Ken Herts
@kenherts.bsky.social
Works at Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Former VP Finance of WSJ, GM of DJ Newswires, Publisher of WSJ Europe.
Large declines in traffic to major news sites likely due to Google search returning answers instead of links, and comparison to last year's election season. July data below from Similar Web, via @pressgazette.co.uk and @sherwood.news @lenfestinstitute.org
September 17, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Large declines in traffic to major news sites likely due to Google search returning answers instead of links, and comparison to last year's election season. July data below from Similar Web, via @pressgazette.co.uk and @sherwood.news @lenfestinstitute.org
Reposted by Ken Herts
Attending #ONA25? Join us this afternoon for a panel with fellows from the Lenfest AI Collaborative & Fellowship Program, in partnership with OpenAI & Microsoft. Stop by Empire CD at 4 p.m. for working demos, lessons on development and rollout, and open-source code you can use in your own newsroom.
See an overview of the schedule for ONA25 in New Orleans, Sept. 10-13
ona25.journalists.org
September 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Attending #ONA25? Join us this afternoon for a panel with fellows from the Lenfest AI Collaborative & Fellowship Program, in partnership with OpenAI & Microsoft. Stop by Empire CD at 4 p.m. for working demos, lessons on development and rollout, and open-source code you can use in your own newsroom.
Top News Websites in the U.S. in July from SimilarWeb data compiled by @pressgazette.co.uk
August 19, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Top News Websites in the U.S. in July from SimilarWeb data compiled by @pressgazette.co.uk
Reposted by Ken Herts
At the 2025 Reimagining Philadelphia Journalism Summit, we brought together 150 journalists and news leaders to discuss strategies for building the future of local news 🌆💡
From AI breakthroughs to creator partnerships, one message was clear: Innovation is essential to sustainability.
From AI breakthroughs to creator partnerships, one message was clear: Innovation is essential to sustainability.
The future of local news starts here: Creators, AI, and lessons from the 2025 Reimagining Philadelphia Journalism Summit
How news leaders in Philadelphia are building a foundation for the future of journalism through content creators, AI tools, and fresh talent.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
July 1, 2025 at 1:55 PM
At the 2025 Reimagining Philadelphia Journalism Summit, we brought together 150 journalists and news leaders to discuss strategies for building the future of local news 🌆💡
From AI breakthroughs to creator partnerships, one message was clear: Innovation is essential to sustainability.
From AI breakthroughs to creator partnerships, one message was clear: Innovation is essential to sustainability.
Reposted by Ken Herts
“I look at my job as I’m trying to help the donor have the impact they want to have on the world.” — @kimberlygriffin.bsky.social of @mississippifreepress.org at the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit, hosted with Press Forward. We compiled lessons from the Summit on messaging, stewardship, & more ⬇️
Lessons from the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit: ‘Help the donor have the impact they want to have on the world’
Takeaways from the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit to help with fundraising messaging, cultivation strategy, donor stewardship, and more.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
May 29, 2025 at 3:06 PM
“I look at my job as I’m trying to help the donor have the impact they want to have on the world.” — @kimberlygriffin.bsky.social of @mississippifreepress.org at the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit, hosted with Press Forward. We compiled lessons from the Summit on messaging, stewardship, & more ⬇️
ProPublica Joins Lenfest Institute AI Collaborative and Fellowship Program www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
ProPublica Joins Lenfest Institute AI Collaborative and Fellowship Program
ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
www.propublica.org
May 28, 2025 at 6:50 PM
ProPublica Joins Lenfest Institute AI Collaborative and Fellowship Program www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
Another important local newspaper changes it's ownership structure, becoming a publicly supported non-profit. I hope it can grow like the Philadelphia Inquirer has, under Lenfest Institute ownership. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/a-ne...
A newspaper dynasty ends in Spokane, turns to nonprofit
A bold experiment will determine the fate of a local journalism pillar in Spokane, where The Spokesman-Review is being donated to a nonprofit.
www.seattletimes.com
April 17, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Another important local newspaper changes it's ownership structure, becoming a publicly supported non-profit. I hope it can grow like the Philadelphia Inquirer has, under Lenfest Institute ownership. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/a-ne...
Reposted by Ken Herts
“We will be defending not only our own rights, but the rights of all Americans — to be informed and to access information they choose.” Joel Simon of @newmarkjplus.bsky.social calls for journalists to focus on playing defense against growing threats to the free press.
Joel Simon: We are playing defense
Journalists are not on offense — fighting to change the narrative. We are playing defense, fighting to protect our rights.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
March 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
“We will be defending not only our own rights, but the rights of all Americans — to be informed and to access information they choose.” Joel Simon of @newmarkjplus.bsky.social calls for journalists to focus on playing defense against growing threats to the free press.
Reposted by Ken Herts
“A neighborhood focus for the deployment of reporters is an idea we ought to reckon with more seriously,” writes @dicktofel.bsky.social after attending the Local News Summit. He shared the most thought-provoking propositions for reinventing local news from the event ⬇️
Richard J. Tofel: At the Local News Summit, talk of ‘reinventing local journalism’
Many of us have the sense that local news needs not just to be reengineered as a business matter but also to be reinvented editorially.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
March 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
“A neighborhood focus for the deployment of reporters is an idea we ought to reckon with more seriously,” writes @dicktofel.bsky.social after attending the Local News Summit. He shared the most thought-provoking propositions for reinventing local news from the event ⬇️
Reposted by Ken Herts
Calling all Philly journalists of color: If there’s a conference you’ve had your eye on attending, a new piece of equipment you’re shopping for, or an internship you’re applying for that would otherwise be unpaid, apply for the Lenfest NextGen Fund ⬇️
Apply now for the 2025 Lenfest Next Generation Fund
Apply now for the Lenfest Next Generation Fund, which supports Philly journalists and students of color pursuing professional development.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
March 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Calling all Philly journalists of color: If there’s a conference you’ve had your eye on attending, a new piece of equipment you’re shopping for, or an internship you’re applying for that would otherwise be unpaid, apply for the Lenfest NextGen Fund ⬇️
Reposted by Ken Herts
We’re partnering with the Google News Initiative to launch the News Catalyst Grant program, which supports members of three Lenfest Communities of Practice experimenting with community outreach efforts. Members of the Audience Community, Engaged Cities, and Statewide News Collective can now apply ⬇️
Lenfest Institute and Google News Initiative announce new grant opportunity to help strengthen local news
Funding will support community listening experiments that address news gaps and engages new audience in-person and online.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
March 5, 2025 at 7:09 PM
We’re partnering with the Google News Initiative to launch the News Catalyst Grant program, which supports members of three Lenfest Communities of Practice experimenting with community outreach efforts. Members of the Audience Community, Engaged Cities, and Statewide News Collective can now apply ⬇️
Reposted by Ken Herts
We’re thrilled to welcome @spotlightdelaware.bsky.social to the Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative, which supports news organizations in the Philadelphia region. The addition of Spotlight aims to serve those living in the Delaware Valley, but outside of Philadelphia proper.
Lenfest Institute for Journalism announces $150,000 grant to Spotlight Delaware
Spotlight Delaware joins the Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative, which supports local newsrooms in the Philadelphia region.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
February 27, 2025 at 5:18 PM
We’re thrilled to welcome @spotlightdelaware.bsky.social to the Philadelphia Local News Sustainability Initiative, which supports news organizations in the Philadelphia region. The addition of Spotlight aims to serve those living in the Delaware Valley, but outside of Philadelphia proper.
Reposted by Ken Herts
With so much AI-generated content, people are seeking out humans for deeper answers to their questions. News organizations looking to capitalize on this opportunity should embrace content creators in the newsroom, said Chicago Public Media CEO Melissa Bell at the Lenfest-Aspen Local News Summit 👇
Melissa Bell: Who gets to be called a journalist, anyway?
If we fail to adapt to the creator economy, we will lose out on the opportunity to put our work in front of new, younger audiences.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
February 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
With so much AI-generated content, people are seeking out humans for deeper answers to their questions. News organizations looking to capitalize on this opportunity should embrace content creators in the newsroom, said Chicago Public Media CEO Melissa Bell at the Lenfest-Aspen Local News Summit 👇
Print newspaper circulation is dropping faster and faster, but digital subscriptions are more than taking their place at many major metro newspapers. #lenfestinst
February 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Print newspaper circulation is dropping faster and faster, but digital subscriptions are more than taking their place at many major metro newspapers. #lenfestinst
Reposted by Ken Herts
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 30+ media orgs have asked the White House to restore AP's access: "Conditioning pool access to White House events on the editorial decisions of any news organization violates First Amendment principles."
Media coalition to White House: Restore AP access to press pool
“Conditioning pool access to White House events on the editorial decisions of any news organization violates First Amendment principles,” the letter states.
buff.ly
February 21, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 30+ media orgs have asked the White House to restore AP's access: "Conditioning pool access to White House events on the editorial decisions of any news organization violates First Amendment principles."
Reposted by Ken Herts
Hearst is buying the Austin American-Statesman from Gannett, whose CEO said it is "a strategic decision that will complement the Hearst brand while positioning Gannett and the USA TODAY Network of more than 200 local publications for future growth"
buff.ly
February 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Hearst is buying the Austin American-Statesman from Gannett, whose CEO said it is "a strategic decision that will complement the Hearst brand while positioning Gannett and the USA TODAY Network of more than 200 local publications for future growth"
When the next news organization is attacked for doing it's first amendment duties, I hope the response is as robust as it was in Marion, Kansas. www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
Amid intensifying assaults on the press, is it time for a 'NATO for news'? | Opinion
To protect the free press in America, we need to agree that "an attack on one is an attack on all."
www.inquirer.com
February 17, 2025 at 1:12 PM
When the next news organization is attacked for doing it's first amendment duties, I hope the response is as robust as it was in Marion, Kansas. www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Ken Herts
I checked into traffic referrals for a recent story I did at CJR, and it's safe to say that the Bluesky number would not have looked like this a month ago.
December 11, 2024 at 11:18 PM
I checked into traffic referrals for a recent story I did at CJR, and it's safe to say that the Bluesky number would not have looked like this a month ago.
Reposted by Ken Herts
🚨 Now is the perfect time to start to pull together your 2024 annual report. In our last issue of Solution Set for the year, we compiled a list of resources and examples to help your newsroom design its own annual report ⬇️
Annual reports made simple
Annual reports are important tools for news organizations to build transparency among stakeholders. We have tips for creating yours.
www.lenfestinstitute.org
December 11, 2024 at 8:38 PM
🚨 Now is the perfect time to start to pull together your 2024 annual report. In our last issue of Solution Set for the year, we compiled a list of resources and examples to help your newsroom design its own annual report ⬇️
Reposted by Ken Herts
Hoping this could be good news for democracy worldwide, as #murdochmedia under Lachlan would be as bad or worse than under Pa Rupert.
Rupert Murdoch Fails in Bid to Change Family Trust www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/b...
Rupert Murdoch Fails in Bid to Change Family Trust www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/b...
Rupert Murdoch Fails in Bid to Change Family Trust
A Nevada commissioner ruled resoundingly against Mr. Murdoch, who was trying to give full control of his empire to his son Lachlan and lock in Fox News’s right-wing editorial slant.
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2024 at 12:22 AM
Hoping this could be good news for democracy worldwide, as #murdochmedia under Lachlan would be as bad or worse than under Pa Rupert.
Rupert Murdoch Fails in Bid to Change Family Trust www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/b...
Rupert Murdoch Fails in Bid to Change Family Trust www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/b...