Liz White Notarangelo didn’t just grow up in a newsroom—she grew up in the business of journalism. As a fifth-generation publisher at RJ Media Group in Connecticut, Liz witnessed firsthand how trust, community roots and a willingness to evolve are the foundation of any sustainable local news operation.
Now as co-CEO of the Local Media Association and Local Media Foundation, she brings that legacy into a future-facing mission: helping media companies reinvent their business models to keep journalism strong and communities informed.
In her conversation on the Keep It Local podcast, Liz talked about strategic transformation, grounded in real-world experience.
Two pillars for the future
Liz emphasized two cultural foundations that every newsroom should adopt:
- A culture of continuous change – Encouraging teams to stay adaptable and open to evolution.
- A “succeed or fail fast” mindset – Taking risks, learning quickly, and not being afraid to move on from ideas that don’t stick.
Why listening is the superpower of 2025
One of the most compelling parts of the conversation? Liz’s insistence that listening—not tech—is the most underutilized newsroom strategy.
Whether through focus groups, advisory boards, or community conversations, Liz believes that truly hearing a community’s needs is essential for earning and maintaining trust.
That trust is the bedrock for everything—from advertising to philanthropy, branded content to reader revenue. Without it, transformation is a hollow endeavor.
Building on a foundation of integrity
Liz laid out what she called the “five pillars of strategic revenue transformation,” all of which must rest on a solid foundation of trusted local journalism, strong local brands, and community relationships. These aren’t optional—“they work hand in hand,” she said.
From digital subscriptions to philanthropic funding, innovation must be built on credibility and transparency.
Practical advice for pressured publishers
What about those struggling to adapt? Liz had two key takeaways:
- Learn when to stop: Create a “stop doing” list to focus on what truly matters.
- Align efforts with strategic growth pillars: If a new idea doesn’t support your core mission, it might be a distraction.
What’s next? LMA Fest 2025
Liz wrapped by inviting media leaders to attend LMA Fest in Chicago, August 19–20, with programming focused on AI, collaboration, philanthropy, branded content and more.
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ybIFOTgSgnQxy3HyiG0o9
🎧 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-it-local-local-media-association/id1808196993
🎧 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JGx6NM-Y3U
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Editor’s note: Artificial Intelligence was used to transcribe and create an initial summary of this article, which was then edited by LMA staff.