Welcome to the conversation
From Northeastern University’s School of Journalism and the Center for Transformative Media, welcome to “What Works: The Future of Local News,” hosted by former Boston Globe editor Ellen Clegg and Northeastern’s Dan Kennedy. Local journalism, the bedrock of democracy, is in crisis. Ellen and Dan talk to journalists, policymakers and entrepreneurs about the work they’re doing to keep local news alive. Corporate chains and hedge funds are squeezing the life out of local news. There is a better way, and Ellen, Dan and their guests are telling that story.
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Graphics: Alison Booth
Music: “WOW!” and “Nightmare” by Promiser
Episodes
The following links will take you to full programs on Apple Podcasts. You may also subscribe to “What Works” at any of the services listed above.
2025
- #112: Mike Beaudet and Lisa Thalhammer, Northeastern University, Jan. 16, 2026
- #111: Jennifer Peter, The Marshall Project, Dec. 23, 2025
- #110: Chris Fitzsimon, States Newsroom, Dec. 9, 2025
- #109: Todd Landfried, The Local, Nov. 26, 2025
- #108: Kade Krichko and Jon Keller, Ori magazine and Boston political reporter, Nov. 11, 2025
- #107: Rick Goldsmith, filmmaker, “Stripped for Parts,” Oct. 27, 2025
- #106: Tracy Baim, LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project and Press Forward Chicago, Sept. 30, 2025
- #105: Bill Marx, The Arts Fuse and Viva la Book Review, Sept. 16, 2025
- #104: Katherine Rowlands, Bay City News Foundation, July 9, 2025
- #103: Stacy Feldman, Colorado Reporting Lab, June 26, 2025
- #102: Rahul Bhargava, Northeastern University, May 27, 2025
- #101: Carlene Hempel and Harrison Zuritsky, Northeastern University, May 13, 2025
- #100: Tom Breen, New Haven Independent, April 30, 2025
- #99: John Mooney, NJ Spotlight News, April 17, 2025
- #98: Neil Brown, Poynter Institute, April 3, 2025
- #97: Marta Hill, New York University, March 20, 2025
- #96: Mike Beaudet, Northeastern University, March 5, 2025
- #95: Erica Heilman, “Rumble Strip,” Feb. 18, 2025
- #94: Matt DeRienzo, SciLine, Feb. 2, 2025
- #93: Alison Bethel, State Affairs, Jan. 24, 2025
- #92: Bill and Linda Forry, the Dorchester Reporter, Jan. 10, 2025
2024
- #91: Jeffrey Schwaner, Cardinal News, Dec. 11, 2024
- #90: Scott Brodbeck, Local News Now, Nov. 25, 2024
- #89: Sonal Shah, The Texas Tribune, Nov. 12, 2024
- #88: April Alonso, Cicero Independiente, Oct. 18, 2024
- #87: Sophie Culpepper, Nieman Lab, Sept. 30, 2024
- #86: Mark Henderson, The 016, Sept. 17, 2024
- #85: Ellen and Dan kick it around, Aug. 6, 2024
- #84: Larry Ryckman, The Colorado Sun, July 18, 2024
- #83: Peter Bhatia, Houston Landing, June 27, 2024
- #82: Johanna Dunaway, Syracuse University, June 11, 2024
- #81: Joshua Macht and Ronnie Ramos, MassLive, May 23, 2024
- #80: Anne Eisenmenger, Beaver Dam Partners, May 10, 2024
- #79: Mike Blinder, Editor & Publisher, April 26, 2024
- #78: Josh Stearns, The Democracy Fund, April 11, 2024
- #77: Kyle Munson, Western Iowa Journalism Foundation, March 27, 2024
- #76: Emily Rooney, creator of “Beat the Press,” March 7, 2024
- #75: Teri Morrow and Wayne Braverman, The Bedford Citizen, Feb. 22, 2024
- #74: Laura Pappano, author and journalist, Feb. 8, 2024
- #73: Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, Jan. 26, 2024
- #72: Norma Rodriguez-Reyes, La Voz Hispana de Connecticut, Jan. 8, 2024
2023
- #71: Andy and Dee Hall, Wisconsin Watch, Dec. 14, 2023
- #70: Bob Sprague, yourArlington, Nov. 30, 2023
- #69: Pri Bengani, Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Nov. 16, 2023
- #68: Meg Heckman, author and journalist, Nov. 1, 2023
- #67: Jason Pramas, Boston Institute for Nonprofit News, Oct. 13, 2023
- #66: Catherine Tumber, Penn Institute for Urban Research, Sept. 29, 2023
- #65: Paul Bass, Independent Review Crew, Sept. 14, 2023
- #64: Nicci Kadilak, Burlington Buzz, Aug. 10, 2023
- #63: Walter Robinson, The Boston Globe and The Plymouth Independent, July 11, 2023
- #62: Sue Cross, Institute for Nonprofit News, June 26, 2023
- #61: Andy Thibault, The Winsted (Conn.) Citizen, June 16, 2023
- #60: Brant Houston, author and journalist, June 2, 2023
- #59: Howard Owens, The Batavian, May 18, 2023
- #58: Lara Salahi, Endicott College, May 3, 2023
- #57: Linda Shapley, Colorado Community Media, April 19, 2023
- #56: Mark Histed, Democracy Policy Network, March 17, 2023
- #55: Greg Moore, The Denver Post and The Boston Globe, Feb. 26, 2023
- #54: Victor Pickard, Annenberg School for Communication, Feb. 11, 2023
- #53: Anne Larner, The Newton Beacon, Jan. 31, 2023
- #52: Adam Gaffin, Universal Hub, Jan. 20, 2023
- #51: Mike Blinder, Editor & Publisher, Jan. 11, 2023
2022
- #50: Margaret Low, WBUR, Dec. 2, 2022
- #49: Crystal Good, Black by God: The West Virginian, Nov. 18, 2022
- #48: Mary Margaret White, Mississippi Today, Nov. 12, 2022
- #47: Nancy West, InDepthNH, Nov. 3, 2022
- #46: Jeff Jacoby, The Boston Globe, Oct. 27, 2022
- #45: David Cicilline, Rhode Island congressman, Oct. 20, 2022
- #44: David Dahl, The Maine Monitor, Oct. 13, 2022
- #43: Anne Galloway, VTDigger, Oct. 8, 2022
- #42: David Greising, Chicago’s Better Government Association, Sept. 29, 2022
- #41: Hermione Malone, American Journalism Project, Sept. 22, 2022
- #40: Ethan Zuckerman, Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure, Sept. 15, 2022
- #39: Terry Williams, The Keene (N.H.) Sentinel, Sept. 8, 2022
- #38: Ellen and Dan empty their notebooks, Aug. 10, 2022
- #37: Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, National Trust for Local News, Aug. 7, 2022
- #36: Tim Coco, WHAV Radio, Haverhill, Mass., July 19, 2022
- #35: Steven Waldman, Rebuild Local News, July 13, 2022
- #34: John Garrett, Community Impact of Texas, July 6, 2022
- #33: Mike Deehan, Axios Boston, June 29, 2022
- #32: Hanna Raskin, The Food Section, June 22, 2022
- #31: Dr. Meredith Clark, Northeastern University, June 15, 2022
- #30: Steve Rosenberg and Linda Matchan, Jewish Journal of Greater Boston, June 8, 2022
- #29: Otis Sanford, The Daily Memphian, June 1, 2022
- #28: Kara Meyberg Guzman, Santa Cruz Local, May 25, 2022
- #27: Julie Reynolds, investigative reporter, May 18, 2022 (encore edition)
- #26: Jonathan Dotan, Starling Lab for Data Integrity, May 11, 2022
- #25: Kristen Hare, Poynter Institute, May 3, 2022
- #24: Mike Shapiro, TAPinto, April 27, 2022
- #23: Ed Miller, The Provincetown (Mass.) Independent, April 20, 2022
- #22: Ellen and Dan empty their notebooks, April 12, 2022
- #21: Em Cassel, Racket of Minneapolis, April 5, 2022
- #20: Jody Brannon, Center for Journalism & Liberty, March 30, 2022
- #19: Chris Krewson, LION (Local Independent Online News) Publishers, March 21, 2022
- #18: Pam Johnston, GBH News, March 16, 2022
- #17: Lex Weaver, The Scope, March 8, 2022
- #16: Ken Doctor, Lookout Local, March 2, 2022
- #15: Babz Rawls Ivy, WNHH-LP Radio in New Haven, Feb. 22, 2022
- #14: Lincoln Millstein, The Quietside Journal of Bar Harbor, Maine, Feb. 16, 2022
- #13: Inés San Martín and John Allen, Crux, Feb. 8, 2022
- #12: Callie Crossley, GBH News, Feb. 1, 2022
- #11: Myojung Chung and John Wihbey, Northeastern University, Jan. 24, 2022
- #10: Jaida Grey Eagle, Sahan Journal of Minneapolis and Report for America, Jan. 18, 2022
- #9: Joshua Darr, Louisiana State University, Jan. 10, 2022
- #8: Phil Balboni, Daily Chatter, Jan. 4, 2022
2021
- #7: Damon Kiesow, Missouri School of Journalism, Dec. 22, 2021
- #6: Rhema Bland, Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, Dec. 14, 2021
- #5: Penelope Muse Abernathy, Medill School of Journalism, Nov. 22, 2021
- #4: Art Cullen, Storm Lake Times Pilot, Nov. 15, 2021
- #3: Chris Lovett, Boston Neighborhood Network News, Nov. 8, 2021
- #2: Julie Reynolds, investigative reporter, Oct. 30, 2021
- #1: Lori Ehrlich, Massachusetts state representative, Oct. 5, 2021