Medill State of Local News with Tim Franklin

In this episode of the Medill State of Local News Podcast, Tim Franklin speaks with journalist and podcaster Chuck Todd about the collapse and reinvention of local news in America. Todd reflects on why trust in national media has eroded, arguing that it was always rooted in local journalism. He discusses emerging business models, from cooperatives to membership and ad networks, and explores how community-driven reporting—especially youth sports and service journalism—can rebuild audience engagement and civic trust.

In this episode of the State of Local News Podcast, host Tim Franklin, Professor, John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, and founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative speaks with  Ben Cotton, General Manager for News at The New York Times.They discuss:The shift from advertising to a subscription-first modelThe rise of product bundles (games, cooking, sports, Wirecutter)How product, data, and user experience drive engagement and retentionThe role of video, creators, and younger audiences in the future of newsWhy building direct relationships with readers matters more than ever

In the inaugural episode of the State of Local News Podcast, host Tim Franklin, Professor, John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, and founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative, sits down with Steve Grove, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune.In this conversation, they discuss:Grove’s unconventional journey from Google executive to leading one of the nation’s largest regional newsroomsHow AI, declining digital traffic, and shifting audience habits are reshaping the local news industryThe Star Tribune’s coverage of Operation Metro Surge,—a major federal immigration enforcement operation launched in Minneapolis in December 2025—and how it helped build trust with audiences in real time