Episode: 2 Air Date: March 6th, 2025
Former journalist and local news advocate Steven Waldman spoke with Central Current Executive Director Maximilian Eyle about policies that could strengthen regional newsrooms.
Waldman argued tax credits and other government subsidies can play an ethical and effective role in reversing the decline of local reporting. Waldman and Eyle discussed the New York State Local Journalism Sustainability Act and the ways in which local news investments can help repair a fractured information landscape while saving taxpayers money.
Waldman founded Rebuild Local News. He is the president of the organization. Waldman also co-founded Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in newsrooms across the United States. Before becoming an advocate for local journalism, Waldman was a journalist covering national politics for Newsweek, U.S. News and World Reports and Washington Monthly. He has also been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and the Washington Post, among other publications. Later, while serving as Senior Adviser to the Chairman of the FCC, Waldman authored a report outlining the information needs of communities.
Editor’s Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current’s editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity.
Read more of Central Current’s coverage
Walsh appoints two allies of mayor-elect Sharon Owens to Syracuse Housing Authority board
Change is coming at City Hall. Walsh appears to have laid the groundwork for Owens to “shift” leadership at the housing authority.
Democrat Jeremiah Thompson flips Onondaga County Legislature’s 4th District seat
Thompson beat incumbent Republican Onondaga County Legislator Colleen Gunnip, and won about 56% of the votes in the race.
Surrounded by Syracuse’s past and present, historic mayor-elect Sharon Owens looks toward future
Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens on Tuesday evening made history as Syracuse’s first Black mayor-elect. Hundreds of Syracusans helped her celebrate.
‘We swept it’: Democrats flip Onondaga County Legislature on historic night
The Democrats’ historic night locally followed election trends nationally. Onondaga County Democrats flipped the legislature for the first time in decades.
Democrat Elaine Denton flips Onondaga County Legislature’s 10th District seat
Denton beat Mark Olson, who has represented the Onondaga County Legislature’s 10th District since 2022.
