Appendix I List of Interviewees
For this report, our research conclusions are grounded in the insights we gleaned from interviews with fifty-three industry leaders and experts. These were predominantly collected during the summer of 2016, with additional interviews taking place in the first half of 2017.
Although small-market newspapers are the primary research focus for this study, we spoke to newspapers and news outlets of varying sizes (including those outside of our small-market cohort) so that their experiences can inform and inspire readers of this report.
Interviewees represented a range of news operations and perspectives, including urban- and rural-focused outlets, commercial and nonprofit organizations, as well as new entrants and long-established players. We also spoke to funders, consultants, and academics who are all deeply steeped in this space.
Due to frequent turnover and changes in roles, titles, and affiliations, some of these will have changed since our interviews were conducted. As best as possible, we have sought to indicate this in the text, while also highlighting the affiliations of each interviewee at the time we spoke to them. The affiliations below relate to those at the time of interview, which we believe is important to understand the context of these invaluable contributions.
Al Cross, University of Kentucky and Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues
Amalia Nash, Des Moines Register (IA)
Andrew Johnson, Dodge County Pionier (WI)
Andy Putz, MinnPost (MN)
Billy Coleburn, Blackstone Courier-Record (VA)
Brian Wheeler, Charlottesville Tomorrow (VA)
Caitlyn May, Cottage Grove Sentinel (OR)
Christian Hendricks, McClatchy
Emily Ramshaw, The Texas Tribune (TX)
Eric Gordon, Emerson University
Gerry O’Brien, Herald and News (OR)
James Morehead, Google
Jan Schaffer, J-Lab
Jane Elizabeth, American Press Institute
Jehangir Khattak, Center for Ethnic Media (NY)
Jim Brady, Billy Penn (PA)
Jim Simon, The Seattle Times (WA)
Joel Christopher, Gannett Wisconsin (WI)
Joel McNeece, Calhoun County Journal (MS)
John Costa, Bend Bulletin (OR)
Josh Stearns, Democracy Fund
Joyce Terhaar, The Sacramento Bee (CA)
Karen Penner, Center for Ethnic Media (NY)
Keith Hammonds, Solutions Journalism Network
Kevin Anderson, Independent Consultant (based in WI)
Lauren Gustus, Coloradoan (CO)
Laurenellen McCann, New America DC
Lee Rainie, Pew Research Center
Les Zaitz, The Oregonian (OR)
Levi Pulkkinen, Seattle PI (WA)
Liza Worthington, American Press Institute
Logan Molen, The Register-Guard (OR)
Lou Brancaccio, The Columbian (WA)
Mark Zusman, Willamette Week (OR)
Matt DeRienzo, Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION)
Matt Powers, Washington University
Michelle Ferrier, Ohio University
Michelle McLellan, Creator of Michelle’s List, Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism
Mike Barthel, Pew Research Center
Mitch Ratcliffe, BIA Kelsey
Morgan Holm, OPB (OR)
Phil Napoli, Duke University
Rick Edmonds, Poynter
Rob Barrett, Hearst Newspapers
Robert York, tronc
Robyn Tomlin, The Dallas Morning News (TX)
Rusty Coats, Local Media Consortium
Sharon Chan, The Seattle Times (WA)
Steve Waldman, Federal Communications Commission
Ted Williams, Charlotte Agenda (NC)
Tom Glaisyer, Democracy Fund
Tom Grubisch, Street Fight
Tom Slaughter, Inland Press