EPISODE · Sep 1, 2025 · 48 MIN
Why Local Journalism Still Matters with Sally Francom
from Roots and Branches of Lehi: The People and Stories of Our City · host Work Harding
📰 The Legacy of Local Journalism | Sally Fowler Francom & the Lehi Free PressWhat happens when a small-town newspaper becomes the heartbeat of a community? In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi, host Ryan Harding sits down with Sally Fowler Francom, whose family has carried on the legacy of the Lehi Free Press for decades.Sally shares her story of growing up in Lehi, her mother’s 23-year tenure as editor, and the incredible journey of reviving the paper after its closure in 2007. Together, Ryan and Sally explore the challenges of sustaining local journalism, the role of community reporting in preserving history, and what the future of small-town news looks like in the digital age.From lighter moments to surprising stories—including a Ted Bundy sighting in Lehi—this conversation offers a heartfelt look at why local journalism matters now more than ever.📌 Enjoy local stories like this? Subscribe for more episodes of Roots and Branches of Lehi.🏡 Brought to you by Work Hard Mortgage — helping families go from renting to rooted.⸻⏱ Key Moments in This Episode• 00:00 – Welcome to Roots and Branches of Lehi• 00:45 – Meet Sally Fowler Francom• 00:58 – Growing Up in Lehi• 01:17 – The Legacy of the Lehi Free Press• 03:42 – Reviving the Newspaper After Closure• 04:44 – Challenges & Evolution of Local Journalism• 11:30 – Community Impact & Reflections• 23:56 – A Ted Bundy Sighting in Lehi• 24:44 – Life of a Newspaper Editor• 26:22 – Challenges of Modern Journalism• 30:37 – The Role of AI in News• 33:43 – The Future of the Lehi Free Press• 42:07 – Why Local Journalism Still Matters• 47:13 – Closing Thoughts & Acknowledgements⸻👣 Related Topics:Lehi Free Press • Local Journalism • Community Storytelling • Utah History • Roots and Branches of Lehi Podcast • Small-Town Newspapers • Digital Age Media • Family Legacy • Civic Engagement🎧 Listen to More Roots & Branches of Lehi:Apple: https://apple.co/40J53LnSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BC8a3YpULFYMSRgtfqF7vYouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlz4rzd_rsGZcR4Kscsck4ez_bWSLCuwM🏠 Ready to go from renting to rooted?✔️ Want to know the value of your home? → https://workharding.hifello.com/lp/6888f21970143a6397c98ea4✔️ Curious how much home you can afford? → https://workharding.com/affordability-calculator.php✔️ Take the 60-second Homebuyer Readiness Quiz → https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/survey/aAl6tzfvetiS329QNypM#LehiFreePress #SallyFrancom #LocalJournalism #RootsAndBranches #UtahHistory #CommunityLegacy #WorkHardMortgage #FromRentsToRoots #LehiUtah #SmallTownNews
What this episode covers
📰 The Legacy of Local Journalism | Sally Fowler Francom & the Lehi Free PressWhat happens when a small-town newspaper becomes the heartbeat of a community? In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi, host Ryan Harding sits down with Sally Fowler Francom, whose family has carried on the legacy of the Lehi Free Press for decades.Sally shares her story of growing up in Lehi, her mother’s 23-year tenure as editor, and the incredible journey of reviving the paper after its closure in 2007. Together, Ryan and Sally explore the challenges of sustaining local journalism, the role of community reporting in preserving history, and what the future of small-town news looks like in the digital age.From lighter moments to surprising stories—including a Ted Bundy sighting in Lehi—this conversation offers a heartfelt look at why local journalism matters now more than ever.📌 Enjoy local stories like this? Subscribe for more episodes of Roots and Branches of Lehi.🏡 Brought to you by Work Hard Mortgage — helping families go from renting to rooted.⸻⏱ Key Moments in This Episode• 00:00 – Welcome to Roots and Branches of Lehi• 00:45 – Meet Sally Fowler Francom• 00:58 – Growing Up in Lehi• 01:17 – The Legacy of the Lehi Free Press• 03:42 – Reviving the Newspaper After Closure• 04:44 – Challenges & Evolution of Local Journalism• 11:30 – Community Impact & Reflections• 23:56 – A Ted Bundy Sighting in Lehi• 24:44 – Life of a Newspaper Editor• 26:22 – Challenges of Modern Journalism• 30:37 – The Role of AI in News• 33:43 – The Future of the Lehi Free Press• 42:07 – Why Local Journalism Still Matters• 47:13 – Closing Thoughts & Acknowledgements⸻👣 Related Topics:Lehi Free Press • Local Journalism • Community Storytelling • Utah History • Roots and Branches of Lehi Podcast • Small-Town Newspapers • Digital Age Media • Family Legacy • Civic Engagement🎧 Listen to More Roots & Branches of Lehi:Apple: https://apple.co/40J53LnSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BC8a3YpULFYMSRgtfqF7vYouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlz4rzd_rsGZcR4Kscsck4ez_bWSLCuwM🏠 Ready to go from renting to rooted?✔️ Want to know the value of your home? → https://workharding.hifello.com/lp/6888f21970143a6397c98ea4✔️ Curious how much home you can afford? → https://workharding.com/affordability-calculator.php✔️ Take the 60-second Homebuyer Readiness Quiz → https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/survey/aAl6tzfvetiS329QNypM#LehiFreePress #SallyFrancom #LocalJournalism #RootsAndBranches #UtahHistory #CommunityLegacy #WorkHardMortgage #FromRentsToRoots #LehiUtah #SmallTownNews
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Why Local Journalism Still Matters with Sally Francom
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