The Local News Playbook: Creating Value for a Sustainable Future
Deep Insights
London; Miami: FT Strategies; Knight Foundation (2026), 105 pp.
Contains glossary pp. 102-103, bibliogr. pp. 104-105
"Drawing on global interviews with newsroom leaders, a cross-market survey of exemplary organisations, and FT Strategies’ work with more than 1,000 media businesses worldwide, the playbook identifies the core drivers that distinguish financially sustainable, community-rooted local news. It reframes local news sustainability as a reinforcing cycle of relevance, engagement, revenue and organisational capacity — and offers practical guidance for publishers, funders and policymakers seeking to strengthen local journalism as a lasting civic institution." (Publisher description)
PART 1 - THE LOCAL NEWS ECOSYSTEM MAPPED, 6
The Ecosystem’s Actors -- The Ecosystem in Motion -- The Local News Value Loop
PART 2 - THE VALUE DRIVERS FOR SUSTAINABLE LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, 16
Community Connection -- Direct Relationships -- Revenue Balance -- Mission Alignment -- Intelligent Innovation
PART 3 - PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS, 51
Networked News Hub -- Digital-Only Local Generalist -- Legacy Daily Modernizer -- Grassroots News Beacon -- Stakeholder Owned Collaborative -- Lean Direct Messenger -- Independent News Creator/Platform -- Community Powered Public Media Network -- Conclusion
APPENDIX, 89
Additional Archetypes -- Methodology
The Ecosystem’s Actors -- The Ecosystem in Motion -- The Local News Value Loop
PART 2 - THE VALUE DRIVERS FOR SUSTAINABLE LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, 16
Community Connection -- Direct Relationships -- Revenue Balance -- Mission Alignment -- Intelligent Innovation
PART 3 - PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS, 51
Networked News Hub -- Digital-Only Local Generalist -- Legacy Daily Modernizer -- Grassroots News Beacon -- Stakeholder Owned Collaborative -- Lean Direct Messenger -- Independent News Creator/Platform -- Community Powered Public Media Network -- Conclusion
APPENDIX, 89
Additional Archetypes -- Methodology
