garrett delves into the unconventional success of a print-centric model in a digital-dominated…

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Leveraging local news' digital edge in advertising with Shannon Kinney of Dream Local Digital 46:12

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Shannon Kinney, founder of Dream Local Digital, discusses the evolving landscape of digital advertising and how trust is also a secret sauce for news media in selling advertising. With her extensive experience and accolades, including serving on the board for the Local Media Association and being named Local Digital Innovator of the Year, Shannon o…

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Leaping in the unknown with The Colorado Sun's Larry Ryckman 1:03:08

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Larry Ryckman, editor and co-founder of The Colorado Sun, shares insights into the digital outlet’s journey. Transitioning to a nonprofit model on its fifth anniversary, The Colorado Sun has not only survived but thrived, garnering national attention for its approach to news coverage and its business model. With more individual members than the muc…

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Building a sustainable future through philanthropy, innovation and impact: Insights from LMA's Frank Mungeam 1:10:38

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Frank Mungeam, chief innovation officer at the Local Media Association, discusses his "Sustaining Philanthropy for Journalism" report released last month. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement and listening as the foundation for developing impactful journalism projects that resonate with local needs. Mungeam outlines a strategic appr…

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Exit Interview: Kelly Ann Scott and the Digital Reinvention of Alabama Media Group 51:30

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As Kelly Ann Scott leaves her position as VP of Content for Alabama Media Group to assume the role of Executive Editor and Senior Vice President at the Houston Chronicle, she shares her insights on digital transformation in local journalism in one of the most fascinating examples of digital transformation. Scott discusses the strategic reorganizati…

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TU#06 - Misfits in the World: Crip Futurities and World-making in Disability Arts 1:24:54

1+ y ago1:24:54

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In this talk, the speakers speculated upon the anti-assimilationist politics of crip cultural practices within the disability arts sector in northern Turtle Island (Canada). We discussed the ethical and practical complexities of “cripping” our research methodologies and gesturing towards decolonization while collaborating with disability community …

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AI in the Newsroom: Practical Uses for Today's Journalists with Dan Grech (LNM Episode 25) 51:53

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Dan Grech joins host Tim Regan-Porter again to explore the practical applications of AI in journalism. This episode delves into how AI tools are currently being used in newsrooms to free up time for journalists and better service audiences. The conversation highlights the potential of AI to influence storytelling and marketing, its impacts on journ…

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Collaborative paths to sustainability for ethnic media with URL Media’s Sara Lomax and S. Mitra Kalita 44:17

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In this candid discussion, Sara Lomax and S. Mitra Kalita, co-founders of URL Media, delve into the network's mission to support and empower independent media serving Black and Brown communities. Now in its fourth year, URL Media aims to address the gaps and challenges faced by these media entrepreneurs, focusing on enhancing reach, expanding reven…

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Preserving the local in local news with the National Trust for Local News’ Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro 57:50

2y ago57:50

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In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of the National Trust for Local News, to discuss the vital work they're doing in preserving and evolving local news across the country. Elizabeth, with her background as a Harvard Business School-trained academic ("failed academic" in her words, since she's now actively w…

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“From news deserts to civic media” from When the People Decide 28:08

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We’ve taken a little time off to focus on the Colorado Press Association’s 145th annual convention last month. It was a great event, featuring many of the guests you’ve heard on this podcast. But it’s an all-consuming event, and I’m excited to go back to putting out episodes. For now, I’m dropping a guest episode of When the People Decide, a show a…

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Building business capacity and rigor in nonprofit newsrooms with American Journalism Project’s Sarabeth Berman 1:06:35

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Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project, discusses the organization's approach to helping nonprofit news organizations build strong, sustainable businesses. She shares insights from her unique vantage point, having come from outside the world of journalism. The conversation also delves into AJP's collaboration with OpenAI, examining…

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Reflecting on Intermountain Jewish News' 110 Years of Impact with Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg 35:13

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Rabbi Hillel Goldberg and Shana Goldberg reflect on the legacy of the Intermountain Jewish News (IJN) as it marks its 110th year. They delve into IJN's dedication to unbiased journalism, its profound impact on the Jewish community, and the evolving landscape of news. IJN's journey underscores the value of balanced journalism, the significance of co…

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The Journalism Salute with Lyndsay C. Green of Detroit Free Press 26:56

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I’m excited to share an episode of The Journalism Salute podcast from Mark Simon. Mark describes the podcast as a “journalism appreciation” podcast. His interviews with a diverse cast of working journalists are nice compliments to the interviews Local News Matters does on the newsrooms and support systems that enable that work. In this episode, Mar…

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Bridging the Gap in New Mexico: The Local News Fund’s Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser 1:11:32

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New Mexico is one of a number of state-level bright spots in local news, thanks in large part to the efforts of our guests. Rashad Mahmood and Mark Glaser shed light on the New Mexico Local News Fund's initiatives to bridge gaps in local journalism. From fostering young talent to securing state funding, they explore the Fund's impact on communities…

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The Mountain-Ear’s Evolving Legacy: How a small-town paper captured a tech entrepreneur's heart and investment 40:03

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The Mountain-Ear, nestled in Nederland, Colorado, has long been a cherished source of community journalism. With a tech entrepreneur's recent investment aimed at preserving the paper's legacy and supporting its evolution, both he and editor/publisher (and former owner) Barbara Hardt join us to discuss their journeys. Barbara discusses her multiface…

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Navigating the AI Revolution in Journalism: A Conversation with Dan Grech 50:05

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In this episode, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and journalism with Dan Grech, a Pulitzer-winning former journalist and news director who has transitioned into the world of marketing and AI. Grech shares his unique perspective on the potential of AI to transform storytelling, marketing, and more, while also discussing the em…

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Unlocking Revenue Opportunities with ERTC: A Conversation with Zack Richner 19:38

2y ago19:38

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Zack Richner, founder of Easy Tax Credits and third-generation community newspaper owner, demystifies the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) and its potential benefits for news organizations. Zack explains how his company assists businesses, including newspapers, in applying for the ERTC, and how this process can generate substantial referral rev…

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Centering communities: Tracie Powell on equity, inclusivity and philanthropy 1:03:37

2y ago1:03:37

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Tracie Powell, the engaging and provocative founder and CEO of the Pivot Fund, shares her unique perspective on the intersection of journalism, philanthropy, and racial equity. Drawing from her rich experiences spanning j-school, advertising and circulation, reporting, law school, and her current role in philanthropy, Tracie provides a nuanced view…