McClatchy Google partnership 'exciting opportunity,' yet benefits need to be proven, journalism expert says

LAWRENCE — McClatchy and Google have announced they will partner to launch a new mode of digital news outlets in underserved communities across the country. The newspaper and technology companies said they plan to experiment with pop-up digital technologies and find “new sustainable business models.”

As community news outlets have folded and the face of journalism has changed across the country in recent years, layoffs and changing business models have become the norm. Scott Reinardy, professor of journalism at the University of Kansas, is available to speak with media about the new partnership, local journalism, changing newsrooms, digital journalism, underserved communities, the business of journalism and related topics.

“With the increase in media deserts, local communities are desperate for news and information,” Reinardy said. “This is an exciting experiment that could benefit those communities. Of course, the benefits will hinge on the quality and quantity of what is being produced, and who will produce that content.”

Reinardy has researched and written extensively on the changing face of journalism. His research has included the effects of layoffs on women in newsrooms, “survivor’s guilt” among layoff survivors, accreditation for journalism schools and related topics. His book “Journalism’s Lost Generation: The Un-doing of U.S. Newspaper Newsrooms” was published in 2017 and examines the changing role of journalists and the shrinking numbers of newspapers. He can also speak to the evolution of digital journalism and worked for years in daily newspapers before joining academia.

To schedule an interview, contact Mike Krings at 785-864-8860 or mkrings@ku.edu.