I Took Over API’s Newsletter: Here’s What I Wrote
A deeper look at the three-part series I wrote for the American Press Institute’s Need to Know — and why the conversation about product thinking and building for communities matters more than ever.
I wrote something! I know, I know — you’ve heard that from me about 130 times since I started Backstory & Strategy. But this time was a little different. Like the opinion piece I wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer, this wasn’t for my own publication. It was part of my work at the American Press Institute, where I’m now serving as Vice President of Product Strategy.
As part of that role, I took the reins of API’s Need to Know newsletter — a twice-weekly guide for media leaders that blends analysis, curated must-reads, and practical advice for navigating the rapid changes shaping journalism right now. Special editions run on Mondays, and the regular issues with industry insights, how-tos, resources, and headlines come out on Wednesdays and Fridays.
My “takeover” focused on something we’ve talked about here many times: what it means to adopt a product mindset inside a newsroom.
The first piece makes the case for that shift — how thinking like a product team (even if you don’t have one) can help you stop sprinting toward the next deadline and start building toward real impact.
👉 Adopt a product mindset for news
The second goes deeper. It challenges a core assumption at the heart of local journalism: are we just covering our communities, or are we building something for them?
👉 Are you just covering your community — or building for them?
And there’s more coming. The third piece in this series publishes Monday, and I’m excited about where that conversation goes next.
🔍 A Few Need to Know Highlights Worth Reading
One of the reasons I’m proud to work on Need to Know is that it’s consistently smart and grounded. The newsletter isn’t just about what’s happening — it’s about how newsrooms can adapt to what’s happening. Here are a few standout issues from the past year or so:
Building a Local Events Strategy (September 2025)
A practical guide to turning newsroom-led events into engines for trust, community connection, and new revenue — without overextending your team.News Leaders: Embrace Local Identity and History (May 2025)
Why the most successful local newsrooms lean into who they are — weaving archives, nostalgia, and local history into coverage and membership strategies.Protecting Journalists and Newsrooms from Online Attacks (August 2024)
Essential reading for any newsroom headed into a tense election cycle. Clear, actionable steps for protecting staff and sustaining coverage under pressure.Engage to Build Trust (June 2024)
A sharp reminder that audience feedback is only valuable if it shapes decisions — and a blueprint for building that into your newsroom’s daily workflow.
If you want the third piece — and future insights like these — delivered straight to your inbox, you can sign up for Need to Know here:
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter
If you’re part of a newsroom wrestling with these questions, I’d love to hear how you’re approaching them. What does “building for your community” look like where you work? And what would help you make that shift? Hit reply or share your thoughts in the comments.
P.S. - If you found this post helpful, would you please consider restacking it and sharing it with your audience?
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