In this episode, Rebecca talks with Tom Rosenstiel, professor of practice at the University of Maryland and author of The Next Journalism, about how journalism must evolve to better serve the public. Tom explains why the fundamental principles of journalism remain essential, while the ways journalists deliver value to their audiences must change.

They discuss the idea of making journalism indispensable by focusing on the information needs of real people, including providing actionable information, local context, and helping communities understand the systems shaping their lives. Tom also shares examples of collaborative and community-centered journalism, explains how human-centered design research can help newsrooms better understand their audiences, and considers what the next generation of journalists can do to build a more useful and sustainable future for local news.