LION: Local Independent Online News Publishers

🎤 ✨ In 2021, Cardinal News launched with a $300k investment, a three-person team, and a bold vision — without backing from a national funder or major investor. Today, it’s a $1.8M organization with 20 staff members, serving one of the most economically challenged regions in Virginia. This wasn’t a stroke of luck — it was the result of intentional planning, disciplined budgeting, and a clear connection between mission and money. During this 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit session, “Your budget tells a story: Make it a good one,” Luanne Rife and Tonya Hart will guide participants through the evolution from basic budgeting to advanced financial models that link strategic goals to line items — and teach you how to use your budget to power your own vision. Register: https://lnkd.in/g72EZn3m

🎤 ✨ Want to turn casual readers into a vibrant, paying community that supports your local newsroom? Of course you do! Don’t miss this session at the 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit, featuring AAN Publishers' Todd Stauffer. Drawing from both publishing and e-commerce strategies, Todd will teach attendees how to create a functioning, measurable funnel to grow their digital revenue. He’ll cover how to price, package, and market opportunities at every level, so you can immediately put these great ideas into action. Reserve your spot at the Summit now: https://lnkd.in/g72EZn3m

🎤 ✨ There’s a powerful yet often overlooked revenue stream available to local newsrooms: mid-level and major gifts. And you don’t need to be a nonprofit — or have a fundraising staff — to access it. During this 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit session, BlueLena's Judi Kamien, former chief development officer at the Springfield Daily Citizen, will demystify the art and science of identifying key supporters and share how publishers can cultivate mid- to major-level individual donors using tools they already have and a relationship-first mindset. Bonus: Attendees will receive a weekly donor engagement planner that helps them prioritize, track, and deepen relationships with potential major donors. Join us in St. Louis: https://lnkd.in/g72EZn3m

🎤 ✨ Hiring your first revenue-focused staff member can be both exciting and overwhelming — especially if you don’t come from a business background… At the 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit, Athens County Independent's Corinne Colbert, Oviedo Community News' Megan Stokes, and Colorado Media Project's Kimberly Spencer, CFRE, will walk you through the entire process, from budgeting for the role to onboarding, so you can set your new teammate up for success. Get your ticket to the 2025 Summit: https://lnkd.in/g72EZn3m

💭 What sets our Sustainability 360 program apart from most training programs? 💡 Here’s the short answer: Participants will not only receive regular guidance from a personal coach and a team of business consultants, but these experts will also serve as an additional resource to help lighten participants’ workloads. Need help with creating a budget? Or with developing an organizational chart or succession plan? The possibilities are endless! If you’re a LION member and want to learn more about this year-long program, join us for our info session on 5/27 at 3 p.m. ET. And applications are due by 6/9 at 8 p.m. ET. https://lnkd.in/gcTHmMfQ

This week, we opened applications for our expanded Sustainability 360 program, and we're seeking 40 newsrooms to participate in this next cohort and receive one year of free, hands-on, tailored support. That includes: 🧭 Being paired with a strategic coach who will help you set focused, achievable goals 🎯 Having access to dedicated HR and finance experts who can help you complete projects that boost your internal operations 🤝 Being part of a peer community that’s there to cheer you on and bounce ideas off of So if you're a LION member currently in the Building or Maintaining sustainability stage, as identified during your Sustainability Audit, we strongly encourage you to apply. Sign up for our info session on 5/27 at 3 p.m. ET and apply by 6/9 at 8 p.m. ET: https://lnkd.in/gcTHmMfQ Huge thanks to Google News Initiative and MacArthur Foundation for making this program possible!

🎤 ✨ It can be so tempting to accept grant money to help you tackle an important reporting project, but how can you determine (before it’s too late!) if the juice is really worth the squeeze? Poynter Institute's Jon Greenberg, Planet Detroit's Nina Ignaczak, and 100 Days in Appalachia's Dana Coester will take the stage at the 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit for the session "Grant-funded reporting projects: Be careful what you wish for." They'll share hard-won lessons and tips for evaluating grant opportunities, so you’ll be prepared the next time you need to decide whether an opportunity is worth pursuing or passing up. Join them in St. Louis this September; secure your Summit ticket today: https://lnkd.in/g72EZn3m

“Find your people” at the 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit. 💙 Shoutout to Documented's Mazin Sidahmed, 2PuntosPlatform's Emma Restrepo, and Oviedo Community News' Megan Stokes for sharing their thoughts on why LION's 500+ person annual gathering is "unlike any other journalism conference" and "like a family." Get your tickets today: https://lnkd.in/gsPAd9XP https://lnkd.in/gvd4fHYg

💫 Membership offers news businesses — both nonprofits and for-profits — a chance to transform earned community trust into sustainable revenue. According to 2022-24 LION Sustainability Audit data, about a quarter of past Audit participants have implemented membership programs, generating roughly $100,000 annually from 645 members, with an average contribution of $155 each. One shining example is LION member Mainstreet Daily News. Launched in early 2020, this FL-based outlet now boasts a nearly 10-person staff and earns over $8,000 monthly from its membership program. We spoke with Mainstreet's publisher, J.C. Derrick, to explore: 1) why they chose a membership program; 2) how they established and marketed it; and 3) the insights gained along the way. We also included resources for those interested in developing or boosting their own membership program. Read the Q&A: https://lnkd.in/gTBVbsSN (and huge thanks to J.C. and the team for sharing this success story with us!)