Local news is the lifeblood of democracy, but the business model that has long sustained local news is under tremendous strain. Join several of the state’s leading news people from TV, print, online and other media outlets for a half-day conference on the future of local news — including ecoRI News’ publisher and co-founder Joanna Detz. Keynote presentations will be given by: Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, co-founder and CEO of the National Trust for Local News and David Cicilline, president and CEO, Rhode Island Foundation. This event is free to attend, but registration is required.