News You Can Bet On: The Future of Local, Trusted Reporting

_{The journalism credibility reset, through creators and hyperlocal news. (Image: Jill Manuel)}

In a time when trust in news media is cratering, platforms like Casinos.com are carving out a different path, grounded in clarity, relatability, and research-first reporting. Veteran journalist Jill Manuel, who has spent over 30 years inside America’s largest newsrooms, says journalism isn’t just in crisis; it’s evolving. And the most credible voices today may not come from legacy outlets at all.

Manuel, a former Fox News launch team producer and digital strategist, now champions a shift toward human-first storytelling and community-driven content. Her viral essay, “I spent over 20 years winning Emmys. Here’s why a 22-year-old with a ring light has more credibility than me,” struck a nerve at a time when only 28% of Americans trust legacy outlets to report news accurately, according to Gallup.

Smart, Simple, Human-First: How Casinos.com Fits the New Model

Where legacy media often overwhelms or alienates, Casinos.com aims to clarify. Whether explaining the latest regulation changes, reviewing land based casinos, game providers, or demystifying how to play online responsibly, its reporting stays rooted in research, transparency, and a tone that treats readers as equals.

Inspired by creators like Cleo Abram, who blend rigour with optimism, Casinos.com rejects both hype and despair. The site positions itself not as a passive bulletin board, but as a savvy companion: sharp, informed, and never condescending. It’s journalism tilted toward empowerment, not panic.

That means spotlighting what works, like affordability checks, self-exclusion tools, or user-friendly casino features, as well as where the industry needs to do better. The platform walks the line between entertainment and ethics, helping readers make smart decisions without downplaying risk.

Listen to the full interview with Jill Manuel on our Podcast

A Legacy Insider’s Wake-Up Call

“I grew up in a news literate household,” Manuel told Casinos.com. 

Her early life was steeped in headlines, radio, and television. That curiosity turned into a reporting career in the 1990s, starting with Fox News Service and later helping launch Fox News Channel in 1996.

She covered global stories, from Princess Diana’s funeral in London to local scandals in Sacramento. But what once felt like a public service now feels, to her, increasingly disconnected from what readers actually need.

“How does this affect me?” is the question traditional media often fails to answer, Manuel says. 

Without relevance or two-way dialogue, she warns, journalism risks becoming a monologue, delivered at people, not for them.

Creators and Community Reporters: Earning Trust Differently

In contrast, news creators and hyperlocal journalists are connecting with audiences through transparency and participation. “You are my partner in the conversation,” Manuel says. “You’re not just some bystander.”

Research supports this shift. The UK House of Commons' 2023 report on the Sustainability of Local Journalism noted that public trust grows when news feels close to home, participatory, and accountable. But these models face steep financial and operational challenges, often relying on fragile funding and inconsistent support.

Still, their impact is growing. Creators succeed not because of prestige, but because of platform fluency, relatability, and a willingness to show the reporting process. Manuel herself tested this as “Jill the News Lady” on TikTok, where she walked audiences through story sourcing, bias detection, and media literacy. 

“I tried to guide my audience on understanding... how do you sift through all this stuff?” she said.

From Doom to Direction: The Cleo Abram Effect

Manuel cites Cleo Abram’s Huge If True as a standout example of how journalism can be rigorous without being relentlessly negative. Abram built a multi-million-subscriber base by structuring stories around possibility: What’s broken, why it matters, and how it could change.

Abram’s optimism doesn’t skip the facts. It reframes them with solutions in mind. It’s an approach that Casinos.com reflects: not just what’s wrong with gambling regulation, but what’s working, what’s coming next, and how players can navigate it better.

Gambling in the UK Media: One Industry, Two Narratives

In the UK, gambling coverage is often polarised. Some media outlets frame it through a lens of harm, focusing on addiction, financial ruin, and regulatory failures. While these concerns are valid, critics argue the reporting often lacks balance, omitting changes already implemented: affordability checks, ad restrictions, and tougher licensing.

Others, like The Sun, frame gambling as entertainment, emphasising wins, promotions, and sporting tie-ins. This too can gloss over risk.

Casinos.com chooses the middle ground: fact-first, user-aware, and regulation-savvy. The goal is not to sanitise the risks, nor to fearmonger. It’s to inform readers as smart players who deserve honest, engaging coverage. Because at Casinos.com, we don’t gamble with the facts.