Is local journalism truly dying—or is that just the easiest story to tell? While trust in media falters and technology continues to reshape how we consume news, some local outlets are defying the odds. By leading with authenticity, staying deeply connected to their communities, and reimagining everything from business models to the role of AI, they’re not only surviving but thriving—building some of the largest local audiences in the country.

On this episode of Can You Hear Me?, co-hosts Eileen Rochford and Rob Johnson sit down with Chris Quinn, Editor and Vice President of Content at Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, to explore Why Local News Still Matters (and Isn’t Dead Yet).

Chris Quinn is editor of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer and president of Advance Ohio. He started in journalism in 1980 in his native New Jersey before moving to reporting positions in Dover, Del.; Harrisburg, Pa. and Orlando, Fla. He joined The Plain Dealer in 1996 and moved into editing in 2002, holding a variety of positions. He hosts a daily news discussion podcast called Today in Ohio and reaches more than 200,000 people via email each week through his column, Letter from the Editor. Chris received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Temple University.