In our latest Medill Local News Initiative podcast, the Medill research team unpacked our most comprehensive State of Local News Report, providing analysis and context behind the watershed changes in local news this year.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/1...

Happening this Wednesday!
Join Perspectives and the Medill Local News Accelerator on Oct. 14 for a hands-on workshop and panel with Chicago public health experts.
Last call for tickets! Register on Eventbrite here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/tips-from-...

Listen to the full episode here:

localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/1...

Listen to the full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/1...

Watch the full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

The Medill Local News Accelerator invites journalists to join Perspectives (perspectives.info) on Oct. 14 for a hands-on workshop with Chicago public health experts. Learn strategies to engage skeptical audiences & build trust amid misinformation. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/tips-from-...

📊 Chicago-area local news habits are changing: Radio’s share of local news consumption fell from 34% to 25% in three years, while daily local TV usage dropped from 52% to 47%. Just 14% pay for local news.

Read more: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

The third annual survey by @localnewsini.bsky.social found that respondents are deeply skeptical of AI in news for anything more than helping to check spelling or grammar. https://localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/09/15/chicago-area-news-consumption-survey-2026/index.html

Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

AI vs Real Humans: Why Local Authenticity Wins Every Time.
Full episode: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

Read the Medill 2026 survey: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

How is Chicago getting its news in 2026?
📱 Smartphones are increasingly dominant
📺 Local TV audiences are declining
🤖 Audiences remain skeptical of AI in news
👥 Young people are increasingly turning to content creators
Read the Medill 2026 survey: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

The AI Productivity Paradox. Full episode here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

"Subscriptions are the bedrock of what we do."
Full episode with Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes here: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...

Eric Barnes, CEO of The Daily Memphian, joins Tim Franklin on the latest State of Local News Podcast to discuss paywalls, subscriptions, philanthropy, AI and the future of local journalism.

Read the Q&A + listen/watch: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2026/0...