Rational optimism for local journalism

Google's scariest experiment, journalism's largest exit interview, MFF consultation, chocolate recommendations for Perugia and 17 active calls.

Welcome!

This week on the Media Finance Monitor:

• Rational optimism for local journalism

• Google’s scariest experiment

• Journalism's largest exit interview

• Tell the EU to allocate more funding for journalism!

• Hit me up in Perugia

• 17 active calls (7 new)

Rational optimism for local journalism

I borrowed this title from the Manchester Mill, a local media startup Joshi Herrmann launched in 2020 that now has sister sites in five other UK cities. What began with just Joshi during the pandemic has grown to a staff of 20+ with revenues exceeding €1 million. It sounds like a fairy tale - high-quality local watchdog journalism with both an audience and a viable business model - but it's actually real, offering important lessons for anyone working in local journalism today.

I know this, because Joshi visited Budapest during the weekend on our invitation. He was the …