Google will redesign the ads on five LION sites for free; here’s how to apply

Introducing the Google Ad Accelerator Program, exclusively for LION Publishers. Yes, that’s right: We are partnering with Google to launch an advertising accelerator program, just for our members. Google will be working with five LION member sites, which will receive hands-on development and consulting services. These publishers will work closely in a ‘lab’ format with

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Preliminary schedule released for LION Summit

Planning to join us in Nashville? Well, if you are on the fence, the new preliminary schedule should help you make up your mind – you won’t want to miss our great lineup of keynotes, panels, workshops and more. And don’t forget our first annual LION Awards Show & Dinner! Thanks to our fantastic LION

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LION Summit news: Roxann Stafford, Mandy Jenkins added as speakers

We’re looking forward to seeing you in Nashville this fall at the LION Summit. We have more speakers to announce, as well as some fantastic sponsors! SPEAKERS Elizabeth Green, Chalkbeat, American Journalism Project Roxann Stafford, Lenfest Institute for Journalism Mandy Jenkins, The Compass Experiment Michele McLellan, Michele’s List GOLD SPONSORS Google Facebook SILVER SPONSORS JSK Fellowships

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How to get the first LION Publishers T-shirts of 2019

I’m very pleased to present the first T-shirt order of 2019. These high-quality Hanes tagless t-shirts are available (for now!) in sizes L and XL to those who buy a ticket for the 2019 LION Summit, while supplies last. Because, look: We have been hard at work building out a conference program — Elizabeth Green

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Introducing the first-ever LION Publishers Local Journalism Awards

Which site will win LION Publisher of the Year? Join us in Nashville to find out, when we unveil our judges’ choice for this capstone category of LION Publishers’ very first awards program, now accepting nominations from LION members. We’ll be handing out awards on October 25th in Nashville, during the second night of our

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LION welcomes Chris Krewson as executive director

Local Independent Online News Publishers, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local journalism entrepreneurs, on Wednesday named Chris Krewson its executive director. Krewson most recently was vice president of strategy for Spirited Media, which until March was the parent company of three independent news sites: Billy Penn, The Incline and Denverite. He was the

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LION receives $1 million commitment from Knight Foundation to bolster local news

News release Contact: Kelly Gilfillan, kellygilfillan@lionpublishers.com Miami — March 31 — The Local Independent Online News Publishers organization has been awarded a three-year, $1 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the philanthropy announced today. The grant will allow LION to expand its staff with experts to train its nearly 250 members

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LION broadens membership criteria and outreach to grow community of local independent publishers

The 13-member LION Board of Directors expands the group’s outreach, programs, and infrastructure after a weekend retreat in Dallas. The strategic-planning session came at a time when concerned citizens nationwide are worried about the state of local news. LION believes the future is bright, and the organization is devoted to leading the way in creating and nurturing local independent online newsrooms.

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LION members will have access to ASNE Legal Hotline

The American Society of News Editors is partnering with the Local Independent Online News Publishers to expand its recently improved Legal Hotline service. Under this partnership, members of LION will gain free access to the new ASNE Legal Hotline Facebook group, through which they can run their legal questions by ASNE Legal Counsel Kevin Goldberg and interact with other news leaders about legal issues in a timely manner.

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How mentorship is helping local online news sites reach sustainability

Local publishers from Wisconsin, Michigan and New Orleans shared early lessons from a new program that uses mentorship to help independent online news sites build advertising support in their communities Friday at a LION Publishers summit at the Investigative Reporters & Editors conference in Orlando.

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LION is accepting applications for investigative reporting grants

Last week’s news that The Denver Post would cut one-third of its already shrunken newsroom was a stark reminder of the plight of legacy newspapers and local accountability journalism.

Local independent online news organizations are emerging all over the country to fill the gaps, but two big questions loom: Can they implement a sustainable business model? And can small local news operations do the same kind of investigative and accountability journalism — work critical to democracy — that newspapers are abandoning?

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LION will offer investigative local news reporting grants

LION Publishers will offer mini-grants to members to support local investigative reporting projects with the support of the Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation. LION will receive a $25,000 grant from the foundation to assist members with building capacity for accountability journalism, it was announced Friday.

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Reader Revenue Summit planned for April 6 in New Jersey

As news organizations across the U.S. continue to experiment with altered business models and new streams of revenue, it’s become clear that building reader revenue needs to be part of nearly everyone’s strategy.

To help news publishers think through different ways they could approach building a business with their audience, the Center for Cooperative Media and LION Publishers are teaming up to host a workshop on reader revenue, set for Friday, April 6, at Montclair State University.

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