Welcome to the Local Fix. Each week we look at key debates in journalism sustainability and community engagement through the lens of local news.  But first, we always begin with one good idea…

One Good Idea: Get Out the Vote
USA Today announced that it is working with its network of 100 local Gannett papers to launch “a national voter registration and civic engagement initiative.” It’s the first time in the company’s history it is investing in this sort of project, but it is not alone. BuzzFeed, Univision and NBC have all launched voter participation campaigns this year. Andy Yost of USA Today told Politico: “We felt there’s a responsibility for us not only to inform our readers but also equip them with information to participate in democracy, which is so critically important.”

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The Business of Podcasting

Nieman Journalism Lab has been running a smart and useful series by Ken Doctor on the business side of podcasting. I know more and more local newsrooms are considering how they can use podcasting in their editorial and business strategies, and this series should be a must read. (If you like this series be sure to subscribe to Nicholas Quah’s podcast industry newsletter.) 

• An island no more: Inside the business of the podcasting boom – Ken Doctor 
• And now a word from our sponsor: Host-read ads and the play between niche and scale – Ken Doctor 
• Are you ready to pay for a Netflix for podcasts? – Ken Doctor  
• A growing layer of technology will help determine where podcasting goes next – Ken Doctor  
• So what kind of a show does podcasting have in store for us? – Ken Doctor 

Terror, Media and Elections

The Tow Center for Digital Journalism and the Columbia Journalism Review just published a really important series of articles looking at the intersection of news, social media, terror and elections. The pieces offer an important overview of current research and suggest timely questions and considerations for journalists right now. (Disclosure: These reports were supported by Democracy Fund Voice.)

• How should journalism cover terrorism? – Emily Bell  
• Livestreaming terror: The nebulous new role of platforms – Charlie Beckett 
• Terrorism’s history lesson for political reporters – Burhan Wazir 
• How media coverage of terrorism endorses a legal double standard – Rafia Zakaria 

Wisdom From Founders

I’ve been thinking a lot about newsroom leadership and reading about how people create sustainable news organizations, while also caring for the sustainability of the people who work in those newsrooms. The interviews below offer pragmatic advice on revenue and business models for creating strong media businesses, and also speaks to avoiding burnout and overcoming the challenges so many founders face.  From tech blogs to hyperlocal newsrooms, I think you’ll find something here that resonates with you.

• Brian Lam of Wirecutter: How to build a successful media business with no advertising, no VC funding and no drama. 
• Tracy Record: As 10-Year Mark Approaches, West Seattle Blog Sticks to Profitable Basics 
• Rafat Ali: How to start a media company without losing your soul. 
• Chris Sopher: Engaging Miami’s “Curious Locals” with the New Tropic 
• Gina Trapani: How Lifehacker’s Founder Gets Things Done (And Stays Sane) 

Next week I’ll be in Chicago for the Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION) summit. I hope to see some of you there.  

Have a good weekend,
Josh

The Local Fix is a project of the Democracy Fund’s Public Square Program, which invests in innovations and institutions that are reinventing local media and expanding the public square. Disclosure: Some projects mentioned in this newsletter may be funded by Democracy Fund, you can find a full list of the organizations we support on our website.