The 2026 State of the Local Media

This week, we celebrate Independence Day with our annual "State of Local Media" special. But before we do so, we provide an update on a bombshell news story that broke late last month, detailing whistleblower allegations that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration permitted hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills into Albuquerque in pursuit of bigger cases. This week, top city, county and state officials, including Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, called for accountability.We begin our media special with a two-part conversation with Bill Church about the two publications he oversees: the Santa Fe New Mexican and Searchlight New Mexico. First, Executive Producer Jeff Proctor asks Church how the New Mexican is expanding, at a time when newspapers are supposed to be dying. Then, Church is joined at the table with Searchlight editor Ed Williams as the two talk to Jeff about the future of the newly acquired investigative news site.Podcast Host: Lou DiVizioExecutive Producer: Jeff ProctorGuests: Bill Church, Executive Editor, Santa Fe New Mexican Ed Williams, Investigations Editor, Searchlight New Mexico