The 2026 State of the Local Media Special | Full Episode @nminfocus
The 2026 State of the Local Media Special | Full Episode  @nminfocus
Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This week on New Mexico in Focus, we celebrate Independence Day with our annual "State of Local Media" special. But before we do so, we provide an update on a bombshell news story that broke late last month, detailing whistleblower allegations that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration permitted hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills into Albuquerque in pursuit of bigger cases. This week, top city, county and state officials, including Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, called for accountability.

We begin our media special with a two-part conversation with Bill Church about the two publications he oversees: the Santa Fe New Mexican and Searchlight New Mexico. First, Executive Producer Jeff Proctor asks Church how the New Mexican is expanding, at a time when newspapers are supposed to be dying. Then, Church is joined at the table with Searchlight editor Ed Williams as the two talk to Jeff about the future of the newly acquired investigative news site.

Publisher Lindsey Wood is in the business of neighborhood news. She owns and operates the Nob Hill News, the North Valley News and the International District News. Wood tells Host Nosh Jones why her hyperlocal news model could be replicated nationwide.

Southern New Mexico reporter Damien Willis is a one-man news organization. As the founder, editor and lone staff writer at the Organ Mountain News, Willis talks to Nash about the Doña Ana County news site, and the work he's done to both listen to and inform his readers.

Host:
Nash Jones

Segments:

DEA Fentanyl "Walking” Sparks Outrage
Correspondent:
Nash Jones

Santa Fe New Mexican Flourishes in Dire Time for Print News
Correspondent:
Jeff Proctor
Guest:
Bill Church, Executive Editor, Santa Fe New Mexican

Nob Hill News and Neighborhood Journalism
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guest:
Lindsay Wood, Publisher, Nob Hill News

Searchlight New Mexico’s Second Life
Correspondent:
Jeff Proctor
Guests:
Bill Church, Executive Director, Searchlight New Mexico
Ed Williams, Investigations Editor, Searchlight New Mexico

Organ Mountain News and Journalism in Southern NM
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guest:
Damien Willis, Founder and Editor, Organ Mountain News

0:00 Intro
01:03 DEA Fentanyl "Walking” Sparks Outrage
05:06 Santa Fe New Mexican Flourishes in Dire Time for Print News
20:38 Nob Hill News and Neighborhood Journalism
34:55 Searchlight New Mexico’s Second Life
46:06 Organ Mountain News and Journalism in Southern NM

--

This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support NMPBS: bit.ly/donatetonmpbs

Subscribe to the NMPBS channel for more clips: youtube.com/@NMPBS

Enjoy full episodes of your favorite NMPBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS App. Learn how: newmexicopbs.org/what-we-do/how-to-watch-us

FOLLOW NMPBS
Instagram: instagram.com/nmpbs
Facebook: facebook.com/NewMexicoPBS
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/knme-tv-new-mexico-pbs
Website: nmpbs.org

FOLLOW NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS
Instagram: instagram.com/nm_in_focus
The 2026 State of the Local Media Special | Full EpisodeHomelessness in Santa Fe; Local Headlines in Focus | Full Episode
New Mexico in Focus |

The 2026 State of the Local Media Special | Full Episode

SHARE TO X SHARE TO REDDIT SHARE TO FACEBOOK WALLPAPER