The journalism profession is undergoing significant change, leaving many media professionals wondering what comes next.

In this episode of Keep It Local, host Ryan Welton talks with Bridget Thoreson, founder of MyCareerRiver, about the realities of navigating journalism careers in an era of layoffs, disruption, entrepreneurship, and rapid technological change.

Drawing from interviews with more than 160 professionals, Bridget shares practical insights on career reinvention, adapting to uncertainty, and recognizing the value of journalism skills beyond traditional newsroom roles.

Among the topics discussed:

• Why the traditional journalism career ladder no longer works for many professionals
• The three principles that emerged from Bridget's career research
• How journalists can reframe uncertainty as an opportunity for discovery
• The surprising job-search breakthrough that helped one journalist land a job after more than a year of unemployment
• Why skills matter more than titles
• How newsletters, podcasts, consulting, and entrepreneurship are creating new opportunities for journalists
• What media professionals can do today to prepare for the future

Learn more about Bridget's work at MyCareerRiver.com.

Would you like to sponsor a future episode of Keep It Local? Our membership comprises more than 3,000 local media companies of all sizes and media. We have a variety of ways to get you in front of key decision-makers within the industry.

Podcasting can feel intimidating for local media organizations. Questions about equipment, studios, editing, distribution and monetization often stop projects before they begin.

In this special episode of "Keep It Local," host Ryan Welton turns the microphone on himself to discuss his new LMII Innovation Insights report on podcasting and explain why he believes podcasts have become one of the most powerful content engines available to local media organizations today.

Ryan shares practical lessons from his work in local journalism, digital audience strategy and podcast production, offering a step-by-step look at how newsrooms can launch sustainable podcast programs without massive budgets or complicated studio setups.

The conversation covers everything from microphones and audio quality to Riverside workflows, video production, content repurposing and revenue opportunities through branded content.

• Why podcasting should be viewed as a content pillar
• The biggest mistakes newsrooms make before launching a podcast
• Why audio quality matters more than video quality
• Recommended microphones, headphones and recording setups
• Riverside vs. other remote recording platforms
• Simple lighting techniques for better video podcasts
• Editing workflows using Adobe Premiere Pro, Audition and HandBrake
• Getting podcasts onto Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube
• Turning one podcast into articles, newsletters and social media content
• Using podcasts to support branded content and sponsorship sales
• Why long-form conversations are thriving in 2026

• LMII Innovation Insights Report: Podcasting
• Riverside
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Adobe Audition
• HandBrake
• Captivate
• Beehiiv
• Opus Clip
• Canva

Have questions about podcasting, newsroom workflows or content strategy?

Contact Ryan Welton at Local Media Association to continue the conversation.

What happens when a journalist sees critical gaps between communities and local media?

For Ruby Jones, the answer was to build something entirely new.

Ruby is the founder of Empower Media Exchange, a Colorado-based nonprofit dedicated to community storytelling, media literacy, youth engagement and civic information. Her innovative work earned her Local Media Association's 2025 Digital Innovation Award for Rising Star in Innovation.

In this episode of Keep It Local, Ryan Welton talks with Ruby about creating Colorado's first Community Information Commons, helping young people become storytellers, building trust through relationship-centered journalism and why communication skills matter far beyond the newsroom.

• How Ruby's journalism journey began early
• The inspiration behind Empower Media Exchange
• Why media literacy is about more than spotting misinformation
• Creating opportunities for youth storytellers
• The role of intergenerational collaboration in journalism
• Building the Community Information Commons
• Why every organization should think like a media company
• How local journalism can better connect with communities
• The future of storytelling and audience trust

Ruby Jones is the founder of Empower Media Exchange, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through storytelling, media literacy and civic engagement. Through initiatives including Front Range Focus, the Community Information Commons and NextGen Media Literacy Labs, she is helping create more inclusive pathways for people to share their stories and participate in local media.

Empower Media Exchange — https://empowermediaexchange.org

Follow Ruby Jones on LinkedIn

Follow Ruby on Instagram: @writing4real

Local Media Association — https://localmedia.org