Reinventing Local Journalism: What Happens When Experience Meets Experimentation

New subscribers: welcome.Each Monday, we gather for an informal conversation with influential thought leaders in industry and civic life. This week, we’re joined by Neil Brown, president of the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.Readers are always welcome to join the discussion—please share this with someone who might enjoy being part of it.What happens when journalism’s past, present, and possible future collide in one conversation?This week, the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative welcomed Neil Brown, president of the Poynter Institute and longtime leader at the Tampa Bay Times, for a wide-ranging, candid discussion about the state of journalism—and where it goes next.Brown has seen the profession from most angles: traditional newsrooms, nonprofit ownership, fact-checking at scale (he helped launch PolitiFact), and now at Poynter, where journalism ethics, training, and press freedom are front and center. A University of Iowa graduate, he spoke with a room full of Iowa journalists, editors, professors, and independent writers about what’s working, what’s broken, and innovative ideas being implemented. The conversation moves from the hard realities facing metropolitan and rural newspapers, to why community weeklies can still sell ads, to the growing role of philanthropy, Substack, and collaborative models. Brown pushes back against the “narrative of loss” around local news, pointing instead to emerging startups, hyperlocal reporting, and audience-focused journalism as real bright spots. He also addresses declining trust, political access, the future of fact-checking after Meta pulled funding, and why journalism must stop scolding audiences and start showing its value—every day.It’s a frank, hopeful, sometimes funny conversation among many former and current journalists, who care deeply about local journalism—and are actively trying to reinvent it.Watch the full conversation above. There is a transcript, too. Iowa Writers’ Collaborative As for reinventing local journalism— subscribe to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. We publish twice a week, bringing together writers and readers who care deeply about Iowa and its civic life.The Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ RetreatWe are on a mission to assist you in getting your stories told. Come to Okoboji September 27-October 1 and work with over 50 instructors who will guide you through basic how-to workshops or help you take your finished manuscript to a literary agent. The main descriptive word participants and session leaders alike have for this experience is: Magical. Find out why.Is it really so special? Check out reviews from past attendees. Click the button to read about their experience: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe