Our Mission
Educate
Educate the American public about the importance of local news and the current challenges facing the local news industry
Advocate
Advocate for business models, programs and policies that allow local news organizations to thrive
Support
Support leaders and organizations that prioritize the sustainability of local news
Amplify
Amplify the voice of citizens who care deeply about the fabric of America’s local communities
Current landscape of public-facing funders and “thought leaders”
Local news is the fabric of American communities
Trust
Provides a trusted communication channel for elected officials and local governments to disseminate important information
Reporting
Reports on government and school board meetings
Memorialize
Memorializes the circle of life with birth announcements, wedding celebrations, and obituaries.
Sports
Champions high school sports teams
Inform
Informs voters as they head to the polls to elect state legislators, village mayors, school board trustees, sanitation commissioners, and more
Support
Convenes neighbors to support families and organizations in need
Investigate
Investigates corruption and bad actors
Promotion
Promotes Main Street businesses
Prints articles and photographs that are forever keepsakes for the community members featured
Distribute
Distributes urgent safety and health information necessary for sustained civic life
Local news is facing an unprecedented crisis
Our Tactics
Fundraising
Take advantage of nonprofits, businesses, and HNWIs that want to put substantial financial resources towards supporting local newspapers (esp. for-profit newspapers).
Candidate Campaign
Contributions (PAC),
Independent Expenditures &
Paid Media,
and Endorsements
Support elected officials that support local newspapers (and possibly support opponents of elected officials that do not support local newspapers).
Public Affairs & Communication
Carry out marketing campaigns with respect to the state of the industry, importance of local news, difference between local news and national media, specific legislation, and more; build cross-industry coalitions and activate local news orgs.
Lobbying
Nurture strong relationships with elected officials and other stakeholders.
Dedicated to the long-term success of the local news industry
Zachary Richner
President
Zachary Richner is a third-generation family member and director of Richner Communications, Inc., which publishes 30 weekly newspapers in New York. Zack is the founder and executive director of the Empire State Local News Coalition, which led the passage of NY’s $90M, first-in-the-nation tax credit for local media. He is also the founder of the media-for-equity venture capital firm Arrandale Ventures. Zack sits on the board of America’s Newspapers and is a member of the trade association’s advocacy committee. Zack served in the Obama White House Office of the Chief of Staff and as the Budget Director in Ohio for the Obama 2012 presidential campaign. He also served in the Cuomo administration, as director of a $1B infrastructure program for NY state. He holds an AB from Harvard and an MBA and MSDI from Northwestern.
Jeremy Gulban
Treasurer
Jeremy Gulban is the CEO of CherryRoad Media, whichwas established in 2021 and publishes 80+ newspapers in 17 states. Jeremy also serves as CEO of CherryRoad Technologies, which provides IT solutions and consulting services to governments across the U.S. Jeremy sits on the board of America’s Newspapers and is a member of the trade association’s advocacy committee. Jeremy also sits on the boards of the National Newspaper Association and the PAGE Cooperative.
Cameron Nutting Williams
Secretary
Cameron Nutting Williams is a fifth-generation owner and the Publisher for Ogden Newspapers, which publishes over 70 daily and weekly local newspapers in 16 states across the U.S. During her time with Ogden, she has executed the purchase of over 20 new publications and integrated them into their legacy operating business. As America’s Newspapers president in 2022, Cameron was integral to the trade association’s federal advocacy efforts. Cameron serves on the boards of the America’s Newspapers Foundation, The Ogden Company, and MIC, which provides libel insurance to media companies. She holds a BA from Williams College and an MA in Media and Public Affairs from George Washington.