13 million stories waiting to be told

We believe in shining a light on the compelling moments, untold journeys, and unexpected twists that have the power to resonate with all of us. The more we share the stories we own, the more we fulfill our own mission at Advance Local of elevating and expanding our award-winning journalism to connect, reveal, and inspire.

Introducing Pearl

Pearl is the only AI-powered IP engine that transforms journalism into ready-to-produce stories. Built by Advance Local–which has been serving communities with outstanding journalism for more than 100 years–Pearl contains a treasure trove of turnkey intellectual property (IP) that is both timely and timeless, perfectly suited for adaptation into entertainment. It’s not just a database filled with millions of stories: It’s a discovery engine, a development tool, and a marketing amplifier in one. Don’t just find stories—unlock franchises in waiting.

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Headline Studio projects

Happily Never After

#1 Apple Podcasts | Top 10 Spotify | 
#4 Overall in 2024

A gripping true crime series produced in partnership with Wondery and backed with coordinated editorial and social support to drive national attention.

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Death County PA podcast art with figure behind bars and Wondery logo

Death County, PA

#1 True Crime & #1 Series in Apple Podcasts

This dark and immersive series launched with a custom, multi-platform rollout—tapping into our local newsrooms and national scale to deliver a breakout performance.

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Mayor of Maple Ave.

Pulitzer Center Grant Winner

In collaboration with Meadowlark Media, we produced an emotional, award-winning story about a victim of Jerry Sandusky and his life of addiction after the trauma.

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What we do

Discover

The team at Headline Studio, a division of Advance Local, draws from a wealth of story IP to collaborate with creatives who are searching for their next compelling project.

Develop

We work with partners to develop their projects—whether they’re scripted or unscripted—by providing access to reporters, interview subjects, and story materials.

Produce

Our team helps partners produce feature films, television series, documentaries, and podcasts in scripted and unscripted formats.

Promote

We promote the projects we partner on across all our news sites and social channels.

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