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News Media Help Desk

@newsmediahelpdesk.org
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A new resource to help local media navigate the fast-paced digital landscape. newsmediahelpdesk.org

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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 3h
The feedback inboxes at Lookout’s two newsrooms see dozens of emails each week. They create a dashboard that lets the newsrooms’ national support team evaluate, gauge and respond to feedback in a consistent way. | via @newsproduct.org 
newsproduct.org
Lookout Local: Finding signal in the noise of a shared feedback inbox — News Product Alliance
Lookout Local’s leadership team used the Audience Data Commons (ADC) schema to create a framework that lets the newsrooms’ national support team evaluate, gauge and respond to feedback in a consistent way.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 29/09/2026
Emergency Mode for News has checklists and other tools to help journalists respond to disasters before, during, and after they happen. | via @niemanlab.org www.niemanlab.org/2026/09/when-disa… 
niemanlab.org
When disaster strikes, newsrooms scramble. A new website aims to help tame the chaos.
Emergency Mode for News has checklists and other tools to help journalists respond to disasters before, during, and after they happen.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 28/09/2026
Little Green Light’s strong donor tracking capabilities — with features that encourage relationship-building and event management — make it an ideal “centerpiece” system for @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
How Little Green Light helped Flatwater Free Press grow to nearly $3 million in revenue
From helping to process and organize donations, to initiating and tracking communication with constituents, Little Green Light is Flatwater Free Press’ go-to solution.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 24/09/2026
The Civic Action Toolbox helps readers take action by sharing information on public meetings, comment periods and the officials who make decisions. | via @rjionline.bsky.social rjionline.org/resources/toolkits/jo… 
rjionline.org
Journalism tells people what’s happening. This tool helps them take action.
The Civic Action Toolbox connects local reporting to public meetings, comment periods and the officials who make decisions.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 23/09/2026
Product innovation learns more from what doesn't work than from what does. Sometimes that means putting something half-baked in the wild to find out what audiences respond to. | via @hackshackers.com www.hackshackers.com/how-newsrooms-…
hackshackers.com
How newsrooms can learn from failure without failing in public
Journalism has to be right the first time. Product work doesn't, as long as you know where to draw the line.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 22/09/2026
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. localnewsinitiative.northwestern.ed…
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
The Medill Survey 2026: How the Chicago Area Gets its News
This text was adapted from the introduction of our report on how Chicago-area residents consume local news. Download a full PDF version of the report.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 21/09/2026
As a newsroom product, transcription app Good Tape places high importance on data security and does not train its AI models on users’ transcripts.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
The newsroom-built AI transcription tool that protects your sources
Built by journalists, for journalists, Good Tape is an AI-based tool that can save reporters time while maintaining strict security standards and a low cost.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 17/09/2026
@pressgazette.co.uk launched a new tool that checks whether content is AI-generated or manipulated before publishing. The tool can review text, images, video and audio in four languages. pressgazette.co.uk/news/press-gazet… 
pressgazette.co.uk
Press Gazette launches newsroom tool to stop AI fakes before publication
Press Gazette launches Made by Humans, a new tool for publishers which aims to protect them from publishing misleading AI-generated content.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 16/09/2026
Google has been quietly scaling a pay-per-value AI licensing scheme for publishers. But critics say the program looks less like a meaningful payout and more like a legal fig leaf. | via Digiday digiday.com/media/google-rolls-out-… 
digiday.com
Google rolls out pay-per-value AI licensing program to publishers
Google has been quietly scaling a pay-per-value AI licensing scheme for publishers. Though some critics are skeptical of its
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 15/09/2026
@Muckrock.com is adding four free services for verified newsrooms. These tools can help watch a webpage for changes, monitor sources alongside an AI agent, search public records and geotag stories. www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2026…
muckrock.com
MuckRock's ecosystem expands, adding four free services for verified newsrooms
We’re excited to share that we’ve grown our ecosystem to include new tools from us, Bloom Labs, Buried Signals and UC Berkeley’s School of Journalism. MuckRock users can now sign-in with their accounts to access Klaxon Cloud, Bloom, Scoutpost and The Accountability Project (TAP) and take advantage of powerful new tools for research and reporting.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 14/09/2026
The Maine Trust for Local News wanted to build a consistent presence on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. These are the seven key takeaways from their experiments with social video: www.newsmediahelpdesk.org/maine-tru…
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Behind the scenes of The Maine Trust for Local News’ successful social video strategy
METLN’s newspapers cover regional and statewide news in Maine from newsrooms located in Portland, Lewiston, Waterville and Augusta. Here's a look at how the organization got started with social video.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 10/09/2026
Our monthly newsletter is out now 📬 Read along for: 💡Inspiration from award-winning journalism recognized by @journalists.org 💡Advice on how to survey your audience 💡Good news about the news www.newsmediahelpdesk.org/let-this-… 
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Let this award-winning journalism inspire you | Help Desk Monthly
Two news organizations featured in Help Desk case studies have won 2026 Online Journalism Awards from the Online News Association.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 09/09/2026
Google Ad Grants gives qualifying nonprofits funds for search ads. Is it the right program for your newsroom? Read practical tips for making the most of the program, via @innovationrji.bsky.social: www.newsmediahelpdesk.org/nonprofit…
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Advice for nonprofit newsrooms using Google’s Ad Grants Program
A conversation with Tyler Dedrick, from Mountain State Spotlight, about tips for local nonprofit newsrooms that want to experiment with the Google Ad Grants Program.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 04/09/2026
Congrats to all the newsrooms recognized by @journalists.org's 2026 Online Journalism Awards! 🧵(1/4) Diving into the OJA winners’ reports is a great way to get inspiration and ideas to take back to your newsroom. We’re also excited to see two newsrooms we published case studies about honored, too!
awards.journalists.org
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2026 Online Journalism Awards - Online Journalism Awards
From groundbreaking investigations to compelling visualizations, this year’s winners demonstrate the extraordinary ways journalism can strengthen communities and serve democracy.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 04/09/2026
ICYMI: @mobusinessalert.bsky.social's director of marketing wrote about how the newsroom experimented with reaching audiences on Nextdoor's platform.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Lessons from Missouri Business Alert’s first year using a Nextdoor News account to engage with local audiences
Missouri Business Alert has experimented with a Nextdoor News account to expand audience and connect with readers in local communities. Here's what they learned.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 03/09/2026
Backstory, an experimental tool from Google’s AI research lab, is helping one of India’s largest news organizations sort through a stream of slop, scams and disinformation. via @niemanlab.org
niemanlab.org
Google’s new AI tool helps fact-checkers investigate AI fakes
Backstory automates provenance checks, reverse image searches, and context tracing to speed up verification work.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 31/08/2026
Four examples of news publishers building relationships with readers using comments 💬
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Four examples of news publishers building relationships with readers using comments
In a world of falling traffic, trust and the increasing use of AI, building relationships with readers is more important than ever. This article dives into what’s working and shares examples you can replicate.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 28/08/2026
ICYMI: About a year and a half into @axios.com's partnership with OpenAI, here’s an inside look at how it’s going.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Axios partnered with OpenAI to expand its local newsrooms and test tools. Here’s how it’s going.
About a year and a half into Axios' partnership with OpenAI, take a look at what the collaboration has meant for the local newsrooms Axios created.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 24/08/2026
Weren't able to join our webinar with @pmja.bsky.social on how news publishers are dealing with AI scrapers? Here's the recap and the recording. If you have feedback or follow-up questions, reach out so we can support your newsroom's AI visibility journey.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
How news publishers can choose a path forward when it comes to AI visibility
Each news publisher's approach to AI visibility will depend on their mission, goals and audiences. Here's what you need to know.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 21/08/2026
At @mujschool.bsky.social, the students are back! We can't wait to meet the next generation of journalists. For those who don't know, at the Help Desk, student staffers from the Missouri School of Journalism take part in the work we do to support local news publishers 🤝
A small stuffed animal tiger called "Tiny Truman" wears a black shirt with gold letter that says "MIZ Journalism, Mizzou." The tiger is surrounded by News Media Help Desk swag.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 21/08/2026
Does your newsroom have a first-party data strategy? For some inspiration, take a look at how golf.com uses Admiral to run giveaways, which help to grow emails and then engagement.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
With Admiral’s help, Golf.com saved money and improved its first-party data strategy
See how first-party data collection — often seen as a dry, transactional necessity — can become something readers actually enjoy.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 20/08/2026
New $25,000 ‘Penlight’ journalism award honors paywall-free FOIA reporting. Apply by Sept. 1, 2026.
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Reposted by News Media Help Desk
AP Stylebook @apstylebook.com · 19/08/2026
Our generative AI guidance says AI sometimes generates inaccurate or fabricated responses to queries, an effect AI scientists call hallucination. If using the term hallucination, describe it as an issue associated with the technology that produces falsehoods or inaccurate or illogical information.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 12/08/2026
On Tuesday, we hosted a webinar on AI scrapers in collaboration with @pmja.bsky.social. The goal was to show news publishers how they can intentionally choose a path forward in this new internet that's dominated by bot traffic. Watch a recording here:
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Watch our webinar on AI scrapers | Help Desk Monthly
The Help Desk hosted a webinar on AI scrapers in collaboration with Public Media Journalists Association. Watch that video and see other resources from our August newsletter.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 11/08/2026
People are spending more and more time with ChatGPT, Claude and other AI chatbots asking questions and even following the news. To help news publishers be part of those conversations, Sergei Yakupov suggests taking a closer look at MCP.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
News organizations should take a closer look at MCP. Here’s why.
MCP (which stands for Model Context Protocol) is a tool that could offer newsrooms and news audiences so much value.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 03/08/2026
It started on Substack. Now, @mattbrown.bsky.social's Extra Points is a niche digital publication that focuses on the economics of college sports. Getting here required switching to a platform that could grow and develop audience, while cutting costs. For Extra Points, Beehiiv was the right move.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
To grow beyond a newsletter, switching to Beehiiv ‘was the right move’ for Extra Points
After getting started on Substack, learn why sports journalist Matt Brown moved his niche digital publication Extra Points to Beehiiv.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 28/07/2026
The Guardian doesn’t have a paywall. Anyone can read the nonprofit's news. Even still, the organization currently has 1.4 million digital subscribers. Audiencers looks at The Guardian's story and how telling that story motivates readers to give.
theaudiencers.com
Why 1.4 million people pay The Guardian for something they could read for free | Audiencers
Emilie Harkin, SVP of Growth at The Guardian, broke down what actually motivates readers to give money to a publication with no paywall.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 27/07/2026
“We’re not just putting prompts into Claude or ChatGPT and then, voila, we have a story.” About a year and a half since Axios signed a three-year licensing deal with OpenAI, we look at how the partnership is going for the news teams working on Axios Local newsletters.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Axios partnered with OpenAI to expand its local newsrooms and test tools. Here’s how it’s going.
About a year and a half into Axios' partnership with OpenAI, take a look at what the collaboration has meant for the local newsrooms Axios created.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 24/07/2026
ICYMI: When readers wanted an events calendar, The Athens County Independent’s small team made it happen using Yodel. Want to learn more? Read our case study 👇
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Readers wanted an events calendar; how The Athens County Independent’s small team made it happen
Based in Athens, Ohio, this small newsroom took on the big task of creating a comprehensive event calendar for their community.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 23/07/2026
On a zero-click future via @digidaymedia.bsky.social: The conversation around AI visibility is changing.
digiday.com
In Graphic Detail: AI visibility is no longer about referral traffic
New data shows why publishers are developing strategies around agentic traffic and brand visibility in AI answer engines.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 23/07/2026
Want to build audience and revenue through live events? These nonprofit newsrooms have events you can learn from. via @speppered.bsky.social at @niemanlab.org
niemanlab.org
Want to build audience and revenue through live events? These five news nonprofits have some ideas to get you started
A community run? A block party? A trivia night? There are options for newsrooms of all stripes and sizes.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 20/07/2026
New today: AI literacy is a chance to earn back audience trust, writes Lynn Walsh, Assistant Director @trustingnews.bsky.social
newsmediahelpdesk.org
For newsrooms, AI literacy is a chance to earn back audience trust
Helping people understand AI may be one of journalism’s most important trust-building opportunities yet.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 16/07/2026
Our July issue of Help Desk Monthly was sent earlier this week. Take a look at the resources for news organizations planning to cover elections, our latest published articles and a challenge that you may choose to accept.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
I challenge you to learn something new | Help Desk Monthly
Before the end of July, pick one digital tool you don’t know how to use and create something. If you do the challenge, show the Help Desk what you make.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 13/07/2026
If you've ever edited a reel on Instagram or used TikTok's native video editor, you know they aren't the best for having complete control over the final edit. Here's a guide to using CapCut, a mobile app for editing vertical social videos.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
A newsroom’s guide to getting started with CapCut’s mobile app for editing vertical videos
CapCut is ideal for creating social video on your phone. The app is free to download has built-in tools for trimming video clips, adding captions, editing audio and applying graphics.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 09/07/2026
LAist asked readers to buy, not donate. Here’s what it taught them about the new math of news. via @andycheatwood.com on Medium
medium.com
We Asked Our Readers to Buy, Not Donate. Here’s What It Taught Us About the New Math of News.
Most people in the news business agree on at least one thing right now. As search and AI reshape how people find information, the old model of waiting for audiences to wander in is finished, and we have to build direct relationships with readers instead.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 08/07/2026
The demand for news video is growing, @reutersinstitute.bsky.social's Dr Craig T. Robertson writes in @niemanlab.org. The popularity of news videos on third-party social media platforms doesn’t have to be a “doom and gloom” story for the news industry.
niemanlab.org
The demand for news video is growing (and that’s a good thing for publishers)
The popularity of news videos on third-party social media platforms doesn't have to be a "doom and gloom" story for the news industry.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 06/07/2026
A comprehensive local event calendar is a highly useful tool for reader engagement and sourcing (and sometimes a revenue driver), but creating one is time-consuming. Here's how @athensindy.bsky.social's small team made it happen.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Readers wanted an events calendar; How The Athens County Independent’s small team made it happen
Based in Athens, Ohio, this small newsroom took on the big task of creating a comprehensive event calendar for their community.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 02/07/2026
Have you ever experimented with AI deep research tools? In this expert piece, @mediacopilot.bsky.social founder Pete Pachal writes about how journalists can use deep research to find experts on a topic outside their normal beat.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Deep research: What it is and how it can be a journalist’s AI secret weapon
Deep research is a different AI chatbot mode that prioritizes thoroughness over speed. Learn how journalists can benefit from this tool while searching for experts.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 01/07/2026
A growing number of news organizations are turning to fundraising tools for features beyond donation collection. Get insights from Outlier Media's experience with Fundraise Up here: www.newsmediahelpdesk.org/fundraise…
Case Study: How Fundraise Up helps Outlier Media understand and convert donorsQuote from the case study: Despite their initial hesitations around Fundraise Up’s high fees, Outlier Media says the investment in the platform has paid dividends.  “For us, the fee structure is worth it,” Ashley Fassett, Outlier Media’s Membership & Events Manager said.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 29/06/2026
Any newsroom thinking about creating a new news product should start the way The Minnesota Star Tribune did when it created Strib Varsity: with clear goals, data to support the strategy, and an understanding of the audience’s needs.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Why The Minnesota Star Tribune built Strib Varsity, a high school sports coverage news product
Strib Varsity launched in 2025 and has generated revenue results for The Minnesota Star Tribune’s subscription business. Learn why the product made sense for the newspaper.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 25/06/2026
Nextdoor is known for helping people connect with their neighborhoods. After a year of experimenting with Nextdoor for News, @mobusinessalert.bsky.social has insights for newsrooms wanting to use the platform to engage with local communities.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Lessons from Missouri Business Alert’s first year using a Nextdoor News account to engage with local audiences
Missouri Business Alert has experimented with a Nextdoor News account to expand audience and connect with readers in local communities. Here's what they learned.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 15/06/2026
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 15/06/2026
New research from @trustingnews.bsky.social looks at AI literacy content and whether it can help local news build trust and engagement with audiences.
trustingnews.org
AI literacy content builds trust and engagement across audiences - Trusting News
Even audiences with low trust in news reported increased willingness to return to the news organization for information and higher trust after viewing a single example of AI literacy content.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 11/06/2026
Did you miss our newsletter earlier this week? It's ok! We always publish them as an article on the Help Desk site later in the week. Issue No. 7 of Help Desk Monthly highlights our new Scorecard tool categories and collects SIX helpful links on revenue. Read the newsletter here:
newsmediahelpdesk.org
How to monitor your AI traffic | Help Desk Monthly
The Help Desk's Scorecard now includes AI monitoring tools to help news publishers navigate what to do about agent and bot traffic to websites.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 08/06/2026
We just added two new categories to the Scorecard: social media management and AI monitoring. Look up individual tools or filter by category and compare to see which tool aligns best with your news organization's needs. Visit the Scorecard here: www.newsmediahelpdesk.org/tools-sco…
Check out new tool categories available in the Help Desk’s Scorecard: social media management and AI monitoring. A total of eight new tools have been added.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 05/06/2026
Local Media Association published these takeaways from a roundtable conversation hosted by the Lab for Journalism Funding, where funders shared advice with news leaders seeking to support their journalism in part through philanthropy.
localmedia.org
Advice from journalism funders for newsrooms seeking philanthropic support
Newsrooms who hope to win philanthropic support must first learn about what matters to funders. That’s one takeaway from a roundtable conversation hosted by the Lab for Journalism Funding, where funders shared advice with news leaders seeking to support their journalism in part through philanthropy. The panel included current and former funders with experience in […]
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 01/06/2026
New today: The primary driving force behind QCity Metro’s switch to PubGenAI was cost. But the CMS platform’s built-in AI workflows and features also addressed another challenge: The newsroom’s reality of time and resources.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
QCity Metro switched to an AI CMS to cut costs. The tool also expanded what the small staff could do.
Learn how PubGen AI transformed QCity Metro's digital publishing experience by reducing costs and improving functionality with the help of AI.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 28/05/2026
ICYMI: We can’t build sustainable news operations without giving ourselves space to recharge. The Help Desk focuses on digital help for local news, but our May newsletter encourages you to do something that doesn’t involve a screen: take a break.
newsmediahelpdesk.org
Reminder to take a break | Help Desk Monthly
Protecting ourselves is protecting journalism, too. In this month's newsletter, we focus on the importance of taking time for you mental health.
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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 28/05/2026
This week, The Economist launched a ChatGPT app — the first of its kind by a major consumer news publication. Here's @andrewdeck.bsky.social's write-up for Nieman Lab.
niemanlab.org
The Economist launches a dedicated ChatGPT app
The app retrieves and visualizes polling data from The Economist's Trump approval rating tracker.
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Reposted by News Media Help Desk
Kathy Lu (she/her)🫰 @kathylu.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
AI chatbots and scrapers are not disappearing anytime soon. In the meantime, publishers should consider all options when it comes to what it means for their audience strategy. This case study is about an org that chose to learn about and leverage its bot traffic to gain newsletter subscribers.
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