New England Newspaper & Press Association

Register to attend our next Webinar featuring Daniel Williams (Founder & CEO, BlueLena) we’ll pull back the curtain on what’s really working in local media. This data‑driven session will be packed with actionable insights from over 250 news sites and 6 million readers powered by BlueLena’s technology‑enabled strategic consulting.

We’ll reveal exactly what’s working in local newsrooms—and what’s holding them back—as we head into 2026.

What You’ll Learn

What new data from 220+ independent news sites reveals about who’s actually growing audience and revenue heading into year‑end.
Why reader‑revenue is up 14 % year‑over‑year and on track to top $25 million—and how some local news media companies are earning $14.80 for every $1 invested.
How different paywall models—open, metered, or something in between—are performing, and which model fits your audience best.
What smaller publishers are doing to grow audiences by nearly 60 % and boost recurring revenue faster than the field.
How reader motivations are shifting—and what first‑party data tells us about why people give, subscribe, and stay loyal.

The default frame of immigration discussions is often a partisan one, with people deciding how they feel based on party identity, language shortcuts, or a scorecard of winners and losers. The same is true for a lot of news coverage. Yet so much of what’s at stake actually relates to core democratic principles — to the basic social contract people in the United States have with their government. Due process. Checks and balances. Equal treatment under the law. What could it look like for journalists to make those core principles more visible in news coverage? And would it help people to connect to public debates in more useful ways?

In this workshop, we’ll first hear from a researcher who studies Latino politics and how identity informs political attitudes. Then we’ll talk in breakout groups about how journalism could evolve, and leave with concrete ideas and recommendations.

Host: Trusting News Executive Director Joy Mayer and
Expert guest: Dr. Stella Rouse, director of the Hispanic Research Center and professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University

Note: This workshop will be hosted as a Zoom meeting, meaning participants will be visible on the call.

Please join us for Solutions Journalism Training: Environment and Religion on October 30 at Noon CST, a 90-minute training session led by Rebecca Randall. Rebecca is an independent reporter and editor based out of the Pacific Northwest. Her work has appeared in Sojourners, High Country News, Grist, YES!, and Atmos. She has previously served as the Science Editor for Christianity Today and was a 2022-2023 fellow with the Religion and Environment Story Project. She also serves as Vice President of the Science Communicators of Faith. Solutions journalism is rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems.

Journalists will learn how to script and produce a social video without the support of a full social team. This workshop will move quickly and focus on on-camera presence and filming techniques, with some curation, scriptwriting, and video editing advice. This will be participatory and a safe space to practice filming yourself on camera!

Participants will:

• Practice scripting and filming social video
• Get real-time feedback on their on-camera presence and performance
• Leave with one piece of mock content to take back to their newsrooms

Speaker:
Julia Munslow is a Senior Editor at The Wall Street Journal, where she leads social video strategy and visual storytelling across platforms like TikTok, LinkedIn and Instagram. She also hosts and produces social videos about business news and careers and enjoys reporting A-heds about consumer trends. In 2025, Julia was named to the International News Media Association’s 30 Under 30 Awards in newsroom leadership for her work in social media. Previously, Julia served as a special projects editor at Yahoo News, where she focused on innovative digital storytelling and audience development. In 2020, she launched Yahoo News’ TikTok account, growing it to over 1 million followers in under a year. She has completed two Fulbright grants in Malaysia and Germany. She graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in English and creative writing and lives in London.

Anyone is welcome to attend. Tickets are free.

This session will unpack how hyperlocal outlets can become the most trusted information source in their communities. We’ll talk about how hyperlocal sites have built credibility and civic engagement by consistently delivering useful, verified, and deep local news, often in places underserved by traditional media.

Key Takeaways:

– Editorial guidelines and fact-checking practices for hyperlocal publishers
– Examples of how local trust leads to civic action, event participation, and brand loyalty
– The intersection of mission-driven journalism and business health

As year-end giving season approaches, now is the time to sharpen your messaging and inspire deeper support for local journalism. Join the Lenfest News Philanthropy Network to learn more about a new messaging toolkit for local news.

Created by Press Forward and using insights from national polling and message testing, this guide offers practical language and strategies to strengthen funding appeals, highlight community impact, and build lasting support. Learn how the right words can turn appreciation for your reporting into action.

What does it mean for journalism to truly stand with the communities it serves? Join NENPA University and Dr. Anita Varma, a leading voice in ethical journalism and faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin, for a thought-provoking session on Solidarity Journalism — an approach that prioritizes the lived experiences of marginalized communities in the service of basic dignity.

In this webinar, Dr. Varma will share practical frameworks for journalists and editors to distinguish solidarity for basic dignity from partisanship, prioritize truth over both-sidesism, and build credibility through inclusive, justice-driven coverage. Learn how solidarity journalism can strengthen journalism’s pursuit of truth, deepen audience connection, and uphold the core mission of journalism to serve the public in an era of growing polarization and disinformation.

Perfect for reporters, editors, and newsroom leaders committed to meaningful community engagement and more equitable journalism.

In this essential workshop, discover the transformative power of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and how it redefines digital measurement for news organizations. We will delve into what truly sets GA4 apart from previous analytics platforms, exploring its event-based data model and integrated approach to understanding user behavior across different platforms and devices.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of how measurement works in GA4, moving beyond traditional page views to focus on more meaningful user engagement metrics. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, you will learn how to leverage GA4’s full potential to identify trends, optimize content, enhance reader engagement, and ultimately drive your news organization forward in today’s dynamic digital landscape. This session will equip you with the knowledge and actionable insights to make data-driven decisions that foster growth and sustainability.

Note this session will not be recorded. So please plan to attend at the session date and time.

Presented by Iain Christie

With 20 years of experience in digital marketing, publishing, and tech, Iain Christie is now a Business Analyst for the Google News Initiative. Since spring 2022, he has instructed publishers in North America on leveraging Google tools for business sustainability, growing audience engagement, strengthening reader/advertising revenue, and leveraging the potential of AI.