Rustin Low

I’m thrilled to finally be able to share BIG NEWS!! Times Media Group just announced -- Times Media Group successfully acquired 21 esteemed local community publications in the greater Denver metropolitan area from the National Trust for Local News. This acquisition encompasses 19 weekly newspapers along with their associated websites, as well as two direct-mail shopper publications. The news brands shifting to Times Media Group (TMG) include newspapers like the Arvada Press, Littleton Independent and Parker Chronicle. The publications will continue to operate under the moniker Colorado Community Media. The majority of Colorado Community Media’s employees were offered positions with TMG, while others will stay with the Colorado Trust for Local News (COTLN), a subsidiary of the National Trust dedicated to building an equitable, resilient, and vibrant future for local news across Colorado. “We couldn’t be more excited to serve the communities in Colorado. We know how much community news means in this state, and we understand the terrific legacy created over the years by these publications and their teams,” said TMG founder and President Steve Strickbine, who has personal roots in Colorado. “This partnership is a good fit for Times Media Group and the National Trust for Local News. I look forward to the great journalism ahead and the new ways we’ll create for our advertisers to reach their customers and clients.” As part of the transaction, TMG will print with the Trust Press, a community printing press designed to serve publishers across Colorado who are struggling with the rising costs of producing their journalism. As another part of the transaction, TMG will provide shared services to COTLN, including page design, digital infrastructure, advertising sales and circulation management. #timesmediagroup #coloradocommunitymedia #nationaltrustforlocalnews #localmedia

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Ten years ago we started Wildfire Cinema shooting weddings. We loved it. We got really good at it. And somewhere along the way we realized everything we were learning about storytelling, lighting, and capturing something real on camera had a much bigger application. Today Wildfire Cinema is a full-service video production and creative agency for businesses across South Louisiana. Brand films. Photography. Creative strategy. Built on location, around real people and real business goals. No templates. No stock. No generic content that could belong to any company in any city. South Louisiana has incredible businesses. Construction companies doing serious work. Restaurants with real culture. Medical practices with world-class care. Manufacturers competing at a national level. Most of them have brands that don't come close to reflecting what they actually do. That's the gap we built this for. If you know a business in Louisiana that's ready to look like what it actually is, send them our way. wildfirecinema.com

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The American Journalism Project expanded collaboration with JPMorganChase reflects how American businesses can work with trusted #localnews organizations to strengthen the information ecosystems that communities rely on. JPMorganChase is now supporting 10 organizations in our portfolio — including new support for The Salt Lake Tribune, Nebraska Journalism Trust, and L.A. Local News Initiative. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eK3CcNqg 

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Why do clients actually stay with agencies long-term? It's rarely about tactics or tools. It's about consistency, clarity, and execution that scales. Watch to learn what really drives retention.

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One of my favorite parts of this job is getting to work with local newsrooms again. And even better, we get to provide them with free access to AP reporting, photos and elections coverage. Today we announced that we're expanding the APFJ State & Local News Program with 50 newsrooms. Excited to learn from this group. And we'll be expanding again this fall. If you're a local newsroom and interested in learning more, let us know here: https://lnkd.in/dmJNzSZh

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Want to understand Documented's success? Read this article on our community-driven #journalism model by Nicolás Ríos, our Chief Product and Education Officer.

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🎬BREAKING NEWS! 🎬 Commercial productions filming in Seattle can now earn 30–40% cash back thanks to Washington Filmworks’ updated incentive program! Here are 10 ways production companies, agencies, and clients can put that extra money to work starting now:    1️⃣Bring more value to your clients  Stretch budgets without shrinking creative ambition.    2️⃣Win more bids  Offer numbers that can beat out-of-state competitors.    3️⃣Hire the cast and crew you want  No more “we can only afford half your day rate” awkwardness.    4️⃣Get the gear you’ve been eyeing  That fancy camera isn’t just for dream boards anymore.    5️⃣Work closer to home  Deliver big-league work and sleep in your own bed.    6️⃣Level up your creative  Add the extra location, drone shot, or practical effect you thought you couldn’t afford.    7️⃣Spoil your clients  Wrap-dinners, on-set lattes, or the occasional surprise donut drop.    8️⃣Take bigger swings  Pitch the wild idea knowing there’s room in the budget to make it happen.    9️⃣Lock in more work  Use the incentive as a selling point to keep clients coming back.    🔟Boost the whole Seattle industry  The more local work you do, the more the city’s talent, vendors, and infrastructure grow… and that benefits everyone.    Seattle’s ready. Are you? 

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Glad to hear that King County, WA will keep funding Harbor Island Studios for the short term, but long term funding is necessary to keep developing WA's only large-scale Film/TV studio to get the resources needed that supports our creative economy.

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Grist partners with Flatwater Free Press to fund climate reporter. The new hire will cover climate impacts in Nebraska for local and national audiences. https://lnkd.in/exyprVBS #Climate #Journalism #Media #News #Environment #Nebraska

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Some absolutely incredible health communications work is taking place in my backyard of Jefferson County! I highly recommend reading about how Sarah Story and her team are using storytelling to improve health outcomes in our community.

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Hurrdat ONE is placing an exciting focus on community storytelling — and it was interesting to sit down with North Omaha Music & Arts (NOMA) for this beautifully produced conversation about their future. What does it look like when creativity fuels opportunity? NOMA is expanding access to arts education for inner-city youth, and their vision reaches far beyond North Omaha. In this debut edition of Hurrdat ONE on ONE, we explore the impact NOMA is making today and their plans for a new facility that will expand opportunity for the next generation of artists. Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/geip-TJH

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David Lowe, the savvy and experienced CEO at Sacramento's PBS station, PBS KVIE, says the quiet part out loud about the crisis facing #publicmedia: 1. We're facing systemic, and likely permanent, revenue declines (yes, due to federal funding cuts) 2. Stations are responding to the near-term pressures with spending cuts 3. But no industry ever transformed itself by merely cutting His challenge echoes that of other smart leaders in the system (like Amanda Mountain, Steve Bass and many others): What are we going to *do* about it? What's that answer for your organization? (I've been ruminating about that for the system as a whole. Some thoughts in a couple of weeks.)

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Just got a very basic email pitch noting "off the record" at the top. Folks, this is not how journalism works. In case anyone needs a reminder: reporters get to choose if we want to agree to OTR or not. It is reserved for sensitive sources; PR pitches about some company's shiny new thing are not that.

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Scaling Accessibility in Professional Media Production. 🎧🚀 We are currently building Junkie Bass Studios, a Missouri-based "Media Fortress" designed to prove that independent production can compete at a global level. A core pillar of our mission is total inclusivity in the "Lead Engineer" seat. We have successfully developed a proprietary HMI (Human-Machine Interface) specifically designed for musicians and engineers with disabilities. By removing physical barriers to high-end studio control, we are opening the door for a new generation of talent. We’ve surpassed 3,000 views and are nearing our 100-follower milestone on Indiegogo. Review the technical journey and our mission here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/g7RS2GrH #TechInnovation #Accessibility #HMI #InclusiveDesign #MediaRevolution #JunkieBassStudios

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Inside the Gen Z panels that are actually helping shape campaign strategies from the inside out. Standing up a youth panel can be intimidating, and without the right structure, it risks becoming a performative checkbox rather than a strategic asset. Read advice from agency executives quoted here on how they set up their panels for success. This is part of Ad Age’s NextGen Marketing Playbook, available to All Access subscribers. Link in the comments.

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Most brokerages want to scale. 8z Real Estate wants to "control their own destiny." As Doug Gieck says, 8z is about "going deeper, not reaching further." In an industry often obsessed with scaling at all costs, seeing a brokerage double down on independence, agent ownership, and local community is incredibly refreshing. It was a privilege to go behind the scenes with one of the most innovative brokerages in the country to see how they're redefining the path home. If you want to see what a unified operating system actually does for a high-performing team, check out A New Way Home: The 8z Story. Link to the series page: https://lnkd.in/e3gXrxx9 A huge thank you to the team who shared their stories: Doug Gieck, Stephanie Hawthorne, Jorge Becerra, and Matt Molloy, and the whole Rechat team! #rechat #8z #realestatetech #proptech

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I’ve spent most of my career in video production helping leaders tell their stories on camera. From newsrooms to corporate studios to federal programs, the fundamentals have always been the same: Clear message.  Authentic voice.  Good lighting and sound. But something interesting is happening right now. AI isn’t replacing video production; it’s removing friction from the process. Things that used to take hours now take minutes: • Rough transcript generation  • Finding sound bites  • First-pass edits  • Captioning and formatting  • Organizing massive footage libraries What AI can’t replace is the human part of storytelling. Helping someone who’s never been on camera feel comfortable. Asking the question that unlocks the real insight. Finding the emotional moment that makes a story resonate. The future of video production isn’t AI vs. creators. It’s creators who understand storytelling using AI as leverage. Curious how other video producers are integrating AI into their workflows.

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It’s been nearly two weeks since the Bravus royalties deal was announced. I’ve held off commenting until now to take some time to understand the nuances of the industry response because this isn’t a simple story. On one hand, $50m in new investment and 600 additional jobs is a clear win for Central and North Queensland. The flow-on benefits for contractors, fabricators and service providers across the supply chain are significant, these are the businesses that employ apprentices, train trades and keep regional economies moving. At the same time, the mixed reactions from other miners and industry bodies show the bigger issue: the need for a fair, sustainable royalties framework that gives all operators confidence to invest. Picking winners risks uncertainty, while consistent policy ensures the sector remains competitive and continues to deliver jobs, opportunities and billions in royalties for Queensland. For those of us working alongside industry and supply chains, this is about more than one deal, it’s about setting the right conditions so regional Queensland keeps growing and the next generation of skilled workers has opportunities at home. Photo: Gabriel Garcia from the Morning Bulletin.

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This is great news. At a time when many news organizations are dying or struggling, the AP Fund for Journalism is providing an essential boost to local reporting.

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