In this episode of Keep It Local, host Ryan Welton interviews Todd Handy, founder of Disruptive Impact and board member for the Local Media Association, about his new report, The SaaS-ification of Media. Handy shares how local publishers can learn from software companies by focusing on recurring revenue, retention and customer lifetime value.

Listeners will learn:

• What “SaaS-ification” means in practical terms for local media
• Why advertiser churn is the “silent killer” of sustainability
• How to run a Go-To-Market Audit to assess digital readiness
• Why every publisher needs a CRM to track renewals and growth
• How to start applying SaaS principles immediately — no matter your size

Resources Mentioned:

• The SaaS-ification of Media — Purchase via Local Media Association
• Contact Todd Handy: https://disruptiveimpact.co
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddjhandy/

Description:

In this episode of Keep It Local, Ryan Welton talks with Dana Piccoli, managing director of News Is Out, about the LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project — a first-of-its-kind national effort to document where queer news outlets exist, how they’re sustaining, and what it will take to secure their future.

Mapping the Future of LGBTQ+ Media with Dana Piccoli of News Is Out

Description:

In this episode of Keep It Local, Ryan Welton talks with Dana Piccoli, managing director of News Is Out, about the LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project — a first-of-its-kind national effort to document where queer news outlets exist, how they’re sustaining, and what it will take to secure their future.

Topics Covered:

• What inspired the LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project
• Why 18 U.S. states have no queer media outlets
• The financial and political pressures facing LGBTQ+ publishers
• How funders can support sustainable queer journalism
• Why collaboration is fueling resilience and growth in the field

Guest:

Dana Piccoli – Managing Director, News Is Out

📍 Learn more and explore the map: newsisout.com

Host:

Ryan Welton, Director of Digital Content, Local Media Association

🎙️ Produced by Local Media Association

💌 Subscribe to Keep It Local wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Keep It Local, host Ryan Welton of Local Media Association sits down with John Rust, Sho Rust, and Michael Machiah to talk about PubGen.AI, an AI-powered content management system built by PubGen.AI and Rust Communications.

Learn how PubGen.ai is transforming newsrooms with AI-driven efficiency, grounded in local journalism ethics and archives. The team shares why they built the platform, how it streamlines editorial and business operations, and why they believe journalism deserves better technology.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Rust Communications decided to build a new CMS from scratch
• How PubGen.ai boosts newsroom efficiency and revenue
• What makes this platform different from other CMS options
• Why grounding AI in local archives is critical for trust and community relevance
• Real-world results: 228% digital revenue growth in 90 days

If your newsroom is exploring AI or CMS upgrades, this is a conversation you can’t miss.

Links & Resources:

• PubGen.ai: https://pubgen.ai
• Contact Sho Rust: sho@pubgen.ai
• Learn more about Local Media Association: https://localmedia.org