🤗 The big list of journalism support organizations and what they offer

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As LION Publishers continues to grow, new and prospective members often ask us where to look for funding, training, resources, and connection opportunities.

So to help save folks’ time researching all the other organizations out there (and there are many!), we’ve compiled a list of the most current, relevant resources and opportunities fellow journalism support organizations can provide independent news businesses.

To narrow your search further, we’ve categorized this list by four questions people typically ask, depending on their needs and interests, e.g., “Where should I look for funding?” and “Where can I find consulting services?”

Check out our list, and if you have any suggestions for additions, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected].

– Hayley Milloy, LION’s marketing manager

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MacArthur Foundation president to speak at 2024 Summit

We selected Chicago as the host city of our 2024 Independent News Sustainability Summit for several reasons: 1) it’s home to many of our earliest conferences, 2) it’s a central location for many LION members, and, perhaps most importantly, 3) it has one of the strongest local news ecosystems in the country.

So in that spirit, we’re excited to announce that John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation (headquartered in Chicago), will join us at this year’s Summit for a keynote address.

An accomplished author, legal scholar, and innovator with expertise in how new media is changing learning and education, Palfrey has been instrumental in the development of Press Forward. Alongside fellow to-be-announced speakers, he’ll share how Chicago’s community built a culture of supporting local news.

View our developing schedule, and secure your early bird Summit ticket today.

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9 resources for independent publishers

1. Center community voices this election season. Join the Reynolds Journalism Institute for a free online panel discussion on utilizing community-centered ideas and initiatives this election season, featuring LION members Spotlight PA’s Elizabeth Estrada and LA Public Press’ Mariah Castañeda. (May 31)

2. Get expert advice when applying for Press Forward funding. If you plan to apply for a $100K Press Forward grant, sign up for two free consulting sessions to work on your application with a fundraising coach, courtesy of the Lenfest Institute.

3. Attend Black Owned Media Weekend. Hosted in Detroit, MI, this conference will convene Black media owners/publishers for community-building and resource sharing, programming on business longevity, and cultural activities. (June 6-9)

4. Create compelling Canva designs. Register for this free webinar from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which will cover how to create eye-catching, accessible graphics in Canva and streamline your design process. (June 13) Reminder: LION members earning less than $50K in annual revenue and nonprofit member organizations of all revenue tiers can receive free unlimited access to Canva’s premium features.

5. Attend OpenNews’ SRCCON 2024. This peer-led conference in Minneapolis, MN, is designed for those who want to change journalism by creating more intentional processes, better relationships with the communities they serve, and new ways to engage and inform people. (Aug. 15-16)

6. Nominate a local news outlet. The Medill Local News Initiative seeks another batch of “Bright Spots” to highlight in its 2024 report; its State of Local News 2023 report shared the success stories of 17 media outlets nationwide.

7. Get inspired. This Center for Community Media report demonstrates how local news outlets are meeting the information needs of immigrant communities, complete with a directory of newsrooms and case studies.

8. Promote your work. This Marketing for Local News series from the American Press Institute includes exercises, advice, and resources to help small news organizations promote their impact and offerings.

9. Advocate for access. This resource guide created by Poynter and CUNY’s Center for Ethics and Leadership provides case studies and recommendations for what to do when you’re “shut out” from accessing important sources.

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What we’re reading

A matter of time. Press Forward Director Dale Anglin expresses her hope that journalism and philanthropy can come together at comparable speed and stresses the importance of “agreed-upon” language in the local news ecosystem. (Nieman Lab)

INN impact report. The Institute for Nonprofit News made great strides in 2023; one major milestone: INN members raised $47M from individual donors during the 2023 NewsMatch campaign. (INN) And speaking of fundraising, this Nieman Lab article shares an example of how urgent, “stress-inducing” subject lines prompted more donor giving.

Covering conflict. The toil and triumph of Palestinian student journalists covering university protests. (Teen Vogue) Plus, how Open Campus reporters are contributing to the national narrative. (Open Campus, Medium)

To lock or unlock? How online news outlets around the world have addressed paywalls during election season. (International News Media Association)

Left out. Who is — and is not — eligible for New York’s new $90M tax credit for local news outlets. (Gothamist)

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LIONs in the news

It’s been a big couple of weeks for MLK50. 🎉

Not only did they receive a five-year, $500K grant from the Knight Foundation, but their founder, Wendi C. Thomas, has announced that she’ll be stepping down as the newsroom’s sole leader to return to investigative work.

A clear indication of the outlet’s ability to adapt and do what’s best for its team, they are now moving to a shared leadership model and seeking a co-executive director to join Adrienne Johnson Martin at the helm.

Congrats to MLK50 on their continued success — and for everything that comes next!

In other LION member news:

⭐ Flint Beat’s Jiquanda Johnson has been nominated for two Emmy Awards.

⭐ Planet Detroit has welcomed Laprisha Berry Daniels as its first executive director.

⭐ The New Bedford Light is hiring an executive editor.

⭐ Grist has acquired the nonprofit news site The Counter, launched a food and agriculture vertical, and hired two new staffers, Ayurella Horn-Muller and Frida Garza.

⭐ Mississippi Free Press, The Austin Chronicle, Tucson Sentinel, Reno News & Review, INDY, Coachella Valley Independent, Orlando Weekly, and Creative Loafing Tampa Bay have been nominated for various Association of Alternative Newsmedia Awards.

⭐ AfroLA’s Zoli Csernatony and Dana Amihere and The Salt Lake Tribune’s Alex Partida have been accepted into the 2024-2025 class of RJI Fellows.

⭐ VTDigger is hiring a night editor.

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