'Scale' is our 2025 word of the year, and our newly released Impact Report shows why. Check out what we accomplished and what we have in store for 2026: lionpublishers.com/annual-repor... To all our supporters, thank you for making our work possible. 💙

🏛️ Just last week, we announced the launch of LION's first-ever policy platform, which reflects our strategic goals and advocacy priorities. And with local news legislation currently pending in 13 states, this couldn’t be more timely. Check it out: lnkd.in/geS_Sc8n

As LION’s revenue continues to grow and diversify, including the management of several time- and purpose-restricted grants, we’re expanding our team! Please join us in welcoming our first specialized finance manager, Padma Umakanthan. So happy to have her! 👋 💸 ✅ lionpublishers.com/padma-umakan...

💡 LION's @niemanlab.org prediction: Following biz best practices when building and running an indie newsroom will always be important, but in 2026, it's these 3 big financial, legal, and operational risks that publishers will want to be aware of — and address: www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/3-bi...

​💡 Discover top local newsroom revenue trends in 2025, based on our evaluation of 300+ news orgs. One big shift? More LIONs, across all tax statuses, report philanthropic support (grants, donations, etc.) as a major part of their financial picture. lionpublishers.com/philanthropy...

👋 Help us give a warm welcome to our newest team member, Rhue Ivy-Torres! As our Salesforce Administrator, Rhue will support and evolve LION's central Salesforce database and connected systems, ensuring our tech stack empowers staff, members, and funders. lionpublishers.com/rhue-ivy-tor...

✨ Excited to see the launch of — and be part of — #PressForward and Commoner Co.'s new Journalism Support Exchange (JSX), a searchable database that local newsrooms can use to find tools, resources, and connections to help them build and grow their businesses. Check out this one-stop shop: jsx.news

💯s of surveys, hours, datapoints. One comprehensive look into the state of #localnews businesses... Our new report, A Roadmap for Local News Sustainability, reveals 21 key indicators for achieving sustainability, plus essential field-level insights. Take a look 👇 lionpublishers.com/sustainabili...

⚠️ Heads up, LION (and @tinynewscollective.bsky.social) members! If you're thinking about attending our free Virtual Vendor Fair on 11/19, we've already handed out about 1/2 of our tickets. See who's presenting, get registered, and stay tuned for the final agenda: lionpublishers.com/virtual-vend...

🚀 A common FAQ from our members is how to boost their SEO so more readers can easily find their content. So we asked our friend @danielpetty.bsky.social to help us help them. He's put together a guide with 7 SEO tips for local publishers. Check it out: lionpublishers.com/7-technical-...

💡 At the 2025 Summit, we heard from @knightfoundation.org's Duc Luu, #PressForward Chicago's Tracy Baim, and @barrfoundation.org's Stefan Lanfer on what makes grant applications stand out. Take a look at these 5 practical tips: lionpublishers.com/funders-reve...

‼️ Big news: The Boston-based @barrfoundation.org has awarded a $265,000 grant to LION to support recommendations from our Sustainability Audit for up to 40 independent newsrooms in New England. Learn more: lionpublishers.com/lion-to-help...

🏆 👏 21 LION members have been named winners of the 2025 Sustainability Awards! Read about them and their exceptional work: lionpublishers.com/21-lion-memb...

💙 Sponsor support makes the 2025 Summit possible, and this year, we’ve added new features and improved existing ones, thanks to our À la Carte sponsors @rjionline.bsky.social, @bluelena.io, @democracyfund.bsky.social, @lenfestinstitute.org, Spot-On, and Flying Comet Games. See you next week!

💫 Shoutout to our incredible Vanguard 2025 Summit sponsors, including AP Fund for Journalism, Broadstreet, Jobcase, Nextdoor, Newspack, Press Forward, and Creative Circle Media Solutions. Most will be joining us in St. Louis next week; last call to join us! lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

St. Louis, here we come! In a couple of weeks @lionpubs.bsky.social's Independent News Sustainability Summit lands, with this slick design available on t-shirts only for in-person attendees...

✨ We’re thrilled to welcome @knightfoundation.org back as a sponsor of our 2025 Summit! We spoke with Marisa Kwiatkowski, director for the journalism program, to learn more about how they make essential tools more accessible to independent publishers. Read the Q&A: lionpublishers.com/how-knight-f...

💫 Fewer than 85 tickets remain for the 2025 Summit, and only about 50 are still up for grabs for the LION Awards. And now... 🥁 🥁 🥁... we’re excited to reveal our full schedule. Check it out: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/... Let the FOMO set in; you won't want to miss this one!

🎤 ✨ Can’t wait for this 2025 Summit session covering how our Sustainability Audit drives growth for LIONs, feat. @berkeleyscanner.com, @johnsoncountypost.bsky.social, @shoresides.bsky.social, @newsfromgoogle.bsky.social, and our Audit program expert. Don't miss it: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

💸 Want to save time and bring in more dollars? Of course you do! Find out how 2025 Summit sponsor, @newspack.com, helps local news leaders publish impactful journalism, grow their audiences, and ultimately, increase revenue. lionpublishers.com/how-newspack...

🎤 ✨ Moving beyond founder leadership is a key milestone for newsrooms. In the 2025 Summit session, "What it takes to transition (successfully!) from a founder-led news outlet to next-gen leadership," you'll hear success stories and tips from those who've done it. lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🎤 ✨ During our 2025 Summit opening keynote, you’ll hear firsthand how LION members used #PressForward grants to strategically grow their businesses; join us in St. Louis: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

💅 We first shared our Maturity Model for #independentnews publishers in 2023 after delivering 200 Sustainability Audits. Now, 450 Audits in, aka armed with more than twice as much data, we've given our model a glow-up: lionpublishers.com/double-the-d...

🎤 ✨ Who said work can’t be fun? At the 2025 Summit, we’ll hear from these news leaders during “Four practical ways to amplify joy and impact through community engagement,” featuring real-life (and replicable!) examples that got results. Join us! lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🚀 Want to boost your audience strategy? 2025 Summit sponsor @bluelena.io's Mariangela Salmeron shares how they help indie publishers turn readers into loyal, long-term supporters (plus, shoutout to LION member Fredericksburg Free Press!): lionpublishers.com/how-bluelena...

📣 Excited to share that we're one of 22 projects selected for #PressForward's Open Call on Infrastructure funding; this $1M grant will allow us to provide expert HR and financial consulting services to up to 80 indie news publishers. Learn more: lionpublishers.com/lion-publish...

🎤 ✨ News entrepreneurs without experience selling advertising often don’t know where to start, and during this 2025 Summit session, these news leaders will share valuable strategies and tips to help you take the first (and subsequent!) steps. Join us in St. Louis: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

💡 We're big fans of 2025 Summit sponsor @rjionline.bsky.social, as they've helped many of our members explore new ideas and connect with their communities. Read this Q&A with their director of innovation, Kat Duncan, to learn more: lionpublishers.com/how-rji-help...

🎤 ✨ Want to start working with influencers? At the 2025 Summit, you’ll have the chance to participate in a practical workshop on this hot topic, led by @phillydesign.bsky.social, @samragland.bsky.social, Ariel Zirulnick, and @adrianalacy.com. Learn more: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

💥 We're thrilled to announce that 51 member organizations are finalists for the 2025 LION Sustainability Awards! Check out our list of outstanding publishers and plan to join us in St. Louis this September for the big celebration! lionpublishers.com/meet-the-51-... #LIONAwards25

🎤 ✨ Many news orgs aim to be more inclusive, but genuine allyship goes beyond surface-level representation. At the 2025 Summit, these news leaders will share real-world examples and strategies to help you integrate allyship into your own organization. lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

👀 If you’re seeing this, consider this your sign to secure your spot at the 2025 Summit. ✨ 95% of last year's participants said they'd attend again, thanks to stellar educational sessions, ample networking opportunities, and our LION Awards Ceremony. Join us in STL: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🎤 ✨ Organizational change can bring up *big feelings* within teams. At the 2025 Summit, Santa Cruz Local's Kara Meyberg Guzman and @documentedny.bsky.social's Mazin Sidahmed will share candid insights on how to support your newsroom through big transformation. lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

⏰ LAST CALL: Today is the deadline to apply for our expanded Sustainability 360 program! We’re seeking 40 LION member newsrooms to receive a year of free, expert support. Interested? Apply by 8 p.m. ET: lionpublishers.com/lion-seeks-4...

🎤 ✨ It’s not easy to play digital defense these days, but there are ways to help protect your stories, sources, and personal safety online. Discover how during this 2025 Summit session with local news/tech experts Anne Galloway and @staceypee.bsky.social. Register: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🎤 ✨ In 2021, @cardinalnews.org launched with $300k and 3 staff. Now, they're a $1.8M, 20-person newsroom. During this 2025 Summit session, “Your budget tells a story: Make it a good one,” they'll share how to use your budget to power your vision. Sign up: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🎤 ✨ Want to transform casual readers into a vibrant, paying community that supports your local newsroom? Of course you do! ‪@aanpublishers.bsky.social‬'s Todd Stauffer will teach you how to master the funnel at the 2025 Summit. Reserve your spot: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🎤 ✨ There’s a powerful yet often overlooked 💲 stream available to local newsrooms: mid-level and major gifts. And you don't need to be a nonprofit (or have fundraising staff) to access it. At the 2025 Summit, @bluelena.io's Judi Kamien will show you how. Join us: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🎤 ✨ Thinking about adding a revenue-focused role to your team? At the 2025 Summit, #localnews leaders @ccolbert.bsky.social, Megan Stokes, and @kspence09.bsky.social will guide you through the entire process, from budgeting for the role to onboarding. Get a ticket: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🚀 We’re seeking 40 LION members to participate in our next Sustainability 360 cohort and receive one year of free, hands-on, tailored support. Check out the details and apply by 6/9 at 8 p.m. ET lionpublishers.com/lion-seeks-4...

🎤 ✨ Is that grant-funded reporting project worth your time? Find out at the 2025 Summit during this session with @poynterinstitute.bsky.social's @poynter-jon.bsky.social, @planetdetroit.org's Nina Ignaczak, and 100 Days in Appalachia's Dana Coester. Get tickets: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

“Find your people” at the 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit. 💙 Get your tickets today: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/... youtu.be/uhObxJtvk-8?...

☀️ FL publisher Mainstreet Daily News is earning ~$100k/year from its membership program. We sat down with publisher J.C. Derrick to discover how they’re doing it. Read the Q&A 👇 lionpublishers.com/the-florida-...

✨ One of the best things about the Summit is the chance to be in community with the people who make #independentnews possible. Join 500+ #indienews leaders, publishers, #journalists, vendors, funders, and advocates at our annual gathering this Sept. 3-5: lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/

🚨 LIONs: Final call to submit your entries for the 2025 LION Sustainability Awards! The deadline is TODAY (4/16) at 5 p.m. PT. Your work has made a difference to your readers, your community, and your colleagues. We'd love to see it recognized. ✨ lionawards.awardsplatform.com?fbclid=IwY2x...

⏰ We’re 5 days away from our 2025 LION Sustainability Awards submission deadline! Explore all the award categories, set up an account, and submit your entries by 4/16 at 5 p.m. PT: lionawards.awardsplatform.com

✨ In this week’s LION newsletter ✨ 🏆 Here’s what seven years of hosting the LION Awards has taught us: small actions can lead to big victories 📣 Free coaching sessions for Canadian members coming soon 🐦 Only 31 early bird Summit tickets remain (Update: 23) mailchi.mp/lionpublishe...

🦁 members: Apply for a peer learning group by 5 p.m. PT TODAY! We've got 10 groups total, so whether you're looking to connect with other LIONs around business needs, news leader identity, or serving specific audiences, there's a group for you! lionpublishers.com/sign-up-to-j...

✨ In this week's LION newsletter ✨ ✅ 5 sustainability tips for every publisher, from the 354 we've helped 🚨 Only half of our early bird Summit tickets remain (grab yours before they're gone!) 🔦 The power of @calmatters.org's Digital Democracy tool mailchi.mp/lionpublishe...

We are selling early bird tickets now for the @lionpubs.bsky.social Independent News Sustainability Summit; we only have 100 and we're down nearly to half, so now's the time to save if you're joining us in St. Louis in September. Come hang! lionpublishers.com/summit-2025/