>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, A CRITICAL LOOK INSIDE OUR MEDIA ECOSYSTEM WITH JOURNALISTS, NEWSROOM LEADERS AND OWNERS.

>> Ethridge: WE ARE INFLUENTIAL AS JOURNALISTS AND SHAME ON US IF WE DON'T USE SOME OF THAT TO BRING PROBLEMS TO LIGHT.

>> Gene: IN THE FIRST EPISODE OF OUR TWO-PART SPECIAL, WE EXPLORE THE SUCCESSES, SHORTCOMINGS AND UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN MAINTAINING A NEWS ENVIRONMENT THAT SERVES ALL READERS, LISTENERS AND VIEWERS.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

>> Gene: THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

WE BEGIN THE MONTH OF JULY JUST AFTER THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FOURTH ESTATE IN NEW MEXICO.

JOURNALISM IS A VITAL PIECE OF A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY BUT THIS TWO-PART SPECIAL ISN'T ABOUT PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK.

IT IS ABOUT FINDING OUT ABOUT WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT ISN'T IN OUR INDUSTRY.

THIS WEEK, WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO DIFFERENT PANELS, BOTH WITH DECADES OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

IN JUST OVER 15 MINUTES I SIT DOWN WITH OUR FIRST GROUP, MANAGERS FROM THREE VERY DIFFERENT PUBLICATIONS SERVING VERY DIFFERENT AREAS.

I'LL ASK THEM ABOUT THE INFLUENCE FUNDING AND OWNERSHIP HAVE ON STAFFING AND, BY EXTENSION, THE NEWS THEY CHOOSE TO DELIVER.

THEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW, THREE OTHER NEWSROOM LEADERS GATHER AROUND THIS TABLE TO GIVE THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE COVERAGE DILEMMAS THEY FACE EVERYDAY IN A STATE THAT IT AS BROAD GEOGRAPHICALLY AS IT IS CULTURALLY.

ALSO IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES, WE TALK WITH PAT DAVIS, THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCILOR, LONG TIME PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL RABBLE ROUSER AND MORE RECENTLY OWNER OF FOUR NEW MEXICO NEWSPAPERS.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JEFF PROCTOR ASKS MR. DAVIS WHY HE HIS DEEPENING HIS FOOTPRINT IN THE MEDIA WORLD.

WE START THE SHOW WITH A RARE INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT HAS LONG BEEN VIEWED AS THE PAPER OF RECORD IN NEW MEXICO, THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE A JOURNAL BOSS GOT INTO THE WEEDS ABOUT WHAT MAKES THE LARGEST NEWS ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE TICK.

JEFF'S OTHER INTERVIEW THIS WEEK IS WITH PATRICK ETHRIDGE WHO WAS NAMED THE JOURNAL'S NEW YOU EXECUTIVE EDITOR IN EARLY MAY.

WE BEGIN WITH WHERE MR. ETHRIDGE CAME FROM.

>> Jeff: PATRICK ETHRIDGE, WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

THANKS FOR COMING DOWN AND ALSO WELCOME TO ALBUQUERQUE.

>> Ethridge: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: SO WE ARE TALKING IN THIS WEEK'S SHOW ABOUT THE MEDIA ECOSYSTEM AND SORT OF THE STATE OF JOURNALISM IN NEW MEXICO.

BY THE TIME FOLKS SEE THIS INTERVIEW YOU WILL BE ABOUT A MONTH INTO YOUR JOB AS EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

WE'LL GET TO YOUR PLANS AND VISIONS FOR THE NEWSPAPER HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.

I WANT TO START WITH WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

YOU HAVE WORKED AT AND LED NEWSPAPERS IN NEBRASKA, KENTUCKY, INDIANA AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER PLACES.

AND I WONDER HOW THOSE EXPERIENCES SHAPE YOU AS A JOURNALIST IN PARTICULAR.

>> Ethridge: SO I HAVE HAD INK IN MY BLOOD SINCE A VERY YOUNG AGE.

YOU COULD GO BACK FURTHER AND I WAS DELIVERING PAPERS WHEN I WAS 13 AND 14 AND THAT WAS A COVETED JOB FOR A HOUSEHOLD AND THAT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS MY BROTHERS AND I WE KEPT FOR A DECADE IN OUR LITTLE SMALL TOWN WE GREW UP IN.

BUT THEN MORE TO THE POINT, I GOT INTO NEWSPAPERS AS A WRITER AND HAVE ALWAYS JUST LOVED A GOOD STORY, THE MEAT OF JOURNALISM, JUST TELLING A STORY, WHETHER IT BE SUCCESS IN SPORTS, WATCHDOG JOURNALISM OR ANYTHING ELSE, JUST THERE IS A THRILL AND EXCITEMENT THAT I GET FROM JUST A GOOD MEATY STORY.

THAT REALLY HAS NEVER CHANGED.

MY POSITIONS HAVE CHANGED.

I HAVE CLIMBED UP THE LADDER, I GUESS, OVER THE COURSE OF 28 YEARS OR WHATNOT.

BUT THAT STILL DRIVES ME NOW, JUST DOING GOOD JOURNALISM AND FINDING GOOD STORIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

>> Jeff: I RELATE STRONGLY TO THAT, ACTUALLY.

I WONDER WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE NEWSPAPERS LIKE IN TERMS OF SIZE AND CIRCULATION AND THE WAY THEY SERVED THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY EXISTED.

>> Ethridge: EVERY GOOD NEWSPAPER, I THINK, IS SOMEWHAT OF A MIRROR OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SERVES.

SO, FROM THAT, THE COMMUNITIES WERE VASTLY DIFFERENT.

I STARTED OUT IN A LITTLE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER AS A VERY YOUNG CUB REPORTER, BACK IN NEBRASKA.

THAT IS A CONSERVATIVE, FARMING PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THE NEWSPAPER REALLY MIRRORED THAT SO I WENT FROM THAT TO IOWA.

IOWA NOT AS CONSERVATIVE AT THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, I WENT ON TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE IOWA CAUCUSES, COVERED THE CLOSING OF MAYTAG, WHICH WAS IN NEWTON, IOWA, A HUGE DEAL.

WE SAW A TOWN THAT REALLY THRIVED ON THESE 3,000 PEOPLE WORKING IN A FACTORY AND ALL LOSING THEIR JOBS WITHIN A MATTER OF A YEAR.

>> Jeff: THAT AND THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, RIGHT?

>> Ethridge: JUST DECIMATED AN ENTIRE TOWN AND THEN IT REALLY BECAME POLITICIZED, RIGHT OR WRONG.

FOLKS USED THAT.

BUT COVERING THE IOWA CAUCUSES WAS GREAT AND BECAUSE OF IOWA'S POLITICAL MAKEUP, ALL THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CRUISED THROUGH THERE SO THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

BUT, THEN FROM THERE, I TOOK A MANAGEMENT POSITION ON IRON RANGE OF MINNESOTA.

IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE IRON RANGE, IT IS VERY MUCH THEY CALL IT A DFL.

IT'S THE POLITICAL DRIVING FORCE THERE, A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC AGAIN.

AND THE NEWSPAPER REFLECTED THAT.

AND REALLY THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE EVERYWHERE I HAVE BEEN, AND I THINK IT IS TRUE HERE AS WELL THAT A GOOD NEWSPAPER IS REALLY A GOOD REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SERVES.

>> Jeff: I WANT TO UNPACK THIS QUESTION A LITTLE LATER IN THE INTERVIEW BUT LET'S TAKE A LITTLE STAB AT IT NOW.

THIS IS A STATE, OF COURSE, WITH A MAJORITY HISPANIC POPULATION, MINORITY WHITE POPULATION.

THE POLITICS HERE TEND TO RANGE FROM SUPER DEEP BLUE TO VERY WEIRDLY PURPLE.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO MAKE THAT REFLECTION, THAT YOU WERE JUST DESCRIBING, HAPPEN?

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> Ethridge: I THINK THE NO.

1 WAY TO DO THAT IS BY HIRING GOOD UNBIASED JOURNALISTS.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUND AS JOURNALISTS, AS PEOPLE, BUT A GOOD JOURNALIST, SOMEBODY WHO REALLY TAKES IT SERIOUS, THEIR BACKGROUND DOESN'T NECESSARILY MATTER.

THEY APPROACH SUBJECT MATTER UNBIASED WITHOUT ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT WE HAVE A TEAM WITH THAT KIND OF DEDICATION TO THE CRAFT.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH DID YOU KNOW ABOUT ALBUQUERQUE?

HOW MUCH DID YOU KNOW ABOUT NEW MEXICO AND HOW MUCH DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE JOURNAL WHEN YOU DECIDED TO GO DOWN THIS PATH?

>> Ethridge: I HAVE TO BE ENTIRELY HONEST, VERY LITTLE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT ALBUQUERQUE AND NEW MEXICO.

ACTUALLY EVEN WHEN I CAME DOWN HERE TO INTERVIEW AND IT WAS A FEW DAY PROCESS, I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THE MOUNTAINS BECAUSE WE STARTED THE INTERVIEW FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND THE INTERVIEW ENDED AND IT WAS DARK AND I WAS MEETING PEOPLE.

I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THE MOUNTAINS.

NOW, I CAN READ EVERYTHING ONLINE.

OBVIOUSLY, I AM A READER BASED ON MY CAREER.

I COULD READ ABOUT THE POLITICS AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS.

I KNEW IT FROM THAT STANDPOINT.

I WAS REALLY MORE INTERESTED IN THE JOURNAL AT THE TIME BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE I AM GOING TO SPEND SO MUCH OF MY TIME.

IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO MEET A LOT OF THE STAFF AND TO GET TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE JOURNAL.

THAT IS PROBABLY WHERE I INVESTED ALL MY TIME.

>> Jeff: GOT YOU.

WHAT SOLD YOU ON COMING HERE?

>> Ethridge: HONESTLY, FIRST AND FOREMOST BILL LANG AND WHAT THE NEWSPAPER HAS DONE, THE MAKEUP OF THAT PAPER.

I THINK THAT ALBUQUERQUE AND THE ENTIRE STATE IS SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A PAPER THIS SIZE, THESE KIND OF JOURNALISTS AND A FAMILY THAT HAS BEEN THAT DEDICATED TO SERVING.

I COME FROM CORPORATE NEWSPAPERS, A LONG LINE OF THEM, AND STILL GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES I HAVE HAD BUT SOMETIMES THE PAPERS LIKE THAT, THERE IS ALMOST A SACRIFICE, SOMETIMES, OF THE PRODUCT AND HERE I FEEL LIKE THE LANG FAMILY AND THE STAFF AS WELL ARE VERY DEDICATED TO A TOP NOTCH PRODUCT.

AND IN A MODERN ERA OF JOURNALISM, SOMETIMES THAT GETS PUSHED TO THE SIDE PLATE.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT HAS HERE.

>> Jeff: I THINK THE NOTION OF A FAMILY NEWSPAPER IS STILL ROMANTIC AND ATTRACTIVE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER AND BEYOND THAT NOTION OF SORT OF A NEWSPAPER AS A MIRROR, I WANT TO TALK SOME ABOUT YOUR JOURNALISM VALUES AND PHILOSOPHY.

WHAT KIND OF FROM 30,000 FEET OR FROM TWO FEET, WHICHEVER YOU PREFER.

YOU CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE HERE.

WHAT IS A NEWSPAPERS ROLE IN A COMMUNITY?

>> Ethridge: I THINK THAT IS REALLY MULTIFACETED.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT A NEWSPAPER HAS TO DO FOR A COMMUNITY.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A WATCHDOG PORTION TO THAT, THAT SHOULD NEVER GO AWAY.

IT IS KEY TO THE INVENTION OF A NEWSPAPER, THE CREATION AND THE EXISTENCE OF NEWSPAPERS.

WE HAVE TO BE THE AGENCY THAT IS WATCHING TAX DOLLARS, MAKING SURE THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE AND I WILL HOLD STEADFAST TO THAT.

ON A WEEKLY BASES WE TALK ABOUT THAT.

THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO INVOLVE LAWYERS AND OTHER THINGS WE PERCEIVE THAT ARE GOING ON THAT ARE WRONG RIGHT NOW WITH OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS.

I THINK THAT NEWS CONSUMERS SHOULD ALWAYS EXPECT THAT.

THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE.

WE WON'T BUDGE ON THAT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS.

I THINK A NEWSPAPER CAN HELP CELEBRATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN ITS COMMUNITY, WHETHER THAT BE SPORTS, WHETHER THAT BE PRIDE PARADES, JUST ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN A COMMUNITY THAT MAKE IT SPECIAL AND THAT PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY SHOULD BE PROUD OF.

I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO HELP CELEBRATE THOSE THINGS.

NOW, ANOTHER PORTION THAT I THINK THAT NEWSPAPERS AND ALL MEDIA DO, BUT COULD DO BETTER AT, IS REALLY EFFECT CHANGE.

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE, AS JOURNALISTS, INFLUENTIAL AND SHAME ON US IF WE DON'T USE SOME OF THAT TO BRING PROBLEMS TO LIGHT.

NOT NECESSARILY ALL ON OUR BACK TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES BUT TO AT LEAST MAKE THE AWARENESS, TO LET COMMUNITIES KNOW, LET INFLUENCERS KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT IS THE THING THAT ALL MEDIA SHOULD DO MORE OF.

I WOULD INTEND FOR THE JOURNAL TO DO MORE OF THAT.

>> Jeff: THE OLD SONG OF AN INFORMED ELECTORATE MAKES BETTER CHOICES AT THE BALLOT BOX, RIGHT?

>> Ethridge: EXACTLY.

>> Jeff: SO FOR AS LONG AS ANYBODY CAN REMEMBER, THE JOURNAL HAS POSITIONED ITSELF AS A NEWSPAPER OF RECORD.

SORT OF THE NEW YORK TIMES MODEL OF ALL THE NEWS THAT IS SET TO PRINT BUT ON A LOCAL SCALE.

SHOULD READERS, GOING FORWARD, EXPECT THAT OF THE JOURNAL OR DO YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA IN MIND FOR THAT IDEA OF IF IT HAPPENED, IT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN UNLESS IT WENT IN THE JOURNAL.

IS THAT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE GOING FORWARD?

>> Ethridge: I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION BECAUSE HONESTLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED.

WE HAVE PONDERED.

AND NOT TO GREAT DETAIL YET BECAUSE I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A MINUTE, BUT VERY TRUE.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT DO OUR READERS EXPECT US TO BE THE STATE NEWSPAPER THAT REPORTS ON THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THREE HOURS AWAY BUT STILL NEW MEXICO.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK OUR READERS EXPECT IT AND IT IS IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN ALWAYS RELY ON SOMEBODY WILL PICK THAT UP.

AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF TO MAKE SURE READERS REMAINED INFORMED.

HOWEVER, IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER.

I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE NEWS HAPPENING IN ALBUQUERQUE THAT WE MISS BECAUSE WE ARE COVERING SOMETHING THREE HOURS AWAY.

SO THERE IS A FINE LINE THERE AND I CAN'T TELL YOU I HAVE THAT ALL FIGURED OUT YET BUT I WANT TO BE BOTH.

>> Jeff: THAT IS ENCOURAGING TO HEAR.

SO, GOING A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE WEEDS HERE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN SOME OF THIS.

YOUR TWO PREDECESSORS IN THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR'S JOBS, KAREN MOSES AND KENT WALZ -- FIRST OF ALL, FULL DISCLOSURE, THIS DOES NOT COME AS A GALLOPING SHOCK TO ANY OF OUR VIEWERS, I WORKED AT THE JOURNAL FROM 2003 TO 2013 AND IT IS STILL A REALLY IMPORTANT INSTITUTION TO ME IN A LOT OF WAYS.

FAIR GAME FOR ME TO JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD.

KENT AND KAREN BOTH WERE VERY HANDS-ON EDITORS, IN PARTICULAR FOR STUFF THAT WENT IN THE A SECTION OF THE NEWSPAPER, THEY HAD THEIR HANDS ON COPY.

I WONDER, AGAIN, I KNOW YOU HAVE ONLY BEEN THERE A MONTH, WHAT KIND OF EDITOR SHOULD WE EXPECT FOR YOU TO BE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE?

DO YOU PLAN ON HAVING YOUR HANDS IN THE PIE?

>> Ethridge: AGAIN A GREAT QUESTION AND THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WITH MY STAFF EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A BIT BECAUSE I DON'T TAKE THAT APPROACH.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR IS NECESSARILY BEST SERVED AS A LINE EDITOR ON A DAILY BASIS.

I THINK THAT I HAVE SOME QUALIFIED JOURNALISTS, A NUMBER OF VERY QUALIFIED JOURNALISTS, WHO HAVE SERVED THIS NEWSPAPER AND HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF DOING A LOT OF THAT.

I SEE MYSELF MORE AS COMING UP WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO, SAYING THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GO AND THEN, REALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO EMPOWER MY STAFF.

I HAVE NEVER WORKED WITH A GROUP OF JOURNALISTS AS SKILLED AS THIS, AS EXPERIENCED AS THIS, AND AS CAPABLE AS THEY ARE.

SO, THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT IN MY FIRST FEW WEEKS HERE IS JUST, I TRUST YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AT THIS POINT YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO MORE THAN I DO.

I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE A MINUTE AND I AM STILL LEARNING THE PROCESSES AND I AM STILL LEARNING THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NEWSROOM FRANKLY.

BUT I WOULD EXPECT IN THE COMING MONTHS THAT FOR MY STAFF TO HOPEFULLY FEEL EMPOWERED AND KNOW THAT I AM NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER FOR ALL THOSE DETAILS.

I THINK AS THE MODERN ERA OF JOURNALISM DICTATES, WE DO LESS WITH MORE.

IT IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO OUT ON THEIR OWN AND DO MORE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO DO.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LEARN TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY THAT WAY BECAUSE OUR NO.

1 PRIORITY WILL ALWAYS REMAIN GOOD JOURNALISM, KEEPING MEAT ON THE BONE, SO TO SPEAK.

SO, THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS BE EFFICIENT.

>> Jeff: ONE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT PROCESS.

AND GOING BACK TO, AGAIN, BOTH OF YOUR TWO PREDECESSORS, THEY BOTH HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INVOLVEMENT BOTH IN CONTENT ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES INCLUDING STAFF EDITORIALS AND IN THE NEWS OPERATION.

I WONDER YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT PHILOSOPHICALLY.

DO YOU PLAN TO HAVE MORE KIND OF THAT TRADITIONAL SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE OR DO YOU SEE YOURSELF KIND OF OVERSEEING BOTH ASPECTS OF THE OPERATION, OPINION AND NEWS BOTH.

>> Ethridge: I WILL SERVE ON OUR EDITORIAL BOARD.

I WILL BE PART OF THAT PROCESS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND IN TERMS OF CONTENT, I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO STARTING TO WRITE A REGULAR COLUMN OF SOME SORT -- THAT IS NOT ALL GOING TO BE HARD NEWS, LET'S BE HONEST.

A LOT OF THIS, ESPECIALLY AS I GET ACCLIMATED AND INTRODUCED TO THE AREA, THERE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LOT OF ME JUST WRITING ABOUT HOW AMAZED I AM ABOUT SOME OF THE ALBUQUERQUISMS AND THINGS THAT ARE JUST BRAND NEW TO ME.

BUT EVENTUALLY YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE ME OPINE A BIT MORE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT MYSELF OR ANY OTHER JOURNALIST WORTH THEIR MUD CAN SHARE AN OPINION AND STILL ALSO BE UNBIASED WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEWS SIDE.

I THINK THAT SEPARATION IS POSSIBLE.

>> Davis: MOST OF THE MAJOR NEWS OUTLETS WEREN'T EVEN SENDING A REPORTER TO SANTA FE.

NONE OF THE TV STATIONS HAD AN ASSIGNED REPORTER THAT YEAR.

THE JOURNAL HAD ONE OF THE DAN'S.

AP HAD SOMEBODY.

BUT ALL THE NEWS OUTLETS SOUTH OF I-40 WERE USING SYNDICATION OR AP WIRE.

AND SO WE SAID, WE HAVE TO BE IN THE ROOM.

SOMEBODY THAT UNDERSTANDS THESE ISSUES.

>> Gene: THANKS AGAIN TO PATRICK ETHRIDGE FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US.

NOW IN THE SECOND HALF OF THAT INTERVIEW, AIRING NEXT FRIDAY, JEFF ASKS MR. ETHRIDGE ABOUT THE JOURNALS NEW WEBSITE ROLLOUT AND PLANS FOR THE NEWSPAPER THAT HAS BEEN BLEEDING TALENT AND HAS STRUGGLED TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, NO DOUBT.

CATCH THAT NEXT WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

NOW, IT IS TIME TO WELCOME IN A SPECIAL PANEL AS WE DIVE INTO THE STATE OF JOURNALISM.

OUR GOAL IS TO EXPLORE HOW LOCAL NEWS CAN BETTER SERVE ALL COMMUNITIES HERE IN NEW MEXICO WITH HELP FROM YOU OUR VIEWERS WHO WE ASKED TO SEND IN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUBJECT.

AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING, BY THE WAY.

FIRST I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR PANELISTS.

WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE JOINED VIRTUALLY BY ALGERNON D'AMMASSA.

HE IS EDITOR AT THE DEMING HEADLIGHT, SOURCE NEW MEXICO EDITOR AND SOMETIMES PANELIST SHAUN GRISWOLD WHO IS UP IN DENVER TODAY.

THANK YOU SHAUN.

AND JESSICA ONSUREZ, NEWS DIRECTOR FOR GANNETT, COVERING THE CARLSBAD DAILY ARGUS, ALAMOGORDO DAILY NEWS, RUIDOSO NEWS, LAS CRUCES SUN NEWS AND THE FARMINGTON DAILY TIMES.

THANKS TO YOU ALL.

NOW, STARTING OFF LET'S PEEL BACK THE CURTAIN HERE AND TALK ABOUT OWNERSHIP IN NEWS ORGANIZATIONS.

OUR PANELISTS REPRESENT THREE DISTINCT BUSINESS MODELS PREVALENT TODAY.

LOCALLY OWNED PAPERS, CORPORATE OWNERSHIP AND NONPROFIT NEWS.

OUR GROUP TODAY CAN SPEAK TO HOW THOSE OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES INFLUENCE THEIR APPROACH TO COVERING THE NEWS.

BEGINNING WITH SHAUN -- I GOT A QUESTION FOR ALL THREE OF YOU.

HOW DOES A NONPROFIT LIKE SOURCE NEW MEXICO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON?

>> Shaun: IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

ONE IS WE ARE FUNDED BY DONORS AS WELL AS GRANT RECIPIENTS.

ALL DONORS FOR ANY DONATION OVER $50 IS POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.

NOW STATE'S NEWSROOM IS THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN NORTH CAROLINA, CALLED NORTH CAROLINA POLICY WATCH.

IT WAS A COUPLE WONKS WHO USED TO WORK IN STATE GOVERNMENT OVER THERE, LOOKING AT TRYING TO ADAPT MORE AND BROADER NEWS COVERAGE OF THE CAPITOL THERE.

AND THAT MODEL HAS BEEN NOW GROWN INTO NEARLY 40 NEWSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SOURCE NEW MEXICO OPENED IN 2021.

SO, STATE'S NEWSROOM OFFERS A SORT OF LIKE HQ ELEMENT.

THEY ARE HR, OUR PAYROLL.

THEY HELP THE BACK END FOR OUR WEBSITE.

SO THEY TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS FROM THERE.

BUT AFTER THAT, IT IS ALL HANDS OFF.

WE RUN INDEPENDENTLY.

WE RUN, YOU KNOW -- I OPERATE AND MAKE OUR EDITORIAL DECISIONS ALONG WITH OUR STAFF MEMBERS.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING, FOR FREELANCERS AND JUST THE NEWS OF THE DAY THAT WE PLAN TO DO.

SO, OUR STRUCTURE IS BASED OFF THAT, BUT AS WHAT KEEPS THE LIGHTS GOING, IT IS DONORS AND GRANT REPORTING.

>> Gene: ALGERNON, HOW DID THE PURCHASE OF THE HEADLIGHT FROM GANNETT LAST YEAR AFFECT YOUR PAPER'S APPROACH TO COVERING YOUR COMMUNITY?

DID STAFFING PHILOSOPHIES CHANGE AT ALL?

>> Algernon: IT IS INTERESTING.

IT WAS A LITTLE LIKE STARTING OVER.

THE DEMING HEADLIGHT HAD BEEN A PROPERTY OF LARGE CORPORATIONS AND CONGLOMERATES FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES AND MOST RECENTLY WITH GANNETT AND THEN PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR BY A LOCAL PUBLISHER, THE SILVER CITY INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING COMPANY WHICH PRODUCES THE SILVER CITY DAILY PRESS AND SILVER CITY INDEPENDENT.

AND, SO, IN SOME WAYS IT WAS REALLY LIKE STARTING OVER.

WHAT DID WE BUY?

WE BOUGHT THE NAME OF THE DEMING HEADLIGHT, A FEW PHYSICAL ASSETS AND WHAT SUBSCRIBERS WERE, YOU KNOW, STILL ACTIVE WITH THE PAPER.

AND THE REST OF IT WAS STARTING OVER.

I WAS BROUGHT BACK TO BE THE EDITOR.

I HAD ACTUALLY STARTED AT DEMING HEADLIGHT AS A REPORTER SOME YEARS AGO.

AND SO NOW I RUN THE NEWSROOM AND WE HAVE A REPORTING STAFF OF THREE, IF YOU COUNT ME, SINCE I AM ALSO REPORTING.

>> Gene: NOT BAD THERE.

JESSICA, IN YOUR END OF THE WORLD HOW IS CORPORATE OWNERSHIP IMPACTING THE WAY YOUR PAPER SERVES LOCAL READERS?

>> Onsurez: IT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION, BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WHEN YOU ARE CORPORATELY OWNED YOU HAVE KIND OF A DIFFERENT SET OF PRIORITIES, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE GOT A CORPORATION LIKE GANNETT WHO ANSWERS TO ITS STOCKHOLDERS WHOSE PRIMARY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEWSPAPER IS GENERATING A REVENUE TO PAY THOSE STOCKHOLDERS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE NEWSROOM, YOU STILL HAVE STAFF THAT COME IN EVERYDAY WITH THE SPIRIT OF WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, WE SERVE THEIR INTERESTS AND WE'LL REPORT ON THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

BUT WE DEFINITELY FEEL, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN DENY IT, WE DEFINITELY FEEL THE CHOICES ARE MADE UP TOP BY OUR CORPORATE OWNERS EVERYDAY ON THE GROUND IN THE NEWSROOM, EVERYTHING FROM STAFF CUTS TO THE CLIPPING OF THE PURSE STRINGS.

WHEN YOU LOOSE STAFF, YOU CERTAINLY EXPERIENCE COVERAGE GAPS AND YOUR READERSHIP FEELS THAT AND WE HAVE FOUND AND HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT FROM LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND HOW OUR CORPORATE OWNERS ARE MANAGING THOSE PAPERS WITHIN NEW MEXICO.

>> Gene: LET ME STAY WITH YOU AS WE TAKE A TURN HERE.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK TURN BACK HERE IN THE INDUSTRY.

15, 20 YEARS AGO IN THE INDUSTRY.

RESOURCES ARE MUCH MORE LIMITED.

THERE ISN'T A REPORTER IN EVERY CITY OR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ACROSS THE STATE LIKE THERE USED TO BE.

THE QUESTION WE HAVE IS THE SAME ONE MANY VIEWERS WONDERED ON TWITTER.

HOW HAS THAT CHANGED HOW NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ALLOCATE WHAT THEY HAVE AND ARE THOSE DECISIONS ALWAYS BASED OFF WHAT IS BEST SERVING TO THEIR AUDIENCE?

>> Onsurez: THE DIRECT ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

IT IS NOT ALWAYS BASED ON WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR AUDIENCE, AND I THINK IF YOU ASK A JOURNALIST WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO WANT TO DIRECT RESOURCES INTO REPORTERS, INTO THE RESOURCES FOR THE NEWSROOM AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THAT DOESN'T CORRELATE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW.

I HEAR THAT FROM OUR AUDIENCES IN EVERY COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE, EVERYDAY.

CAN WE GET MORE REPORTERS?

WHY AREN'T YOU AT THIS MEETING?

WHY AREN'T YOU AT THAT MEETING?

WHY IS COVERAGE TWO DAYS LATE IN A PRINT EDITION.

WELL, THOSE ARE ALL DIRECT IMPACTS FROM DECISIONS BEING MADE UP TOP THAT TRICKLE DOWN INTO OUR NEWSROOMS.

YOU KNOW, 10, 15 YEARS AGO EVEN WHEN I STARTED AS A JOURNALIST, YOU WERE ALREADY SEEING THE EFFECTS OF TRIMMED NEWSROOMS.

I WALKED INTO THE NEWSROOM OF THE CURRENT ARGUS AS A GREEN JOURNALIST AND THERE WERE 10 REPORTERS, HALF OF WHICH HAD 30 PLUS YEARS OF KNOWLEDGE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND IN MY FIRST THREE YEARS THERE, THEY RETIRED OR LEFT AND OUT THE DOOR WALKED THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

SO, READERS FEEL THAT.

AND I THINK THAT IT IS DEFINITELY HARD FOR REPORTERS, YOUNG REPORTERS COMING INTO NEWSROOMS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MENTORSHIP, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

AND WE REALLY STRUGGLE TO BRIDGE THAT IN OUR REPORTING.

>> Gene: ALGERNON, I HAVE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU, KIND OF A BIGGER PICTURE THING HERE.

AS YOU KNOW PUBLIC TRUST IN JOURNALISM ACROSS THE U.S. IS TANKING, BUT LOCAL NEWS FARES BETTER THAN THE BIG NATIONAL BRAND, CERTAINLY IN POLLING, BUT WHY IS THERE SUCH A DISCONNECT THERE IN YOUR VIEW?

>> Algernon: THERE ARE A FEW REASONS FOR THAT AND SOME OF THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO SHIFTS IN JOURNALISM PRACTICES BASED ON SOME OF THE OWNERSHIP ISSUES, THE CHANGING BUSINESS MODELS OR SOMETIMES JUST CONFUSION ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODELS.

BUT ALSO COVERAGE GAPS CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

ONE SPECIFIC TO THE DEMING HEADLIGHT IS THAT FOR A LONG TIME THE COVERAGE GAPS WERE PRETTY WIDE AND SO THE PAPER RELIED ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SEND US SOME THINGS, WHICH GETS THE INDEPENDENT NEWS REPORTING ENTANGLED WITH PR, WITH PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND PROMOTIONAL INTERESTS.

AND SO, ACTUALLY, I THINK, SOME OF THE INDEPENDENTS, GOING BACK TO SOME OF THAT INDEPENDENCE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE NOW TRYING TO DO, TAKING THAT BACK, IN SOME WAYS ENHANCES TRUST BECAUSE THEY ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE INDEPENDENT FACT CHECKING AND PROBING JOURNALISM AGAIN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALSO HAS KIND OF LOST SOME TRUST WITH INTERESTS THAT CAME TO RELY ON THE PR ASPECTS OF THE PAPER.

SO, WE ARE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THAT RELATIONSHIP AS TRANSPARENTLY AS WE CAN TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE IN GETTING INFORMATION OUT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT WE ARE ALSO DOING THAT INDEPENDENT PIECE OF NEWS FACTUAL GATHERING AND INVESTIGATION THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY DEPENDS ON AND NEEDS.

AND SO THE NEGOTIATION OF TRUST THERE IS VERY DYNAMIC RIGHT NOW.

>> Gene: INTERESTING.

HEY, SHAUN, LONG QUESTION FOR YOU.

FOR WHOM ARE WE MAKING JOURNALISM THESE DAYS, THE ERA OF THE PAPER RECORD SUCH AS LIKELY PASSED AS THE NOTION OF ALL STORIES ARE FOR ALL PEOPLE, SO HOW DO WE SERVE YOUNGER FOLKS, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, PEOPLE WHO ARE MAYBE DISTRUSTFUL OF WHAT WE DO?

WHAT IS THE ANSWER THERE IN YOUR VIEW.

>> Shaun: WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER AND SOLUTION BUT AT THE BEGINNING IT STARTS WITH BEING PRESENT AND SHOWING UP AND ACTUALLY LISTENING TO THESE VOICES AND HEARING FROM COMMUNITY PEOPLE.

ONE THING ABOUT OUR MODEL THAT IS THAT WE ARE A CREATIVE, COMMON WEBSITE.

SO ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE TO REPUBLISH FOR FREE.

WE ARE REPUBLISHED PRETTY MUCH IN EVERY MAJOR NEWSPAPER IN NEW MEXICO.

ALL THE GANNETT PAPERS THAT JESSICA WORKS FOR, DEMING HEADLIGHT, ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN, GALLUP INDEPENDENT.

WE ARE BROADCAST ON MANY OF THE PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS IN NEW MEXICO AS WELL, TOO.

SANTA FE, TAOS.

SO OUR NEWS IS REACHING PEOPLE IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT SPACES, IN FACT, IN PART BECAUSE OUR MODEL IS A FREE PUBLISH.

MOST NEWSPAPERS HAVE TO PAY FOR AN ASSOCIATED PRESS FEE TO REPUBLISH ASSOCIATED PRESS WIRE STORIES OR GANNETT HAS TO PAY TO REPUBLISH PHOTOS.

ALL OF OURS IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE WHICH IS PART OF THE MODEL OF GETTING NEWS TO PEOPLE THAT MATTER.

SO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE PRESENT IN NEWS AND COVERING A COMMUNITY POLICY TOPIC, ONE, YOU NEED TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE IT STARTED TO NOTICE A LACK OF TRUST IN NEWS.

IF PEOPLE WEREN'T SEEING THEMSELVES IN THE STORY.

YOU'RE HEARING FROM LEADERSHIP.

TO ALGERNON'S POINT, YOU ARE HEARING FROM PR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE TRYING TO GIVE YOU SPIN, PEOPLE WHO ARE PAID TO TALK TO YOU.

SO, WHAT WE DO WITH OUR STATE FOCUS GOVERNMENT COVERAGE, WE REALLY TRY TO INCLUDE AS MANY COMMUNITY VOICES OF PEOPLE AND THIS IS NOT JUST OFFICIALS OR ADVOCATES, BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED BY ALL THE POLICY DECISIONS THAT HAPPEN AT THE ROUNDHOUSE AND OVER IN DC.

>> Gene: AS MORE PEOPLE QUESTION HOW THE NEWS IS REPORTED, THE MAKEUP OF NEWSROOMS HAS BECOME A MUCH CLEARER PICTURE TO CONSUMERS BECAUSE THEY ARE PREDOMINANTLY MALE AND WHITE.

NOW JOURNALISM IS CERTAINLY NOT A LUCRATIVE CAREER AND OFTEN THOSE JOBS GO TO THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD INTERNSHIPS TO LIVE AND DON'T NEED A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

WHAT CAN EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS DO TO BETTER DIVERSIFY THEIR NEWSROOMS?

>> Onsurez: WELL, I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS THE PLACE TO START, RIGHT?

SO GANNETT, TO ITS CREDIT, HAS FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW PUBLISHED AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT SAYS, HERE IS THE MAKEUP OF OUR LOCAL NEWSROOMS AND NATIONAL NEWSROOMS AND MADE IT PUBLIC.

IT IS THERE, THE INFORMATION IS THERE, AND WE ARE VERY AWARE OF WHERE THOSE GAPS ARE ESPECIALLY ON A LOCAL BASIS.

BUT, WE ARE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN, I THINK, ACROSS EVERY NEWSROOM IN NEW MEXICO TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHO IS REPORTING THE NEWS.

ARE THEY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE?

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE ACROSS MY NEWSROOMS, FOR A MAJORITY OF MY TIME AS EDITOR I WAS THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR AND ONLY SPANISH SPEAKER AND WE SERVE POPULATIONS THAT ARE MORE THAN 50%, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND HISPANIC SPEAKERS.

>> Gene: THAT IS VERY TELLING.

THAT IS A VERY TELLING ANECDOTE THAT YOU JUST LAYED OUT THERE.

AND I CAN IMAGINE YOU HAVING TO WORK IN A NEWSROOM WITH THIS KIND OF IMBALANCE.

IT IS DIFFICULT.

>> Onsurez: IT IS AND IT IS ALSO A MATTER OF CULTURE, RIGHT?

WE STARTED ASKING OURSELVES AS WE TACKLE DAILY REPORTING, ARE WE INCLUDING THOSE VOICES THAT YOU WOULDN'T TECHNICALLY HEAR OF IN THE PAST REPORTING.

IT IS EXACTLY AS SHAUN SAID.

WE WANT TO FIND THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS MOST IMPACTED AND MAKE SURE WE ARE TELLING THE STORIES THEY HAVE.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS RECRUITMENT.

WE, FOR A LONG TIME, HAD A REALLY HUGE GAP IN THE PIPELINE BETWEEN COLLEGE GRADUATES, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM NEW MEXICO WHO KNEW THE STATE, KNEW ITS HISTORY AND POLITICS, INTO THE NEWSROOMS OF NEW MEXICO.

BUT THERE ARE GREAT PROGRAMS IN PLACE AND I AM SUPER PROUD TO BE PART OF SOME OF THOSE THAT GET RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES INTO LOCAL NEWSROOMS, GET THEM EXPERIENCE, CONNECT THEM WITH NETWORKS ALREADY PRESENT AND BUILD THOSE SKILLS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THEN, AGAIN, IT IS KIND OF A CATCH, RIGHT?

BECAUSE, NOW YOU HAVE GOT THESE NEWSROOMS THAT ARE REALLY SCARCE ON RESOURCES ALL COMPETING TO GET THESE GRANT MONIES AND FELLOWS AND INTERNS.

SO WE ARE KIND OF RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED.

>> Gene: THAT IS A BRILLIANT LAY OF THE LAND RIGHT THERE.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR DOING THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO LET THAT STAND IN FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEWSROOMS RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME TODAY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

WE'LL BE WATCHING YOUR WORK CLOSELY.

IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES I'LL SIT DOWN WITH ANOTHER GROUP OF JOURNALISTS, THIS TIME FROM KUNM RADIO, SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO AND KOB-TV.

ONCE AGAIN TO THIS PANEL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHTS.

>> WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON COVERING THE COMMUNITY, AND THE SAME GOES FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

IF THERE IS SOMETHING HAPPENING, THAT NEEDS COVERAGE.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS THAT YOU SHOW UP AND YOU WANT TO COVER THAT COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING, AS JOURNALISTS IT'S OUR DUTY TO COVER THAT, TOO.

>> Gene: PAT DAVIS HAS BEEN BUYING UP NEWSPAPERS LIKE GUMBALLS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

HE SNAPPED UP FOUR PUBLICATIONS AT LAST COUNT.

WHY WOULD A TWO TERM ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCILOR AND FORMER COP TURNED CANNABIS INDUSTRY CONSULTANT WANT TO GET INTO WHAT MANY SEE AS DEAD-END BUSINESS?

OUR JEFF PROCTOR PUT THOSE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO MR. DAVIS IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.

>> Jeff: PAT DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON NEW MEXICO In FOCUS TODAY.

>> Davis: IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN PERSON.

>> Jeff: I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN, AND IT IS NICE TO HAVE YOU IN PERSON.

SO WE'RE TALKING THIS WEEK ON THE SHOW ABOUT SORT OF THE MEDIA ECOSYSTEM AND THE ROLE OF JOURNALISM IN OUR STATE, AND WE WILL GET TO YOUR ROLE AND ALL OF THAT IN JUST A MINUTE HERE.

I WANTED TO KIND OF START BY HAVING YOU DESCRIBE THE CIRCUITOUS JOURNEY THAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH.

YOU HAVE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER, THE FOUNDER OF A POLITICALLY PROGRESSIVE NONPROFIT, AND THESE DAYS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL AND A CANNABIS INDUSTRY CONSULTANT.

HOW DID THOSE THINGS INFORM YOUR INTEREST IN NEWS?

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A NEWS JUNKIE?

>> Davis: I DIDN'T REALIZE IT, BUT I TOTALLY WAS.

AND AFTER WE SORT OF LAUNCHED THE FIRST NEWSPAPER, MY MOM REMINDED ME AND SAID, OH, YEAH, LIKE WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP -- I GREW UP IN GEORGIA, BACK EAST -- MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS TAKE US TO TOWN EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT TO GET AN EARLY COPY OF THE FRIDAY NEWSPAPER BECAUSE IT HAD THE RUN-DOWN ON THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES, EVERYBODY'S OBITUARIES WERE THERE AND YOU HAD TO KNOW WHO TO CALL AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS.

SO THERE WAS A RITUAL AROUND THURSDAY NIGHT.

WE GOT TO GO TO TOWN AND WE GOT TO GO TO DAIRY QUEEN WHEN MY DAD GOT THE NEWSPAPER, AND THEN THERE WAS A BIG PIECE ABOUT IT.

AND THEN GROWING UP, LIKE SITTING AROUND MY GRANDMOTHER'S TABLE, MY AUNT WAS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, ALL MY -- MY MOM AND MY OTHER AUNTS WERE ALL TEACHERS OR IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND SO THEY ALL TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND ALL THAT, AND WE ALL SORT OF PICKED UP ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

AND I THINK I NEVER LOST THAT.

BUT THAT WAS KIND OF THAT CURIOSITY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHO MADE THAT HAPPEN, AND IT TURNED INTO THE POLICING WORLD, BECAUSE ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS AND TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT IS A LOT LIKE JOURNALISM I FIGURED OUT.

>> Jeff: YEAH, THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

I MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO THE NONPROFIT THAT YOU FOUNDED.

GOSH, WHEN WAS THAT WITH PROGRESS NOW?

2010?

>> Davis: IT WAS LIKE 2010, 2011, YEAH.

AS SOON AS SUSANA MARTINEZ CAME INTO OFFICE AND ALL THE PROGRESSIVES FREAKED OUT.

>> Jeff: SO HOW DID YOU USE THAT ROLE AND THAT NONPROFIT, AND HOW DID IT INTERACT WITH THE NEWS MEDIA IN WAYS THAT YOU FELT WERE SORT OF ADVANTAGEOUS TO YOUR AGENDAS AT THE TIME?

>> Davis: WELL, YOU THINK ABOUT THE SORT OF NONPROFIT ECOSYSTEM NOW, RIGHT.

VOICES HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN IS A GOOD POLICY GROUP.

THERE WERE SOME ORGANIZING GROUPS THAT WERE LOOSELY AFFILIATED.

LABOR WAS DOING A LOT OF DOOR KNOCKING AND ORGANIZING.

BUT EVERYBODY LOOKED AT THIS AND SAID, WHAT HAPPENED?

IN WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BLUE STATE, WE STARTED TO SEE REPUBLICANS GAINING GROUND AND SAID, WHAT WAS GOING ON?

AND WE SAW TWO THINGS HAPPENING.

ONE, THERE WAS LESS MEDIA COVERAGE OF ISSUES, SO THAT MADE IT HARDER FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THOSE KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES WITH FACTS.

AND TWO, NOBODY FROM THE PROGRESSIVE SIDE WAS REALLY REACHING OUT TO THE NEWS, WAS REALLY TRYING TO BE AN INFLUENCER ON COMMENTARY AND OPINION AND PUTTING THE LEFT PROGRESSIVE MESSAGE OUT.

SO THAT WAS OUR JOB.

WE HAD THESE REALLY SMART POLICY PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING INSIDE THE ROOM.

OUR JOB WAS TO BE OUTSIDE THE ROOM, GET MEDIA ATTENTION ON THE CRISIS, ON POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS, WHO WAS TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND WHO WASN'T.

AND IT BECAME INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL IN PART BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WAS DOING IT FROM THE LEFT.

EVEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT THE TIME WAS SORT OF STRUGGLING TO RAISE MONEY TO JUST HIRE BASIC FOLKS.

AND SO WE BECAME A NONPROFIT SORT OF NEWSROOM FOR ALL THE NONPROFIT INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> Jeff: YEAH.

I MEAN, I CAN CERTAINLY REMEMBER BEING A REPORTER DURING THAT TIME, MYSELF, AND HEARING MORE OFTEN FROM CONSERVATIVES THAN I DID FROM PROGRESSIVES.

SO FAST-FORWARDING JUST A LITTLE BIT INTO YOUR TIME AT PROGRESS NOW, YOU ENDED UP UNDER THAT UMBRELLA FOUNDING A DIGITAL NONPROFIT NEWSROOM CALLED THE NEW MEXICO POLITICAL REPORT.

WHAT WAS THE IDEA WITH THAT NEWSROOM, AND WHAT GAPS WERE YOU TRYING TO FILL IN THE ECOSYSTEM THEN, A DECADE AGO?

>> Davis: WELL, WE HAD SPENT THREE, FOUR YEARS THERE TRYING JUST TO GET A FOOTHOLD IN HOW DO WE TALK TO PEOPLE, LEARNING HOW TO -- WE DID POLLING AND MESSAGING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND GET THEIR ATTENTION ON ISSUES AND EDUCATE THEM.

WHAT WE REALIZED WAS, HERE WAS THE END OF, AT THE TIME, GOVERNOR MARTINEZ'S FIRST TERM, SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN RE-ELECTED, WAS HEADING INTO THE NEW LEGISLATURE, AND WE SAW FOR THE FIRST TIME LEADING UP TO THAT THAT MOST OF THE MAJOR NEWS OUTLETS WEREN'T EVEN SENDING A REPORTER TO SANTA FE.

NONE OF THE TV STATIONS HAD AN ASSIGNED REPORTER THAT YEAR.

THE JOURNAL HAD ONE OF THE DANs, THE AP HAD SOMEBODY, BUT ALL THE NEWS OUTLETS SOUTH OF I-40 WERE USING SORT OF SYNDICATION OR AP WIRE.

AND SO WE SAID, WE HAVE TO BE IN THE ROOM, SOMEBODY THAT UNDERSTANDS THESE ISSUES.

SO I GOT A GRANT REALLY QUICKLY AND HIRED MATT REICHBACH FROM NEW MEXICO TELEGRAM THAT WAS JUST SORT OF STRUGGLING TO GAIN READERSHIP, AND WE GAVE MATT OUR E-MAIL PLATFORM OF 100,000 PEOPLE AND JUST STARTED COVERING IT.

AND DURING THAT SESSION, ALL THOSE NEWSPAPERS DOWN SOUTH STARTED PICKING UP THAT COVERAGE, AND WE REALIZED WE HAD SOMETHING THERE.

AND IT STILL EXISTS TODAY.

IT'S STILL ONE OF NEW MEXICO'S LONGEST RUNNING NONPROFIT PAPERS.

>> Jeff: IT IS FOR SURE.

SO THAT NEWS ORGANIZATION HAS TAKEN A LITTLE BIT OF HEAT FROM ME AND FROM OTHERS, IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE IT DOES NOT DISCLOSE THE SOURCES OF ITS FUNDING.

HOW SUCCESSFUL, SORT OF BROADLY, DO YOU THINK THAT OPERATION WAS IN TERMS OF THE GOALS THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WHEN YOU FOUNDED IT?

>> Davis: WE TOOK A LOT OF HEAT, RIGHTLY SO, WHEN IT WAS ME TRYING TO FOUND A NEWSPAPER, SO WE SET UP SOME RULES.

AND I USE THESE IN ALL OF OUR PAPERS TODAY.

IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS CREDENTIALED BY A JOURNALISM ORGANIZATION.

THE SPJ, FOR EXAMPLE.

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PRESS WOMEN, FOR EXAMPLE.

SOMEBODY WHO HAS A PROFESSIONAL CODE OF ETHICS.

WE PUT THAT ONLINE.

WE INVITE REPORTERS TO SCREEN THOSE STORIES AND GIVE US FEEDBACK, KIND OF LIKE AN EDITORIAL BOARD, WE DID AT THE TIME.

BUT REALLY, IT WAS THE PROOF OF THE WORK.

LIKE, THERE WAS A RULE THAT IF YOU HAD A LIBERAL, YOU HAD TO HAVE A CONSERVATIVE.

WE WERE REALLY STRICT ABOUT THAT.

AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS, THE CONSERVATIVES WERE ALSO USING OUR STUFF BECAUSE THEIR NAME WAS IN IT.

AND SO THEY KIND OF LET US GO WITH IT, BECAUSE IT WAS DOWN THE MIDDLE, WE DIDN'T CARRY OPINION THAT WAS ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, OR ANY OPINION AT ALL FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I THINK THERE'S A PIECE OF THAT THAT MATTERS.

I THINK PEOPLE CARE LESS, I THINK, ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP IF THEY CAN READ THE BALANCE THERE.

IT'S WHEN WE GET INTO THESE BLOGS AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE AN AGENDA AND FEELS LIKE AN AGENDA, IT TURNS PEOPLE OFF.

AND YOU CAN'T MAKE MONEY AT THAT.

SO I THINK THE MARKET IS TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING THERE.

>> Jeff: YEAH, AND FAIR ENOUGH, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH SOME OF THE REPORTERS WHO CAME THROUGH THAT NEWSROOM.

ANDY LYMAN, JOEY PETERS, LAURA PASKUS, WHO OF COURSE WORKS HERE NOW.

CERTAINLY SOME REALLY TALENTED REPORTERS CAME THROUGH THAT NEWSROOM.

>> Davis: AND I THINK THAT'S IT.

NEW MEXICO HAS A GREAT COHORT OF GREAT REPORTERS THAT KNOW EACH OTHER, KNOW THEIR ISSUES, AND WHEN THEY'RE WILLING TO LEND THEIR NAME TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK IT REALLY HELPS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Jeff: BYLINES MATTER.

>> Davis: BYLINES TOTALLY MATTER TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW, LIKE THE INSIDERS.

MOST OF THOSE READERS PROBABLY NEVER KNEW.

A MILLION ONLINE READERS A YEAR, MOST OF THOSE FOLKS PROBABLY NEVER KNEW LAURA.

BUT THE FOLKS WHO WANTED TO HAVE THEIR STORY TOLD, OR WHEN LAURA CALLED THEM, THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO RESPOND.

THAT MEANS AN AWFUL LOT, AND STILL DOES.

>> Jeff: LET'S FAST-FORWARD TO 2020, AND IN PARTICULAR THE SORT OF LATE SUMMER OF 2020.

YOU ARE KIND OF STARTING YOUR SECOND TERM ON THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL.

THE PANDEMIC IS RAGING.

I HAVE JUST TAKEN A 50% FURLOUGH IN MY JOB WORKING AT THE ALTERNATIVE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN SANTA FE.

YOU GO AHEAD AND DECIDE TO BUY AN ALTERNATIVE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN ALBUQUERQUE.

HAD YOU HIT YOUR HEAD?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

>> Davis: I THINK COVID HAD SOMETHING GOING.

PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS, I WAS DOING WORK AS A CITY COUNCILOR TRYING TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES SORT OF APPLY FOR THEIR PPP LOANS, AND TIERNA UNRUH-ENOS, WHO HAD BEEN THE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER THERE, AND I HAD KNOWN -- >> Jeff: AT THE ALIBI.

>> Davis: AT THE ALIBI, YEAH -- AT THE CITY, AND I HAD KNOWN FOREVER, REACHED OUT AND SAID, DOES THE CITY HAVE ANY GRANTS, WHAT CAN WE DO?

AND NEWSPAPERS WEREN'T ELIGIBLE.

SO WE WERE LOOKING AT OTHER IDEAS AND REALLY STARTED TALKING TO THE OLD OWNERS AND SAYING, WHAT'S GOING ON?

WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 27 YEARS, THEY WERE GOING TO STOP PUBLISHING.

THERE WAS NO -- YOU THINK ABOUT ALL WEEKLYS, AND YOU KNOW THIS, TOTALLY BASED AROUND ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AND RESTAURANTS AND THINGS TO DO.

>> Jeff: CONGREGATING.

>> Davis: YEAH, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE COULDN'T DO.

SO WE MADE AN OFFER TO BUY THE OLD ALIBI.

AS IT TURNED OUT, IT WAS PROBABLY TOO FAR GONE AT THAT POINT.

BUT WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS, WE SAW A GAP.

THE JOURNAL WAS DOING AS MUCH AS THE JOURNAL COULD DO IN ALBUQUERQUE, BUT THERE WERE THESE MICRO STORIES, THESE COMMUNITY STORIES THAT NEEDED TO BE TOLD ABOUT ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN MY DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE WERE HELPING.

AND SO I TEAMED UP WITH ABBY LEWIS, A LAWYER HERE IN TOWN, AND WE OFFERED EVERYBODY THAT WORKED AT THE ALIBI THE CHANCE TO COME OVER AND START A NEW NEWSPAPER AND SEE IF IT WAS WORTH DOING.

AND WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE ABOUT SIX MONTHS THAT WE COULD FIGURE THAT OUT, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THE PANDEMIC WOULD BE DONE AND ALL THAT MONEY WOULD COME BACK, AND OF COURSE, TWO YEARS LATER, IT NEVER DID.

BUT WHAT WE REALLY LEARNED WAS, THERE WAS SOME GREAT REPORTING IN THERE.

SO WE PUT A DIGITAL FOCUS ON IT.

I BROUGHT ALL MY SKILLS FROM PROGRESS NOW AND THE DIGITAL POLITICAL WORLD ABOUT HOW TO GAIN READERS THROUGH, AT THE TIME, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND ALL THOSE THINGS, AND WE GAINED MORE THAN 50,000 E-MAIL SUBSCRIBERS IN THE FIRST YEAR JUST BY GIVING THE NEWS AWAY.

REMEMBER, PEOPLE WANTED ANYTHING THEY COULD FIND ABOUT COVID, ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND WE REALIZED THAT YOU COULD HAVE A DIGITAL FIRST PAPER WITH THE CREDIBILITY OF A PRINT PAPER.

AND WE HAD TAKEN IT DOWN, I THINK, TO EIGHT PAGES.

THE PICK-UP VERSION WAS JUST TWO FOLDS.

BUT AS THINGS CAME BACK INTO LIFE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THAT BACK UP.

BUT IT WAS NOT -- THE IDEA OF BUYING A NEWSPAPER WAS NOT ON THE LIST WHEN I GOT INTO CITY COUNCIL.

>> Jeff: NOT ON YOUR BINGO CARD, IF YOU WILL.

>> Davis: YEAH, DEFINITELY NOT ON THE BINGO CARD.

>> Jeff: SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, IN TERMS OF LIKE HOW YOU THINK IT HAS SATISFIED, AGAIN LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE POLITICAL REPORT, WHAT YOU WERE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH THERE, THOSE GAPS YOU TALKED ABOUT.

YOU TOLD MY FRIEND ALEX DeVORE, WHO WAS THE CULTURE EDITOR AT THE SANTA FE REPORTER AT THE TIME, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU REALLY FELT LIKE THE JOURNAL WAS FALLING DOWN ON WERE THE SORT OF DEEPER DIVE HEAVY INVESTIGATIVE PIECES.

DO YOU THINK FOLKS HAVE SEEN AS MANY OF THOSE IN THE PAPER, WHICH IS WHAT YOU REBRANDED THE ALIBI INTO, ESSENTIALLY, AS YOU HAD HOPED AT THE BEGINNING?

>> Davis: AT THE VERY BEGINNING, I THINK WE DID.

THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES, A LOT OF NONPROFIT GRANT DOLLARS TO SORT OF KEEP NEWSPAPERS AFLOAT, AND A LOT OF THEM SORT OF WINKED AND NOD AND LET US SAY THAT WE WERE THE CONTINUATION OF THE ALIBI FOR THEIR GRANT PURPOSES, WHICH WAS HUGE.

LIKE, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM SUPPORT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT FIRST YEAR, RIGHT, WE WON THE BEST RIGHT-WING REPORTING FROM AAN, WHICH IS THE ASSOCIATION OF ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPERS, THE ALT WEEKLYS.

BEST RIGHT-WING REPORTING FOR THE DAY AFTER COUY GRIFFIN SHOWED UP IN THE U.S. CAPITOL.

WE GRABBED THOSE VIDEOS BEFORE HE DELETED THEM, AND THAT LITERALLY STARTED HIS PATH.

IT WAS FROM THE NEWSROOM AT THE PAPER.

THAT REPORTING WAS USED IN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF DONALD TRUMP, FROM AN ALBUQUERQUE ALT WEEKLY THAT HAD BEEN IN BUSINESS ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

WE SAW THAT WE WERE DOING THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

JON SIMS, A GREAT NATIVE AMERICAN REPORTER FROM ACOMA, WON NATIONAL AWARDS FOR WRITING ABOUT MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

OH, BY THE WAY, JUST LAST WEEK WON HIS SECOND NATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST CONTINUING COVERAGE IN THE COUNTRY BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PRESS WOMEN FOR THAT TOPIC.

SO WHAT WE SAW WAS, WE CAN WIN AWARDS BECAUSE THERE ARE GOOD JOURNALISTS HERE.

I'LL SAY WHAT THE PAPER HAS REALLY STRUGGLED WITH IS KEEPING THAT GOING, BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY MUCH GRANT DRIVEN.

WE DON'T ASK FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS.

ADVERTISERS SUPPORT MOST OF THE EVENT COVERAGE AND THE ARTS COVERAGE.

BUT BEING ABLE TO PAY A REPORTER $40,000 OR $50,000 A YEAR, LONG ENOUGH TO GET INTO AN ISSUE, IS HARD TO COME BY IN NEW MEXICO.

>> Jeff: AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WE SAT DOWN AND TURNED THE CAMERAS ON, YOU SAID TO ME, 'YOU GUYS ARE EXPENSIVE,' WHICH WE ARE.

>> Davis: YES.

REPORTERS DON'T GET PAID VERY MUCH, BUT ALL THE THINGS THAT GO WITH THEM, VERY EXPENSIVE.

>> Jeff: THAT'S RIGHT.

IT COSTS MONEY TO PRODUCE THIS.

>> Gene: THANKS AGAIN TO PAT DAVIS FOR STOPPING BY.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR THE SECOND HALF OF OUR INTERVIEW WHEN JEFF ASKS HIM THE POTENTIAL RISKS OF ONE GUY OWNING FOUR NEWSPAPERS, AND WHY ANYONE SHOULD TRUST ANY OF THEM WHEN THEY'RE OWNED BY A POLITICAL INSIDER LIKE MR. DAVIS.

THAT'S NEXT FRIDAY ON NEW MEXICO InFOCUS.

DON'T MISS IT.

NOW, LET'S TURN TO OUR SECOND PANEL FOR THIS WEEK.

I'M HAPPY TO BE JOINED IN STUDIO TODAY BY TIM MAESTAS.

HE'S NEWS DIRECTOR AT KOB-TV.

MEGAN KAMERICK, NEWS DIRECTOR AT KUNM RADIO.

AND SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO EDITOR SARA SOLOVITCH IS WITH US, AS WELL.

LET'S OPEN THIS UP WITH A DISCUSSION AND A LOOK AT OWNERSHIP OF OUR LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS.

AS VIEWERS HEARD IN OUR LAST SEGMENT, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN LEADERSHIP BETWEEN A FOR-PROFIT AND A NONPROFIT NEWSROOM, AS WELL AS A FAMILY-OWNED VERSUS CORPORATE ORGANIZATION.

NOW, MEGAN, AT KUNM, THAT'S AFFILIATED, OF COURSE, WITH THE UNIVERSITY, BUT HOW EXACTLY ARE YOU FUNDED, AND HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO THE MISSION OF PUBLIC RADIO?

>> Kamerick: SURE, GENE.

LIKE A LOT OF PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS, WE'RE A UNIVERSITY LICENSEE.

THE UNIVERSITY HOLDS OUR LICENSE, THEY HAVE NO EDITORIAL INPUT ON OUR COVERAGE.

WE ARE FUNDED -- WE HAVE ABOUT A $2.2 MILLION BUDGET.

>> Gene: THAT MIGHT SURPRISE MOST.

THAT'S A GOOD SIZE.

>> Kamerick: I KNOW, IT FEELS LIKE IT, BUT THERE'S A LOT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR.

ABOUT 80% COMES FROM INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND LOCAL BUSINESS SPONSORS, AND THEN ABOUT 20% FROM THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND FOUNDATION GRANTS.

FOR INSTANCE, THE W.K.

KELLOGG FOUNDATION FUNDS TWO OF OUR REPORTERS.

THEY HAVE FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THE THORNBURG FOUNDATION COVERS -- WE HAVE A HALF-TIME REPORTER.

SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OWNERSHIP, WE HAVE A LICENSE HOLDER, PER SE.

>> Gene: THERE YOU GO.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN EVERYTHING ELSE I JUST SET UP.

BUT TIM, IN YOUR SITUATION, YOU DO WORK FOR A FAMILY-OWNED SITUATION, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT OVER THERE.

HOW DOES THAT EFFECT NEWSROOM COVERAGE DECISIONS?

YOUR STATION IS FAMILY-OWNED, UNLIKE SOME OF YOUR LOCAL COMPETITORS.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE AT CHANNEL 4?

>> Maestas: THERE IS.

WE ARE OWNED BY HUBBARD BROADCASTING.

ACTUALLY, THIS YEAR WE ARE CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP UNDER HUBBARD.

SO IT'S SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY IN THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY, TO BE OWNED BY THE SAME OWNER FOR SO LONG.

FOR ME, I'VE BEEN UNDER -- I'VE WORKED FOR STATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OWNED BY CORPORATE, PUBLICLY TRADED CORPORATIONS, AND I'M NOW WORKING FOR HUBBARD, WHICH IS FAMILY OWNED.

I CAN SAY FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT'S A BLESSING, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY HANDS OFF.

WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT TV STATIONS AND THEY HAVE SEVERAL DOZEN RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN MAJOR MARKETS.

WE ARE THEIR SECOND LARGEST STATION BEHIND KSTP IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHICH IS THE ABC AFFILIATE.

BUT THEY ARE VERY HANDS OFF.

I DON'T HAVE A CORPORATE NEWS DIRECTOR, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE FROM ON HIGH TELLING US OR DICTATING THE DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING FROM A DAILY PERSPECTIVE, ALSO BIG PICTURE.

THEY REALLY TRUST LOCAL MANAGERS TO MAKE SMART DECISIONS FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE.

SO IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT.

>> Gene: THAT'S RIGHT, EXACTLY.

SARA, WELCOME TO THE TABLE, FIRST OF ALL.

YOUR FIRST TIME HERE.

REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU DO THERE, YOUR FUNDING, OF COURSE, SAME QUESTIONS, AT SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO.

HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU GUYS?

>> Solovitch: SO SEARCHLIGHT WAS LAUNCHED ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, A NONPROFIT THAT RELIES LARGELY ON FOUNDATIONS.

OUR LARGEST FOUNDATION IS THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OTHER NATIONAL AND STATE FOUNDATIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME MAJOR PHILANTHROPISTS.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT A FOUNDATION MIGHT SAY, WE'RE INTERESTED IN HEALTH COVERAGE, OR WE'RE INTERESTED IN EDUCATION, WHATEVER.

THEY'LL PICK KIND OF A COVERAGE AREA, OCCASIONALLY.

BUT THE WONDERFUL THING IS THEY NEVER SUGGEST STORIES TO US, THEY NEVER TELL US WHAT TO DO.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO INTERFERENCE.

AND WE'RE INCREASING, ALSO, OUR INDIVIDUAL DONORS, READER KIND OF MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIBERS AROUND NEW MEXICO.

>> Gene: ALL THREE OF YOU MAKE A POINT THAT YOU DON'T GET INTERFERENCE FROM YOUR RESPECTIVE SITUATIONS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR LISTENERS AND VIEWERS TO KNOW, TIM, ISN'T IT?

I THINK THERE'S A PERCEPTION OUT THERE THAT THERE ARE THINGS FROM ON HIGH THAT YOU HAVE TO RESPOND TO.

HOW DO YOU BEAT BACK THAT KIND OF PERCEPTION?

>> Maestas: IT'S DIFFICULT.

WE HEAR FROM VIEWERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM PRETTY FREQUENTLY, PRETTY OFTEN, ACCUSING US OF BIAS FROM ONE END OR ANOTHER.

THAT KIND OF TELLS ME THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE.

SO IF THERE'S ANY COMFORT IN THAT, THERE'S THAT.

BUT IT'S JUST IN DOING WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MISSION.

WE ARE -- YOU KNOW, WE TRY VERY HARD TO BE OBJECTIVE AND TO TAKE THAT APPROACH WITH ALL OF OUR STORIES AND ALL OF OUR COVERAGE.

SO THERE'S JUST A BUILT-IN, I THINK, PERCEPTION OR BELIEF AMONG NOT EVERYONE, BUT CERTAIN VIEWERS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A POSITION OR WE HAVE AN AGENDA, AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

>> Gene: INTERESTING.

I WANT TO STAY ON THIS ISSUE OF TRUST, MEGAN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, HOW DO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, I GUESS, BUILD ENGAGEMENT AND TRUST WITH YOUR AUDIENCE?

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW?

DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO BUILD THAT KIND OF TRUST.

WHERE DO YOU START FROM EVERY MORNING ON THIS KIND OF THING?

>> Kamerick: FOR SURE, GENE, AND I THINK THIS HAS BECOME EVEN MORE HUGE IN THE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN NOW.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO, AND ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO MAKE THAT MORE OBVIOUS ON OUR WEBSITE.

TRUSTING NEWS IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND HAS SOME GREAT TEMPLATES FOR HOW YOU DO THAT.

LIKE, THIS IS WHO WE ARE, THIS IS WHAT WE COVER, THIS IS WHY WE DO IT.

NEWS IS VERY BAD ABOUT TELLING ITS STORY, AND NOW WE'RE KIND OF SEEING THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT.

WE HAVEN'T WANTED TO BE THE STORY, BUT YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN THOSE THINGS TO PEOPLE AND BE SUPER OPEN TO CRITICISM AND TO SUGGESTIONS.

AND CHOOSING WHAT YOU COVER IS A CHALLENGE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL -- YOU KNOW, I'M ONE OF THE SMALLER PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS, AND WE CAN'T COVER EVERYTHING, SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, LIKE, WHAT DO WE NOT -- WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LEAVE?

WHAT CAN WE PICK UP FROM OTHER OUTLETS?

WE WORK WITH SOURCE NEW MEXICO A LOT.

WE'VE USED THINGS FROM SEARCHLIGHT.

WE'VE REWRITTEN STUFF FROM KOB IF WE NEED TO.

I JUST CAME BACK FROM A PUBLIC MEDIA JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, AND THE WHOLE THEME WAS COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, HEALTHY COMPETITION IS GOOD, BUT WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED?

BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS A WEEK ON AVERAGE, AND WE LIVE IN A PLACE OF NEWS DESERTS.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO THINK THROUGH THAT AND HOW WE CAN BEST SERVE PEOPLE BY GIVING THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

I WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE ENGAGEMENT.

IT'S ALSO ONE OF MY GOALS.

LOTS OF STATIONS HAVE SOMEONE JUST COMMITTED TO ENGAGEMENT.

I DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Gene: I HAVE SEEN THAT TREND.

IT'S ACTUALLY INTERESTING THAT YOU PICKED UP ON THAT, TOO, AND MENTIONED THAT.

LAST QUESTION, AND THEN I'VE GOT ANOTHER THING FOR SARA.

WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE AT KUNM?

THIS COMES UP A LOT.

IS IT PEOPLE AFFILIATED STRICTLY WITH THE UNIVERSITY?

LAY PEOPLE?

WHO IS THE AUDIENCE THERE?

>> Kamerick: WE HAVEN'T DONE AN AUDIENCE SURVEY FOR A WHILE THAT I HAVE AT HAND, BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE REACH OVER HALF OF NEW MEXICO.

I MEAN, WE HAVE TRANSLATORS FROM SOCORRO UP ALL THE WAY INTO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.

SO A VARIETY OF PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO US.

I WOULD SAY FROM THE LAST DATA I SAW, THEY DO TEND TO SKEW OLDER.

THIS IS WHY PUBLIC MEDIA HAS DIGITAL FIRST AS ITS MANTRA, BECAUSE WE KNOW -- I DON'T HAVE MY PHONE WITH ME, BUT I WOULD HOLD IT UP.

LIKE, THAT'S HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET NEWS.

GENE, I HAVE AN INTERN WHO WILL BE A JUNIOR, I THINK, IN THE FALL, AND SHE HAD HER FIRST STORY, AND SHE TOLD HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I'M GOING TO BE ON THE RADIO, AND SHE SAID SOMEONE SAID, I DON'T -- HOW DO I LISTEN TO THAT?

>> Gene: INTERESTING.

>> Kamerick: SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE, AS WE CALL IT, TERRESTRIAL RADIO, IT'S GOING TO BE DIGITAL ON YOUR PHONE.

SO YEAH, IF YOU WANT THE YOUNGER AUDIENCE, YOU HAVE TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

ANOTHER SEGMENT ON WHAT MEGAN IS TALKING ABOUT, SARA, THAT I WANT TO PICK UP ON IS, WHO GATHERS THE NEWS AND SHOWS IT TO FOLKS?

MEANING REPRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY IN OUR DIVERSE STATE.

DOES THAT MATTER?

OUR FOLKS -- DO YOU GET FEEDBACK SAYING, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE STORIES BY CERTAIN TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THAT?

AND TIM, I WANT YOU TO PICK UP ON THAT, AS WELL.

>> Solovitch: I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD A SPECIFIC QUESTION LIKE THAT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE MOST PROUD OF IS WHEN WE HAVE A STORY THAT TOUCHES ON THE NAVAJO NATION, WE HAVE IT IMMEDIATELY TRANSLATED INTO DINÉ, AND THEN WE GIVE IT FOR FREE TO NATIVE PUBLIC MEDIA, WHICH IS KIND OF AN UMBRELLA GROUP OF NATIVE-OWNED RADIO AND TV STATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND SO THAT STORY WILL APPEAR IN MANY, LIKE, ORAL, COMPLETELY ORAL DINÉ FORMS.

>> Gene: THAT'S EXCITING.

>> Solovitch: BUT WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD.

WHEN I GO TO CONFERENCES, I THINK DIVERSITY IS ALMOST -- IT PREPONDERATES.

IT IS THE CONVERSATION AMONG ALL NEWS OUTLETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IT IS JUST VERY -- IT'S REALLY A CHALLENGE.

>> Gene: WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT YOU'VE SEEN, OR ANY COMMONALITIES FROM THOSE EVENTS THAT YOU'VE BEEN TO?

>> Solovitch: WELL, FOR US, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS COVERING SUCH AN ENORMOUS STATE LIKE NEW MEXICO, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR MISSION AND WE'RE ALWAYS -- YOU KNOW, WE DON'T JUST STAY IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO OR CENTRAL.

SO SENDING PEOPLE, WITH A SMALL STAFF, ACROSS THE STATE IS VERY DIFFICULT.

AND, YEAH, WE'RE A VERY SMALL STAFF, SO THAT IS -- IT'S EXPENSIVE.

JOURNALISM IS -- INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE.

AND TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCED AND JUST UNDERSTAND THE, YOU KNOW, THE MISSION, BUT ALSO THE VALUES OF TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM.

>> Gene: LET ME THROW THIS IN THERE, AS WELL.

TIM, WE'RE IN A DIVERSE STATE.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE IT'S NOT A CHECK-BOXING EXERCISE.

AND THEN THE FOLLOW-UP TO THAT IS, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF JOURNALISM IN NEW MEXICO IN 2023?

JUST A BIG QUESTION RIGHT THERE.

WHAT IS OUR MISSION AS JOURNALISTS HERE, WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW?

>> Maestas: WELL, BOUNCING OFF WHAT SARA MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IN TELEVISION, THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST MARKET IN THE NATION GEOGRAPHICALLY.

WE ARE JUST BEHIND SALT LAKE CITY.

WE COVER THE ENTIRE STATE.

LAS CRUCES IS TECHNICALLY IN THE EL PASO MARKET, BUT WE STILL COVER STORIES OUT OF LAS CRUCES.

LAS CRUCES VIEWERS CAN STILL RECEIVE OUR SIGNAL OVER THE AIR.

WE COVER SOUTHWEST COLORADO, WE COVER NORTHEAST ARIZONA.

SO THAT MAKES COVERING NEWS IN THIS MARKET DIFFICULT.

WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITING, STAFFING, I CAN TELL YOU IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IT HAS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT THAN EVER TO RECRUIT.

I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE TELEVISION NEWS INDUSTRY.

IT'S NOT EXCITING OR AS GLAMOROUS AS IT USED TO BE TO BE ON TELEVISION.

EVERYBODY IS ON A SCREEN NOW.

EVERYBODY IS ON FACEBOOK, ON YOUTUBE.

IT'S JUST NOT AS GLAMOROUS OR AS EXCITING AS IT USED TO BE.

THAT'S ONE THING.

ANOTHER THING IS, RECRUITING SPECIFICALLY IN NEW MEXICO, WE'RE A SMALL STATE.

WE'RE A FLYOVER STATE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ABOUT NEW MEXICO, BUT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN HERE.

THEY'VE BEEN TO OUR SURROUNDING STATES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF CURIOSITY AND APPREHENSION ABOUT COMING TO A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE NOT REALLY FAMILIAR WITH.

WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITING, I'VE MADE AN EFFORT TO RECRUIT LOCALLY.

UNM NOW HAS A GREAT FELLOWSHIP AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

I'VE HIRED -- TWO FORMER FELLOWS ARE NOW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH KOB.

THE BENEFITS OUT OF THAT ARE, THEY'RE LOCAL, THEY KNOW THE LOCAL ISSUES, THEY KNOW WHAT PEOPLE IN THIS MARKET CARE ABOUT.

SO THAT IS WHERE I'M AT WITH RECRUITING.

IT'S A CHALLENGE NOW.

>> Kamerick: CAN I JUMP IN?

>> Gene: PLEASE.

>> Kamerick: WE HAVE THE NEW MEXICO LOCAL NEWS FUND -- IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE FELLOWS PROGRAM THROUGH UNM?

>> Maestas: YES.

>> Kamerick: SO WE'VE HAD TWO FELLOWS, TOO.

THAT'S MY INTERN THIS SUMMER.

AND OUR OTHER FELLOW, JEANETTE DEDIOS, WHO IS DINÉ AND JICARILLA APACHE, WE'VE KEPT HER ON UNDER OUR THORNBURG GRANT.

AND THEN MIA CASAS IS OUR INTERN THIS SUMMER, AND ANOTHER FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WE HAVE NOW UNDER KELLOGG, TAYLOR VELAZQUEZ, STARTED WITH US AS A STUDENT EMPLOYEE.

SO THOSE ARE MY THREE FOLKS OF COLOR IN MY NEWSROOM, GENE, AND THEY WERE RECRUITED LOCALLY.

AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT IS A VERY COMPETITIVE MARKET FOR TALENTED, DIVERSE JOURNALISTS.

AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOMEONE PLUCKED AWAY TO COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO.

GOOD FOR HER.

>> Gene: IT'S HARD TO KEEP TALENTED PEOPLE HERE.

>> Kamerick: THE SALARIES ARE LOWER HERE, AND YEAH, NEW MEXICO IS LIKE -- IS THAT IN AMERICA?

>> Maestas: I WILL SAY, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A TOP 50 MARKET.

THERE ARE ABOUT 210 TELEVISION MARKETS IN THE NATION, AND WE'RE A TOP 50.

IT'S A GOOD-SIZED MARKET.

SO IT'S VERY POSSIBLE TO EARN A GOOD LIVING HERE AND FOR PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AND EARN GOOD LIVINGS AND STAY HERE QUITE A WHILE.

SO MY REALITY AS A TOP 50 NEWS DIRECTOR IS, I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AND GO, VIEWERS WILL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AND GO, BUT THERE'S ALSO A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO FALL IN LOVE WITH NEW MEXICO FOR WHATEVER REASON.

THEY MEET THE LOVE OF THEIR LIFE, OR THEY START A FAMILY, OR THEY JUST LOVE IT HERE.

AND THAT'S NOT SURPRISING, BUT THEY END UP STAYING HERE.

SO THERE'S ALSO A RICH AMOUNT OF TALENT, A RICH BANK OF TALENT HERE, AND I THINK NEW MEXICANS SHOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS MARKET, RADIO STATIONS, NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION STATIONS, WHO COULD VERY WELL BE WORKING IN MUCH LARGER MARKETS, BUT THEY'RE HERE.

AND THE NEWS THAT WE SEE IN THIS MARKET IS GOOD, HIGH QUALITY JOURNALISM.

>> Gene: GOOD STUFF.

>> Kamerick: AND THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD STORIES HERE.

>> Gene: ALWAYS.

>> Solovitch: AND I ALSO SEE THAT ONE OF THE GREAT ADVANTAGES IS HIRING PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM NEW MEXICO.

ONE OF OUR MOST TREASURED REPORTERS IS ALICIA GUZMÁN, WHO'S FROM TRUCHAS, AND SHE LATELY STARTED REPORTING ON THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY AND PARTICULARLY WHAT'S HAPPENING AT LOS ALAMOS.

AND SHE IS ABLE TO TELL THE STORIES OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICANS WORKING AT LANL AND WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE AND THE IMPACT ON THE STATE IN A WAY THAT NOBODY FROM ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY IS ABLE TO WRITE ABOUT THAT.

>> Gene: I'M GLAD YOU GUYS GOT THOSE STORIES IN ABOUT YOUR STAFF.

THAT ACTUALLY MEANS SOMETHING.

AND AGAIN, PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING.

NOT GETTING ORDERS FROM ON HIGH, HIRING LOCAL, YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT STUFF.

THANKS ALL FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVES THIS WEEK.

WE HOPE YOU ALL FOUND IT VALUABLE, AND WE HOPE YOU, TOO, THE VIEWER DID, AS WELL.

NOW, BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS THE LINE COVERED THIS WEEK ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES, AND CATCH ANY EPISODE YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED ON OUR PBS APP, WHICH IS REALLY COOL, YOUR ROKU, OR YOUR SMART TV.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK In FOCUS.

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO In FOCUS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.