Five Dubs Podcast
In this episode, Rebecca talks with Jerry Zremski, director of the Local News Network at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism, about new research exploring what audiences actually want from local news. Drawing on a statewide human-centered design study, Jerry shares six key "jobs" that people expect local journalism to fulfill—from providing agency and context to helping readers navigate their communities and understand how larger systems affect their daily lives.
They discuss how local news organizations can shift from reactive reporting to more audience-centered journalism by offering actionable information, deeper context, and stories that resonate at the neighborhood level. The conversation also explores the value of constructive reporting, the importance of explaining complex issues through a local lens, and how newsrooms can better serve readers by rethinking what makes journalism truly essential.