The daily paper used to be how we learned our city. Then the habits moved online, and a lot of essential coverage never made the jump. Michael Phillips, editor and founder of The Richmonder, joins us to share how a nonprofit newsroom is rebuilding local journalism with reader power, foundation support, and old-school reporting that shows up at City Hall, schools, and neighborhood meetings.
We dig into what a sustainable business model looks like when clicks aren’t the goal: three revenue streams, free access to keep the public square open, and a newsletter that turns casual scrollers into a loyal community. Michael breaks down why The Richmonder focuses on three pillars—city operations, education, and housing—and how that clarity helps avoid national noise, earn trust, and deliver stories you can actually use. From a school that spiked reading scores to the day a firefighter’s text helped confirm a citywide water outage, he explains how relationships and presence beat press releases every time.
We also talk formats that work now. Social media is for discovery; email is the engine; long-form reporting is the value. Video and podcasts humanize policy and carry half the audience, but the secret is flow: short pieces that point to depth, and depth that rewards your time. With AI shrinking the podium of links to a single “winner,” original, well-sourced local reporting matters more than ever.
If you care about where your tax dollars go, how your schools are doing, or which restaurant is worth a rare date night, this conversation will give you a blueprint for supporting or launching the kind of newsroom every city deserves. Subscribe to The Richmonder, reply with tips, and if the work helps you, consider donating so it can help your neighbors too. If this resonated, share it with a friend, hit follow, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.
www.themrpreneur.com
