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News Media Help Desk

@newsmediahelpdesk.org

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

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News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2d ago

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · last wk.

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.

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.

theaudiencers.com

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · last wk.

“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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2w ago

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 👇

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2w ago

On a zero-click future via @digidaymedia.bsky.social: The conversation around AI visibility is changing.

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.

digiday.com

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2w ago

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

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.

niemanlab.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2w ago

New today: AI literacy is a chance to earn back audience trust, writes Lynn Walsh, Assistant Director @trustingnews.bsky.social

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 3w ago

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 3w ago

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 4w ago

LAist asked readers to buy, not donate. Here’s what it taught them about the new math of news. via @andycheatwood.com on Medium

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.

medium.com

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 4w ago

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.

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.

niemanlab.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · last mo.

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · last mo.

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · last mo.

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: https://www.newsmediahelpdesk.org/fundraise-up-outlier-media-case-study/

Case Study: How Fundraise Up helps Outlier Media understand and convert donors

Quote 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.

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · last mo.

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · last mo.

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

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Leah Becerra@leahbecerra.com · 2mo ago

Excited to take @newsmediahelpdesk.org on the road to INN Days this week! We’re a sponsor of the annual @inn.org conference this year, which means you can grab some of our swag in Pittsburgh. If you see me, say hello! Tell me how the Help Desk can support your news org’s digital strategy.

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

New research from @trustingnews.bsky.social looks at AI literacy content and whether it can help local news build trust and engagement with audiences.

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.

trustingnews.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

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:

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

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: https://www.newsmediahelpdesk.org/tools-scorecard/

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.

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

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.

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 […]

localmedia.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

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.

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.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

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.

The Economist launches a dedicated ChatGPT app

The app retrieves and visualizes polling data from The Economist's Trump approval rating tracker.

niemanlab.org

Kathy Lu (she/her)🫰@kathylu.bsky.social · 3mo ago

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.

News Media Help Desk@newsmediahelpdesk.org · 3mo ago

To help you consider your options, here’s a recent case study we published about a newsroom that has taken steps to optimize its journalism for AI agent discoverability and learning.

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

Reminder to check and see if your personal information has recently been exposed.

Exclusive: Thousands of journalists’ data exposed to dark web

More than half of the exposures contained personal information such as names, phone numbers, dates of birth, and addresses, per a new study from Proton.

semafor.com

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 2mo ago

New today: How The @texastribune.org used text-to-audio conversation tool Everlit to make their stories more accessible while tapping into new revenue streams.

The Texas Tribune finds revenue-ready, responsive text-to-audio solution in Everlit

The text-to-audio tool Everlit is helping The Texas Tribune make its journalism more accessible while also helping the newsroom tap into new revenue streams.

newsmediahelpdesk.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 3mo ago

With Google's announcement that it's changing its search function to be more AI-powered and conversational, it's a good idea for news publishers to experiment with different ways to approach AI traffic online.

A new era for AI Search

We shared the next step in our journey to bring together the best of a search engine with the best of AI.

blog.google

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 3mo ago

The newly launched Local News Research Hub aims to make academic research more accessible to audiences. Journalists stand to benefit, too. Here is @speppered.bsky.social's write-up for Nieman Lab.

Here’s a new database for local news research, from Syracuse University and Rebuild Local News

The Local News Research Hub aims to make academic research more accessible to audiences including policymakers, funders, and journalists.

niemanlab.org

News Media Help Desk @newsmediahelpdesk.org · 3mo ago

Take a look at how Patch Media is using Dataminr, an AI platform that transforms a flood of public information into manageable news streams, to cover breaking news across the U.S.

Like a police scanner for multiple cities, Dataminr helps Patch detect breaking news across the U.S.

Dataminr can provide targeted alerts to journalists for developing news. Learn how Patch Media uses the tool to help it cover more than 1,900 local communities across the U.S.

newsmediahelpdesk.org