“The COVID-19 Societal Impact Project,” a study conducted by The Whitman Insight Strategies Initiative and Creative Circle Media Solutions, examined how the global pandemic has affected the feelings and emotions of local media consumers.

Respondents conveyed they have a higher trust in local news for information about COVID-19 compared to national cable news and social media channels.

“People are starved for content and connections,” said Bernard Whitman, president and founder of Whitman Insight Strategies, a strategic consulting firm that conducts polls and market research to advise corporations, political leaders and issue-advocacy organizations. “That’s why community media have so much to gain. You are already part of the community and people feel like they know you or they should know you.”

Additional findings show readers are fearful, leading them to crave credible, local information to stay connected with their communities.

Printed circulation. Website Analytics. Digital subscribers. How important are those numbers to Family Features’ business? Extremely important!

The model. Family Features works with national brands, associations and government agencies to produce high-quality content for newspapers, magazines, websites and other means of communication. All Family Features’ content is made available for free to editors. Our model begins with our sponsors’ needs to communicate their messages. Family Features’ Content Development department works closely with our sponsors to create quality content written to Associated Press standards, including superior photos and graphics.

The North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) held its annual convention via Zoom meetings Oct. 6-7. NAMPA members publish more than 95 publications in the United States and Canada with a combined circulation of more than 4 million. Of these member publications, 48 were represented at the virtual exchange of ideas between senior and boomer publishing leaders.

With Family Features as the prime sponsor of the event, Media Manager Cindy Long observed and participated in the conference.

Organized by Executive Director Gary Calligas, there were six separate virtual meetings during the two-day period attended by an impressive group of newspaper and magazine publishers and editors. Even though there were a lot of attendees, the meetings were structured to make it convenient to contribute or ask questions of the presenters or other attendees.