Columbus forum examines trust, funding and AI’s role in the future of local news

The Columbus Metropolitan Club convened a panel discussion titled “Who owns the news? Rebuilding trust and local voices in a fractured media landscape” at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus. Panelists and audience members discussed declining public trust in journalism, business models for local outlets, the effects of consolidation and the emerging role of artificial intelligence.

The forum brought together Philip (identified onstage as a former national columnist for The Washington Post and author of The Aftermath), Michelle Everhart Sullivan, chief audience officer at Signal Ohio, Teraya Palmer, co‑creator of the Columbus Can't Wait podcast, and host Mike Thompson of WOSU. Questions from the audience and a multi‑panel exchange focused on how local outlets can maintain independence and rebuild trust amid shrinking newsrooms and rising misinformation.

Why it matters: panelists warned that weakening local journalism reduces community oversight of government and civic institutions. They stressed that new business models — nonprofit memberships, community funding, and trained local documenters — are emerging as possible ways to support reporting that residents rely on for local government, elections and services.

Panelists cited recent polling and market trends to frame the problem. A Gallup poll referenced…