The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information has announced the launch of Brechner Reporting Fellows, 10 fellowships for professional journalists experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Fellows will be granted $2,500 to create narrative projects that address, and identify solutions to, persistent problems that interfere with the public’s ability to get information about the workings of government. more

Over the past few weeks of March and April, as cases of COVID-19 began to peak and communities across the U.S. began grappling with the question of how and when to reopen schools and business, many media outlets are looking back at their community's experience from the pandemic of 1918 and drawing their own lessons. more

Facebook and Google will be forced to share advertising revenue with Australian media companies after Australia's treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, instructed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to develop a mandatory code of conduct for the digital giants amid a steep decline in advertising brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. more

As the Senate considers additional measures to support small businesses around the country struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Boozman (R-AR) sent a letter to Senate leadership urging them to ensure any future legislation makes thousands of local newspapers, TV and radio stations around the country eligible for small business assistance under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). more

Many government entities in states across the country are using the COVID-19 public health crisis as an all-purpose excuse to tighten access or even close meetings that should be open to all, and dragging their feet or simply ignoring requests for records that belong to the public. more

The key is getting consumers to identify themselves. You want to essentially bribe people into taking interest in what the advertiser is selling. For instance, at Bob McGinnis’ website, an ebook on sales training is free, but anyone who wants it must first fill out a form asking for email, publication, job title and a “how can I help you?” question, which turns out to be incredibly helpful in turning users into buyers. more

Honor the graduating students in your community and drive advertising dollars with an easy, compelling special section. more

More than 20,000 responses have been received so far to the Pulse Research COVID-19 Impact Shopping Survey, and additional participation is being sought. This nationwide research effort captures the household shopping plans over the next three months. With this timely and unique intelligence, newspaper sales executives can act as true consultants to help local businesses, plus differentiate themselves as the only source of these customer-centric findings. more

McClatchy has received a proposal from holders of most of its senior secured debt for the acquisition of the company, consistent with its continued restructuring process. Under terms of the proposed credit bid, McClatchy would remain one company, which will emerge from Chapter 11 having resolved its legacy debt and pension obligations. more

This webinar was presented by John Kimball of The John Kimball Group View webinar resources. more

During the coronavirus pandemic, Brainworks is helping its customers work through several time-sensitive technical issues, including: changing print publications to digital, removal of publication days altogether, advice on how to track COVID-19 related ad cancellations and how to implement advertising discount promotions in an effort to keep bringing in revenue.  Here are some tips from Mark Bogner of Brainworks that will help your support teams assist your customers during this time. more

When a resident called the Kokomo Tribune to see if the paper would donate a newspaper rack for a little free library that she wanted to put in front of her flower shop, the paper ended up donating 20 that were no longer in use. Today, three of those boxes have already been converted into little free libraries and have become a way for families to access books during the state’s stay-at-home order that has forced the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library branches to close. more

Axios reported Tuesday morning that it has obtained a draft of a letter being circulated by a bipartisan group of lawmakers from Michigan and Texas to be sent to the White House requesting additional relief targeted specifically at local newsrooms.

The report said that Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Marc Veasey (D-Texas) are seeking support for a letter to President Trump that calls for federal advertising dollars to be prioritized to local outlets.

The need for assistance is evident in additional layoffs, furloughs, closures and other cutbacks announced over the past few days by newspapers across the country.
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Jim Brady, CEO of Spirited Media, says the time for local newsrooms to collaborate isn’t now. It was a decade ago. But now will do. In this article, he suggests five areas where collaboration can help.  more

Mary Kelli Palka, editor of The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, has also been named the paper’s market leader after Group Publisher Bill Offill announced his departure, effective May 5. more

Due to the Covid-19 need, Southern Lithoplate has redeployed a portion of its chemical manufacturing to supply hand sanitizer. more

Americans who get political and election news from two platforms — network television and print publications — are the most likely to say the news media are doing an excellent or good job responding to the coronavirus outbreak. more

Wick Communication has named Shanna Dickens as publisher of The Daily Iberian (New Iberia, Louisiana). more

The new guidance relaxes restrictions on employees who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not show symptoms. more

Newsroom employees at Hearst Corporation received great news this week:  there will be no layoffs, no furloughs and no pay cuts during the course of coronavirus coverage. more