Dark Money revelations in Montana

Interview Only w/ John Adams - Bringing Local News Back From The Brink

John Adams, editor of the Montana Free Press, joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that local journalism has been in crisis — and that saving it might be one of the most important things Americans can do for their democracy. Adams is on the show to promote Local News Day on April 9th, a nationwide effort involving 700 local newsrooms aimed not at fundraising but at spreading awareness. He traces the origin story of the Montana Free Press back to his appearance in the documentary "Dark Money", a story about outside money quietly trying to buy Montana politics at the local level with zero disclosure — and the journalists best positioned to expose it were losing their jobs. Adams argues the economics of local news changed drastically as advertising revenue collapsed and audiences became hypnotized by social media and smartphones, but that the need and appetite for local reporting never went away.

The conversation turns to the deeper consequences of local news deserts: the loss of trusted community voices created a vacuum that bred distrust in the national press, because people no longer had local "character references" — journalists they knew and saw at the grocery store — to anchor their understanding of how media works. Adams warns that the rise of AI-generated misinformation makes reliable local sources more important than ever, noting that while younger people tend to be savvier at spotting junk online, older generations are particularly vulnerable. They close by noting that strong local news doesn't just serve democracy — it helps local businesses target customers, creating an economic ecosystem that benefits everyone — and that journalism ultimately has to reach enough people to really matter, which is exactly what Local News Day at localnewsday.org is designed to help make possible.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 John Adams (Montana Free Press) joins the Chuck ToddCast

00:45 The importance of local news & purpose of Local News Day, April 9th

03:15 Why create Local News Day?

04:15 The crisis with local news isn’t new, been happening for years

05:30 It’s easier to get international news than news from your community

06:30 The need and appetite for local news has never gone away

07:45 Local news has become en vogue like a local craft beer

09:45 People embrace their local identity

12:15 Origin story of the Montana Free Press

12:45 “Dark Money” documentary about fight against Montana copper barons

15:00 Big outside money was trying to buy Montana politics at the local level

17:15 None of the outside money was disclosed

18:00 John lost his reporting job during the 2015 legislative session

20:00 Three of the most experienced local journalists were jobless

20:30 MFP founded on principle that local journalism is essential as a nonprofit

22:15 Economics of local news changed drastically, made newspapers expensive

24:00 Audiences are highly distracted by social media & smartphones

25:30 We need good new sources of information to combat misinfo from AI

26:45 Younger people are savvier online, older generations struggle with AI

28:30 It’s easier to trust local news sources because they’re in your community

29:15 Journalists have to almost “sell” their info for people to see it

31:30 It’s important to report on what your audience cares about

33:00 AP reporter in Montana was attacked and then the reporter was doxxed

35:15 Loss of local news character references created distrust in national press

36:30 Importance of local “service journalism”

40:00 Recreating the equivalent of morning drive news radio as a podcast

40:45 Using google trends questions to help inform your journalism

42:00 Algorithms only give people what they want, not what they need to know

42:45 Local news at its best reflects what the community cares about

43:45 Localnewsday.org is where people can find ways to help & connect

45:30 The better local news does, the better local businesses can target customers

46:30 700 local newsrooms are taking part in Local News Day

47:30 Goal of Local News Day isn’t to raise money, it’s to spread awareness

50:30 Journalism has to reach enough people to really matter

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