Stephanie Campbell’s Post

Journalism should, at its core, be fueled by feminine energy. It’s meant to be compationate, caring, emotional, nurturing, creative and, most importantly, all about community. Inclusive storytelling lives at the heart of good journalism, allowing generations to learn and not forget. This tragic month in journalism has made it clear that the hyper masculine-energy model driving the industry is completely flawed. Journalism sits still, with an intelectual superiority complex, plagued with toxic competition, hustle culture and puritan classism and racism. This money and productivity obsession neglects taking the time to reflect and innovate from a place of SERVICE. It has taken a novel profession to the brink it stands today, draining passionate reporters and the communities that depend on their work. Let this be our opportunity to transcend. This death by a thousand cuts can bring us to a new life. To those who’ve been painfully affected by the layoffs, don’t give up on journalism just yet. Our communities need you. I’m eager to see that’s on the other side. As the old models and institutions crumble, you build stronger, more meaningful and trusting relationships with those you serve. See you in the other side!

With the series of media layoffs over the last couple weeks, I'm reminded of this sadly prescient piece from 2023's Nieman Journalism Lab predictions series. As Robert Hernandez wrote, "Whether it is newsletters, podcasts, social media, or live events, journalists have not only embraced these new forms, they’ve elevated journalism and brought in new audiences. What has continued to fail is the leadership and executives running the business." What I appreciate about this piece are Hernandez's calls to action, to both journalists and business leadership in journalism companies, and particularly calls for us to work together to create sustainable business models. Too often, in my opinion, these groups are siloed and faceless to each other, leading to anonymous decisions that make no sense to the newsroom, and smart newsroom outputs that are unnoticed and thus unutilized by executives. "For any news organization to succeed, we need to be partners, collaborating as we find innovative solutions to sustain our journalism and serve our community. Whether you are a journalist or a money person, that is the sole mission — either get on board or get out." Right on.

We all often operate in our own worlds within our own industries, and for all of you in journalism, it's no secret that this past week (and really over the course of the last few months) the news industry has been absolutely gutted in a lot of ways. Major papers have gone through gut-wrenching buyouts, horrible layoffs and have even shuttered altogether. My heart absolutely breaks for all the journalists who have been affected by these decisions that were all made way above their pay grades. (I saw one woman mention this was her second time being laid off over a single 12-month period. That shouldn't even be possible.) I cannot emphasize enough that no one who gets into this industry does so for the money. (As you can see, there's not a lot of it in most instances.) They really, really love the work. When you disrupt newsrooms in these ways, you really disrupt families of people who have all coalesced around this same idea that the news and truth-telling and shedding light on complicated but important topics and teaching people things really, really matters and is so essential to a functioning democracy. I've met my husband through journalism, my best friends, my mentors and more and I owe it so, so much. I've always struggled with it being such a big part of my identity (since it can be tough emotionally and mentally to have your self-worth so heavily associated with your job) but I also completely get how it happened. No one gets into this lightly. The people who do this day in and day out are so incredibly passionate and it's hard when you're one of them not to get wrapped up in that passion —otherwise you would've picked something else to spend your life doing. I talked with a college friend recently also, though, about people who leave journalism to go do something else. We laughed at how just a decade ago in college we'd judge these people. But now I've realized, most of those people didn't leave news because they didn't love it or think it wasn't important or anything of the sort. There were other factors at work like crappy bosses, tough work environments, pressures (and the subsequent fallout) from layoffs and the like. Those stories were always more complicated than we saw from the outset. I don't have a point in posting this aside from to say, I pray all of these great people who have been affected by this industry-wide earthquake land on their feet and stick with this work for the long haul if that's what they want to do. And I hope everyone in journalism school keeps at it and goes on to do awesome work in the industry. The world really, really needs amazing journalists and I couldn't have been raised as a person by a more incredible group of people. If there's anything anyone in the industry can do in support of anyone affected by these recent events, whether it's loan you their dog for comfort, buy you a beer or listen to you rant, I think I speak for everyone in the business when I say we're all here for that and more.

In the latest Deadline, we take stock of the over 500 newsroom layoffs in January and discuss how to navigate this murky media landscape moving forward. Plus, we share CNN's morning lineup changes, look at earnings from The New York Times and Fox Corp., discuss how companies should think about ESG communications in 2024 despite the acronym falling out of favor, and more. #Media #MediaMoves #MediaRelations #Newsletter #MediaLayoffs

🗞 The media landscape is shifting, and newsrooms are shrinking. With media layoffs on the rise, it's more important than ever for PR professionals to adapt. How can you make your pitch stand out in an environment where there are fewer journalists receiving more pitches? Here are two key strategies: 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀: Offer content that can be utilized across an organization’s entire range of publications, not just a single magazine. This maximizes the value of your pitch and addresses the needs of understaffed newsrooms. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: Focus on timeless topics that remain relevant over extended periods. This type of content is always in demand and can be used to fill gaps when breaking news is scarce. By tailoring your approach, you not only help newsrooms in their time of need but also enhance the reach and impact of your client's message. #PRTips #MediaTrends #News #Charlotte #NorthCarolina

Money is at the core of the layoffs impacting media organizations, including some of the most storied and recognizable names in the business. The indirect price is in the impact to diversity efforts in journalism, which have been shamefully behind the changes to demographics — and audiences — in the United States. In my first column for Bloomberg Opinion, I write about the failure to build newsrooms that mirror the communities they cover and what's required to correct course. One is creating access to quality education for aspiring journalists from historically marginalized communities, who don't ordinarily have the means or luxury to embrace an uncertain career, which news has certainly become. We will continue to fail if we stop there, though. As I wrote, success in journalism "also requires open doors, welcoming spaces and clear paths so that diverse voices can find their way to top leadership positions. If not, we risk alienating the same people reshaping audiences in the United States, where Whites are projected to become the minority by 2045." The column is *not* behind the paywall. Consider giving it a read, then, and sharing your thoughts.

One friend attempted to explain to me that journalism is declining because social media channels are perceived as more credible and aligned with popular beliefs in America. However, the reality is different. Journalists are facing layoffs primarily because investors and the media company’s parent firms vastly overestimated their worth in digital news since, like 🤔 2008. As demand waned, supply became more costly. Consequently, as production costs decreased, content and services were inflated, targeting audiences already fatigued by the volume of offerings. In my opinion, the media industry expanded rapidly without proper consideration for sustainability or quality led to various challenges and issues.

The year 2023 has brought unprecedented challenges to the media industry, making it one of the most difficult periods since the start of the pandemic. Recent reports from Poynter highlight a significant decline in the news business, indicating tough times ahead for traditional media. It is essential to emphasize the vital role of news in shaping societal understanding. It is a call to action for media professionals to work together, recognize the difficulties, and seek solutions to strengthen the foundation of journalism for the future. This moment should be seized to bring about positive change and uphold the fundamental values of journalism in an ever-changing media landscape. #media #journalism #change #traditionalmedia #mediaplanner Source: https://lnkd.in/g97BrpCp

Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS) are officially joining forces to bring even more impactful, community-focused journalism to the people of Wisconsin. This merger strengthens our ability to serve local communities, ensuring that the stories that matter most—those involving equity, accountability, and opportunity—reach the audiences that need them. Through innovative projects like News414, where we connect directly with the community via text, and the expansion of investigative and statehouse reporting, we’re deepening our commitment to providing trusted, nonpartisan news. This partnership allows us to amplify our efforts, leveraging the expertise of two teams united by a shared mission. With support from the American Journalism Project, we’re not just growing; we’re building a sustainable future for local news across Wisconsin. This is a bold step forward, and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s next for our now merged organizations. We'll keep pushing boundaries, telling important stories, and empowering communities across the state. https://lnkd.in/gmBCZXWi #WisconsinWatch #MilwaukeeNeighborhoodNewsService #LocalNews #Journalism #Innovation #CommunityImpact #MediaLeadership #SustainableGrowth

The U.S. lost more than 130 newspapers in 2023. That's 2.5 a week. Few news organizations have figured out the economics of digital subscriptions. Cord cutting reached the tipping point in 2023, with the majority of households now no longer paying for cable. In some cases, these consumers no longer get local TV or news channels. And TikTok has become a default news source for Gen Z. Journalism is critical to a healthy democracy. The continued shuttering of local news organizations and cutbacks to national ones is a warning sign that the industry must look at new-scalable-ways to reinvent itself. #journalism #localnews #civics #democracy #cordcutting #socialmedia #consumerbehavior #news #publicrelations #media #communications