LION Publishers

Local Independent Online News Publishers

LION: Wisconsin lawmakers should take clear-eyed look at journalism center

The Board of Directors of Local Independent Online News Publishers expresses concern over a vote by Wisconsin legislators to evict the nonprofit, nonpartisan Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism from the University of Wisconsin campus....Read more»

Indie pride: LION Publishers membership tops 100

Membership in Local Independent Online News Publishers has reached more than 100, the national educational nonprofit announced, including more than 90 dues-paying CEOs of local indie news sites....Read more»

Sez who? LION joins call for accuracy, attribution

LION Publishers back industry-wide statement on plagiarism, ethics: Reporters do a lot of things to earn their keep, what we get paid for is something that should never be questioned, never be for sale. Trust....Read more»

New Board member: Denise Civiletti

Denise Civiletti, the editor and publisher of RiverheadLOCAL.com, was recently selected by the Board of Directors to help lead LION Publishers. ....Read more»

Join LION

​Join the nation's only association dedicated to Local Independent Online News Publishers. ....Read more»

Our mission & values

We share a passion for quality journalism and a determination to focus our energies on the health of our online publications as businesses, whether for profit or nonprofit....Read more»

LION: Wisconsin lawmakers should take clear-eyed look at journalism center

The Board of Directors of Local Independent Online News Publishers expresses concern over a vote by Wisconsin legislators to evict a nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism organization from the University of Wisconsin campus.

In the dark of the night, Wisconsin legislators voted Wednesday to evict the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism from the UW-Madison campus.

The 12-4 party-line vote in the Joint Finance Committee was led by the Legislature's Republicans, who added a provision to a state budget proposal that would boot the nonprofit investigative news service from the Madison campus, and prohibit any university employees from working for the center as part of their official duties.

The WCIJ runs WiscsonsinWatch.org, producing independent nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative journalism. The Center is a member of the national Investigative News Network and its executive director, Andy Hall, is one of the more than 100 members of Local Independent Online News Publishers.

The Board of Directors of LION Publishers calls upon Wisconsin legislators to assess all of the facts involved before making a final decision on evicting the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and ending the successful collaboration between the Center and the university.

The more than 100 members of LION Publishers are dedicated, as is the staff of WCIJ, to reporting local news with integrity and accuracy. Solid, comprehensive information such as is reported by the Center is key to an informed society and wise choices.

We believe that a little bit of daylight always leads to better decisions. Read more»

Indie pride: LION Publishers membership tops 100; More than 90 local news sites represented

Membership in Local Independent Online News Publishers reached more than 100 at the beginning of June, the national educational nonprofit announced Tuesday.

LION Publishers members include more than 90 dues-paying CEOs of local indie news sites around the country.

"We're extremely proud that LION's members represent the continuing success of independent local news sites," said Dylan Smith, chairman of LION's Board of Directors.

LION's members operate news organizations from Hawaii to Brooklyn, from the Grand Tetons to the Alamo, covering urban, suburban and rural communities.

LION's recruiting effort was bolstered by The Patterson Foundation, which helped underwrite LION's early organizational costs and matched up to half the dues of the new members.

"Support from The Patterson Foundation meant the world to us as we recruited news entrepreneurs to LION," said Charlotte-Ann Lucas, who chairs the Membership Committee. Read more »

New Board member: Denise Civiletti

Denise Civiletti, the editor and publisher of RiverheadLOCAL.com, was recently selected by the Board of Directors to help lead LION Publishers. Read more »

Sez who? LION joins call for accuracy, attribution

Reporters do a lot of things to earn their keep: interview public figures, comb through the fine print of public records, attend community events, work to offer comprehensive background on the tough questions we face together. But what we get paid for is something that should never be questioned, never be for sale. Trust.

This past weekend, an industry-wide group of journalism organizations came together to make a stand on issues that cut to the quick of our collective credibility: plagiarism and fabrication. The solution we call for isn't a mere band-aid to be slapped on, but a comprehensive practice that can only serve to make all reporting better: attribution.

As those building the future of local news, Local Independent Online News Publishers are dedicated to fostering excellence and upholding high professional standards. We support the premise that principled journalism is honest, accurate and transparent. As professional journalists, we must demand that of ourselves, lest our readers come to expect any less. Read more »

LION members reach settlement with sheriff over blacklist

The publishers of a California news site, LakeCoNews.com, have settled a lawsuit against a local sheriff after his office agreed to stop blacklisting them and provide public records.

John Jensen and Elizabeth Larson, members of LION Publishers, reported that a stipulated judgment was reached in their case against Lake County Sheriff Frank Rivero. Read more »

Join LION today!

Become a member of the nation's only nation's only association dedicated to Local Independent Online News Publishers, who are successfully creating the future of reporting: locally owned and operated news outlets that directly serve their communities.

Benefits

Knowledge & networking

LION Publishers share their expertise in editorial, technical, business, advertising sales, marketing and fundraising with their peers. Network with a pool of online news pioneers who are proving daily that local online news does work.

Representation

As a member of LION Publishers, you and your organization will be associated with a group of the most recognized and respected local news sites in the nation. The association works as an advocate for local independent news sites, raising our public profile and standing in the industry.

Efficiency & effectiveness

LION is dedicated to improving our members' businesses, on both the editorial and revenue side. Members share their strategies on running news operations that are growing, not shrinking.

Read more about member benefits »

LION Board elects new members Hussey and Tuzon Boyd

The LION Publishers Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election to two new Directors: Ikaika Hussey and Brandy Tuzon Boyd.

Hussey, the editor and publisher of the Hawaii Independent, and Tuzon Boyd, the founder and publisher of the Natomas Buzz, were elected on unanimous votes of the Board.

In another Board move, Krystal Knapp of PlanetPrinceton.com was chosen as the organization's Secretary. She replaces founding Board member Mike Fourcher, who stepped down from the LION Publishers Board. Knapp, who also heads up LION's Conference Committee, was unanimously elected as Secretary. The Board expressed its collective appreciation to Fourcher for his vital role in the conception and establishment of the network of local publishers.

Hussey is the editor and publisher of the Hawaii Independent, an online news magazine dedicated to civic journalism. He has led and served in both the public and private sector, and is active on numerous community boards. Ikaika is a parent and a performing musician.

Tuzon Boyd started her journalism "career" in 7th grade as a newspaper carrier. As a newspaper reporter, she covered everything from use of the controversial pesticide methyl bromide in the Salinas Valley to implementation of welfare reform programs in South Sacramento. She returned to her community journalism roots with the 2008 launch of The Natomas Buzz. The Buzz is an independent, hyperlocal news website born out of a concern that the Sacramento region's largest, fastest-growing neighborhood was not being covered by the mainstream media.

Please join us in welcoming Ikaika and Brandy to the Board. We're very pleased to have their help in leading the way to a vision of healthy, quality local news.

Our mission

Foster the viability and excellence of locally focused independent online news organizations and cultivate their connections to their communities through education and action.

Our values

We share a passion for quality journalism and a determination to focus our energies on the health of our online publications as businesses, whether for profit or nonprofit.

We approach our tasks with an entrepreneurial spirit and a belief that individually and collectively we are setting the pace for a new era of local news publishing.

We are dedicated to championing the local online news industry, in the firm belief that independent publishers are establishing the template for successful local digital news organizations - just as independent publishers did for print newspapers in the 19th century.

We declare the best strategy to ensure that local communities are served by quality professional reporting is the promotion and support of local independent online news publishing.

We are committed to strong local independent journalism, whether in small towns or big cities, to tell the stories that reflect their residents and build a sense of place, and to shine an informative light that allows citizens to make wise decisions. The Internet is worldwide, but every neighborhood's story is individual.

Our strategic goals

  • To identify and implement successful strategies for maintaining and expanding member sustainability, readership and community impact
  • To pool knowledge and resources, promote collaboration, and leverage economic opportunities as a group
  • To lead technological and operational innovation to advance efficiency and quality in our industry
  • To uphold high professional standards, identify best practices and support members through education, and recognize excellence in local online reporting
  • To advance the case for strong local independent online journalism and represent membership interests in the public sphere
  • To found and develop a stable, financially sustainable organization that serves member organizations, their staffs, local communities and the broader industry

Follow us at twitter.com/LIONPubs and facebook.com/LionPublishers

Board of Directors

Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc. incorporated in August 2012. The Patterson Foundation provided support for the initial organizational effort. The Board of Directors, chosen in June, includes publishers from a diverse group of news sites across the country: urban neighborhoods, medium-sized cities, rural towns, and regional sites:

Independent Local Online News Publishers Association Formed

On September 30, 2011, during the Block by Block conference at Loyola University Chicago, 21 local independent online publishers from across the United States voted to form an association.

A steering committee was appointed to further organize the association.

Questions should be directed to Dylan Smith, chairman of the Board of Directors of LION Publishers, at dylansmith@lionpublishers.com.

Signing members

Our mission

Foster the viability and excellence of locally focused independent online news organizations and cultivate their connections to their communities through education and action.

Members

LION has nearly 105 members. Here are a few:

  • Baron Sekiya — Hawaii 24/7
  • Eddie North-Hager — Silver Lake Star
  • Suzanne McBride — AustinTalks
  • Charlotte-Anne Lucas — NOWCastSA.com
  • Glenn Burkins — qcitymetro.com

See our full member list »