By Kevin Slimp

I’m having one of those days when I’m working on projects non-stop. It’s the kind of day when I stop for a moment and think, “Oh man, my column is due today.”

With no time to plan or prepare what I’m going to write, which probably happens to most of my readers on a regular basis, I’ve chosen to write about something I know a lot about: Why some papers are growing and some papers are dying.

Dying is a strong word for a column about newspapers. We read too often about newspapers that are closing. Most of the time, I can guess what’s led to these sudden departures without reading any further. Instead of writing about why some newspapers are closing, today I’m going to write about why some papers aren’t closing.

It’s a relatively easy task for me. I just sent messages to six publishers at random and asked, “Why is your paper not dying?” I’m using their responses to guide my thoughts. People seem to love it when I include a list in my columns, so here’s a list titled:

Why Some Newspapers Aren’t Dying

1.    I wasn’t surprised when Reed Anfinson was the first publisher to respond to my request. Reed publishes and co-publishes three successful papers in Western Minnesota. He mentioned the quality of his newspapers. Reed noted the stories, photo features, and school events. It was in his final sentence that Reed hit on something that I’ve noticed about almost all successful newspapers: “We are dedicated to our community and our businesses, and readers appreciate it.”

2.    It wasn’t my intention to interrupt anyone at deadline, but I did just that when I wrote to Erin McIntyre at the Ouray County (Colorado) Plaindealer. Still, Erin was the second to respond to my plea with, “We’re relevant, and our community values our work. She went on to mention reporting priorities, holding local government accountable, and building trust with readers. Erin went on to add, “Even small places deserve quality journalism, and readers appreciate that.”

3.    Joey Young (Newton, Kansas) wrote, “We focus on local content you can’t get elsewhere, we haven’t slashed and burned the newsroom, and we charge what our paper is worth.”

4.    I had the privilege of working with The Sullivan County (New York) Democrat a few months ago, and its publisher, Fred Stabbert, had a lot to say about their ever-improving newspaper. Right out of the gate, Fred reminded me that “The Sullivan County Democrat has been a staple of the community for 135 years, and we have never forgotten where we came from.” Like the paper in Newton, Kansas, Fred’s paper hasn’t had any “slashing and burning.” The Sullivan County staff includes four full-time reporters, two editors, and a five-person ad department. “We embrace change and tackle it head-on,” wrote Fred, “whether it’s a redesign of our historic newspaper last fall, updating our website, or installing the latest programs to be most efficient.” Fred concluded by reminding me that The Democrat has been owned by the Stabbert family for 99 years, but was quick to add, “(The Democrat) is really owned by our readers and advertisers who make us viable every day. Without them, our mission would not be possible.”

5.    Ken Waddell, a leading publisher in Canada (Neepawa, Manitoba), chimed in that a key ingredient is local news. The second reason his papers aren’t dying, according to Ken, is a heavy investment in reporters, both full-time and freelance. Ken also wrote that his papers have developed their own distribution system, not relying on the postal system. He also mentioned a fourth reason: “We are awfully stubborn and care deeply about our community and employees.”

That’s a response rate of five out of six publishers to whom I wrote. Not bad, considering the five responded in the time it took me to write this column.

So, let me ask you to do something. Think of the papers you’ve read about recently that have closed. Did they adhere to the guidelines these five publishers consider crucially important? If not, what did they do differently?

I know there are factors beyond a newspaper’s control. A struggling local economy, population decline, and other issues can force a paper out of business. I’m not picking on those papers. But think about papers in places not declining in population. What might they have done differently?

That’s 800 words. My work is done for the day.  

When Florida lawmakers passed HB 7049 in 2023, many local publishers immediately recognized the potential threat to one of the industry’s most stable revenue streams: public notices. The legislation created a pathway allowing certain notices to be published on government websites rather than exclusively in newspapers, opening the door for counties to move some legal advertising away from local publishers.

For David Dunn-Rankin, president of Central Florida–based D-R Media, the moment represented both a challenge and an opportunity. Rather than treating the legislation as an inevitable loss of revenue, he approached it as a problem to solve — one rooted in relationships, operational realities and a clear understanding of how public notice actually works.

“Every year, there’s always some fire to put out,” Dunn-Rankin said. “There’s always a fire drill during legislative season.”

A relationship-driven approach

D-R Media serves communities between Tampa and Orlando, and Dunn-Rankin has spent years building strong relationships with local government staff and administrators. That connection, he believes, is critical to protecting public notice partnerships when policy shifts. “We’re very hands on. We’re very high touch,” he said. “I like for our legal people to go bring brownies, so that they know us — so that they’re just not a voice on the phone.”

The approach — which Dunn-Rankin jokingly calls his “cookie campaign” — is designed to make sure local partners know the people behind the process. That relationship-first philosophy proved valuable when counties across Florida began evaluating whether to launch their own public notice websites after the new law passed.

In the months following HB 7049, Dunn-Rankin watched several counties begin exploring that path. “About seven or eight counties made the move pretty quickly,” he said.

One of the most consequential discussions unfolded in Polk County, an important public notice market for D-R Media. County commissioners openly debated whether creating a county-run public notice website could reduce costs while also driving more residents to the county’s online services.

As Dunn-Rankin recalled, the logic sounded straightforward: “We’ll save some money,” commissioners suggested, and “it’ll make the county website more useful because people will start going there for information.” But from his perspective, the economics — and the operational realities — were far more complicated.

Breaking down the numbers

Rather than arguing philosophically about the value of newspapers, Dunn-Rankin focused on helping county leaders understand how the new law actually worked in practice. The details, he explained, were far more complex than the simplified narrative that counties could simply move all notices online.

“The law is very confusing,” Dunn-Rankin said. “There’s a lot of different kind of notices. If you’re managing the website, you would have to figure out which ones go on the county website, which ones still have to go on a paper. That’s complex additional work.”

To clarify the situation, Dunn-Rankin walked commissioners through Polk County’s notice volume in three categories, separating notices that legally must remain in print from those eligible for online publication. “There’s three big buckets,” he explained. “Roughly about 20 to 25% still had to stay in a newspaper. About 25 to 30% the county could put on their own website and about half the developer still is paying for it.”

That final category proved particularly important. Many developer-paid notices — often tied to zoning or development proposals — are exactly the notices residents care most about and the ones most likely to generate public attention.

From Dunn-Rankin’s perspective, moving those notices onto a county website would not necessarily reduce taxpayer costs and could even reduce transparency. He framed the numbers directly for commissioners: “You’re not going to save the $150,000. $40,000 is still going to have to go to newspapers. There’s about $50,000 that you can save by publishing them on your own. Then there’s $75,000 that you could put on the county website, but it won’t save you any money. Just create more work.”

Even when he couldn’t get face time with every commissioner, Dunn-Rankin stayed persistent in making the case. “I wrote them 17 handwritten notes,” he said.

Meeting digital expectations

Once Dunn-Rankin clarified the financial realities, he shifted the conversation to what the county actually wanted: a modern digital public notice experience for residents. If Polk County wanted a dedicated notice website, he argued, that didn’t necessarily mean building and maintaining one internally. “So we told them we’d do their county website for free,” Dunn-Rankin said. “They wouldn’t have to spend the resources to build it or maintain it themselves.”

To make that possible, D-R Media partnered with Column, whose platform powers public notice workflows for publishers nationwide. The arrangement allowed D-R Media to remain the county’s operational partner while Column provided the underlying technology.

“Basically, I needed to white-label Column,” Dunn-Rankin said. “D-R Media would be the first line of support, and we’d handle the billing. But I needed to run on proven technology; otherwise I’d have to build it myself. And I’d rather use Column’s, because it works.”

The result was a county-branded public notice site powered by Column’s infrastructure but presented as part of the county’s public information ecosystem. “It looks and feels like a county website,” Dunn-Rankin said. “You would not know that it’s not a county website.”

The technical structure also aligned with Polk County’s IT policies. Rather than integrating directly with county systems, the platform is hosted externally and simply linked from the county’s official site.

“They told us, ‘We don’t want anything going in and out of our firewall,’” Dunn-Rankin explained. “So we host it outside the county’s website, and they just link to it.”

Protecting both revenue and relationships

The outcome was straightforward: Polk County received the digital experience it wanted while D-R Media retained its public notice partnership. “We retained all legals revenue from Polk County, except for one city,” Dunn-Rankin said.

Just as important, the feared ripple effect across surrounding municipalities never materialized. D-R Media expected some of the county’s 17 cities might shift notices to the county platform as well, but in practice most maintained their existing workflow with the newspaper. “Only one of our 17 cities has done that,” Dunn-Rankin said. “It’s business as usual.”

In many cases, the deciding factor was simple: managing notices internally creates additional administrative work for local government staff. “The clerk now has to do that work, and they don’t want to do that work,” he said.

Dunn-Rankin also credits the long-standing relationships D-R Media maintains with local governments. “Our cities like us,” he said. “There wasn’t much incentive to change a workflow that was already working.”

A playbook for other publishers

For Dunn-Rankin, the Polk County experience illustrates how publishers can respond when legislation changes the public notice landscape. Rather than framing the issue as a battle between newspapers and digital platforms, he believes publishers can remain central to the process by helping governments meet their digital expectations. “Here’s what we did in Polk,” he said. “Go do that everywhere and lock the county up.”

By combining education, strong local relationships and modern technology, D-R Media was able to preserve both the partnership and the revenue stream. In an environment where public notice rules continue to evolve, that approach offers a practical model for publishers navigating similar changes.

About Column:

Column builds the technical infrastructure that powers modern public notice, connecting newspapers, governments, legal professionals, and the public through an efficient, compliant platform. Today, thousands of publishers and tens of thousands of agencies, firms, and individuals nationwide rely on Column to keep their communities informed. The platform centralizes notice placement, proofs, affidavits, and billing in one place. By automating high-friction operational steps and standardizing the back office, Column helps publishers protect and grow public notice revenue while making public information easier to access for local communities. We’re reimagining how public information connects people, institutions, and media.

By Jim Pumarlo

Election season is under way. Many would say the cycle never ends. No sooner are votes tallied than strategists eye the next election. Make no mistake, many lawmakers routinely cast votes with one eye on policy and one eye on politics, especially if they are in swing districts.

Office-holders are scrutinized more than ever in today’s political dynamics. In turn, media are under the microscope.

The scope of coverage will vary by newspaper and community. Election season strains newsrooms already strapped for resources. Consider these starting points:

First, keep the focus local. Do what you know best and do what no one else is doing for your readers.

Second, introduce yourselves early to candidates. Promote the roles of both the news and advertising departments.

I place public affairs coverage at the heart of a newspaper’s responsibilities. In that sphere, nothing is more than the selection of candidates who will shape policies affecting readers’ everyday lives.

Think about your bread and butter. What’s more likely to receive a front-page headline: An action in Washington, D.C. or at the State Capitol – or debate at a packed meeting of the city council, school board or county board?

I don’t suggest ignoring the more expansive conversations. Elections in Minnesota got much more interesting with the decision of Gov. Tim Walz not to seek a third term. The ripple effect will likely reach legislative races and even local contests, raising issues that warrant attention.

The increasingly caustic political environment at national and state levels has negatively influenced local political discourse, which has made some newspapers more cautious about giving space to broader topics. That makes it all the more important to shed light on local topics and candidates, offering a trusted voice to navigate the chaos of social media. And, when appropriate, to filter national and state issues for messages relevant to your communities.

The first step is to commit to comprehensive election coverage. The second step – carrying out that pledge – may prove difficult despite best intentions. Publishers more and more are frustrated with candidates and campaigns that simply refuge to engage with the newspaper, even declining to complete basic questionnaires. Even more annoying is the growing loss of advertising dollars.  

Your best offense is to get in front of candidates early. Individuals seeking elective office are applying for a job. They must convince their bosses – the electorate – that they are the most qualified to effectively advance constituent interests. You are in excellent position to help present that information in the clearest and most meaningful manner.

Start by writing a welcome letter congratulating candidates on their decision to seek elective office, for giving their time and talent to make the community a better place to live. Include answers to the most frequently asked questions about newspaper policies and operations. Follow up with a face-to-face meeting to communicate editorial procedures as well as advertising opportunities. It’s ideal to have separate conversations. In all cases, make clear the distinction between news and advertising departments.

Then underscore this is the candidate’s opportunity to be introduced to constituents, to state positions on priority issues. If you can’t interview them – if they won’t give you access, it is fair game to interview associates, supporters and others. Campaigns need treasurers. That can be a place to start.

On that front, publishers often bemoan the lack of political advertising, especially in local races. But how many newspapers develop and approach candidates with an advertising campaign similar to welcoming a new merchant in town? Many individuals are novices to the political arena. Seize the opportunity to be a key adviser in spreading their messages.

A final note: Communicate. I’m a firm believer in explaining newspaper operations and policies and wrote a weekly column while sitting behind the editor’s desk. Election season provides ample fodder on a variety of fronts. Some columns can be written each election cycle and can be pre-emptive on questions that inevitably will be raised.

Election coverage is one of the most exhaustive and scrutinized tasks facing newsrooms. At the same time, reporting on candidates and campaigns is the most fundamental element of a newspaper’s service to democracy in action.  Solid reporting helps voters elect better people to make decisions on their behalf.

Newspapers should use their community knowledge to deliver an inside look at candidates and set a framework for constructive debate. The rewards are to all involved from candidates and the voters to your community and your newspaper.

Jim Pumarlo is former editor of the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle. He writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is author of “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town Newspapers.” He can be reached and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com.

Indiana Pro SPJ promotes and protects the First Amendment freedoms of every newsroom and reporter in Indiana. We offer year-round training and networking for current and future journalists. Indiana Pro SPJ also hosts the annual "Best in Indiana" journalism contest, which funds our college scholarship program.

If you do not already have a paid membership, join the Indiana Pro SPJ today to protect and support journalistic freedom and education across the state. Email indyprospj@gmail.com for more information.

Running a newspaper — especially in a small or solo operation — can be both deeply rewarding and incredibly challenging. Whether it’s finding the right resources, streamlining your operations, juggling staffing needs, or just figuring out what works, you don’t have to do it alone.

Join us for a friendly, informal monthly peer chat with other newspaper publishers from across Indiana. We’ll swap ideas, share questions, offer support, and connect each other with tools and tips that can make our work easier.

Who’s invited? Anyone in a leadership role at a newspaper organization that publishes in Indiana.

When: Mark your calendars for next month’s chat - May 6 at 2 p.m. ET.

Where: Zoom - Registration required each month:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7fOpIfUnQc2m1AJs2VEIEQ

Bring your questions, your stories, and let’s help each other keep local news strong in Indiana.

Questions? Contact Chris Hardie (publisher of Western Wayne News in Wayne County) at chris@westernwaynenews.com or (765) 478-5448 x201.

2026 HSPA Journalism Contest Rules & Category Descriptions

View Contest Website

By Kris Cundiff 

In recent years, my colleagues and I at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press have noticed journalists are increasingly eager to have their stories vetted before publishing. Here in Indiana, I regularly provide free legal vetting, or pre-publication review, to help journalists get important stories out to their communities.

Ideally, every journalist would have access to an attorney to do this kind of work. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Due to limited resources, Reporters Committee attorneys can’t accept every client, and it can be hard to find media attorneys willing to provide these services for free. So a few years ago, my colleague Paul McAdoo, our Tennessee-based attorney, put together a handy list of tips for journalists who want to vet their own stories to reduce legal risk.

In this column, I wanted to pass along Paul’s tips. They’re a great guide to ensure your reporting is more likely to survive a lawsuit — and help you rest easier at night. As you’ll see, the pre-publication review process goes beyond your traditional editing and fact-checking routine. Some of these tips are good to keep in mind in your early stages of newsgathering, long before you sit down to type your first draft.

Be careful with confidential sources.

As any editor will tell you, named, on-the-record sources are almost always better than confidential sources. While confidential sources are sometimes crucial to telling a particular story, it’s best to use them with caution, especially when the subject of your reporting has the potential to file a libel lawsuit. Not only do confidential sources breed mistrust among some members of the public, but they can also put you in tricky legal situations.

For one thing, there are certain circumstances in which you could be forced to reveal the identity of a confidential source in court, a scenario every journalist wants to avoid. But successfully protecting your confidential source’s identity could end up complicating your ability to defend yourself against a libel suit, in part because you might not be able to call that person to testify on your behalf.

Seek requests for comment.

Contacting the subjects of your reporting for comment before publication might sound like a no-brainer, but journalists sometimes cut corners here. Legally speaking, it’s critical that you give the people you are writing about the chance to tell their side of the story, especially if the story accuses them of wrongdoing. This step helps demonstrate that your reporting is unbiased and could serve as an important defense in a libel lawsuit.

But the lengths to which you go to reach out for comment matters, too. If you’ve spent months reporting an investigative series about a local politician, it’s not enough to call the person an hour before publication for comment. In a situation like that, you should make multiple calls and send multiple emails that clearly explain what your story is about and why you would like the person to comment. And you should give them sufficient time to respond.

Whatever the response — even if it’s just a “no comment” or that they didn’t respond to requests for comment — be sure to include that in your story.

Consider whether the subjects of your story are public officials/figures or private figures.

Public officials (governors, mayors) and public figures (corporate leaders, celebrities) must prove what’s known as “actual malice” to prevail in a libel suit. In other words, they must establish that you knew or strongly suspected that a statement you published was false when you made it.

That’s a much higher legal bar than the one that applies to private figures, who can succeed in a libel lawsuit merely by showing that a false statement that injured their reputation was made with negligence. Because actual malice is widely misunderstood, my colleagues at the Reporters Committee have published a helpful explainer.

Rely on official documents and proceedings as much as possible.

Under what’s known as the “fair report privilege,” you are protected from liability if you fairly and accurately report on government records, official proceedings, court documents, and official statements made by public officials. Be sure to state in your story when information you are relying on is attributable to official documents or actions so that it’s clear that the fair report privilege applies.

As always, if you have legal questions, reach out to me at kcundiff@rcfp.org. For more information, check out the Reporter’s Committee’s Guide to Pre-Publication Review.

Kris Cundiff is the Indiana Local Legal Initiative attorney at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. He lives just outside of Indianapolis