The Rundown: Is Worcester’s Local Media Stronger Than Ever?

Worcester’s Changing Media Landscape, Influencers and OnlyFans

By-Hank Stolz
Graphic-Radio Worcester

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Worcester, MA- On the latest episode of The Rundown, Hank Stolz asks Mark Henderson about a recent article examining Worcester’s changing media landscape.

Henderson, founder of The016.com, reflects on the 40th anniversary of the Telegram & Gazette leaving local ownership. He argues that the defining moment for Worcester media was not the 1984 sale, but the 1987 merger of the morning Telegram and evening Gazette, which eliminated the competitive culture between the two newsrooms.

Henderson believes that competitive energy has now been rebuilt across Worcester’s fragmented media landscape. He points to 13 locally owned outlets and a growing number of citizen journalists producing more coverage of the city than at any time since the merger.

Hank is not completely convinced, but both agree that there appears to be greater camaraderie among Worcester’s local reporters.

The conversation also examines MassLive’s recent partnership with local social media influencers as it attempts to reach younger audiences. Henderson describes the move as a logical convergence during what he calls the “third digital age,” when a journalist’s ability to consistently bring an audience together can become a “superpower.”

Hank and Mark then turn to Tom Marino’s reporting at This Week in Worcester, including a guest column comparing alcohol and cannabis regulation and a report examining OnlyFans activity in Worcester. According to the reported estimates, approximately 46,000 active Worcester users spent $2.83 million on the platform in 2024.