🙌 Check out our list of 50+ resources for Canadian news entrepreneurs
When Canadian publisher and LION member Nikita Roy started The NRI Nation, she found it difficult to navigate all the potential resources she could tap, including funding. As part of LION’s ongoing research into the Canadian independent media ecosystem, we worked with Nikita to compile this Airtable list of more than 50 funding and support opportunities for Canadian news entrepreneurs, and shared the highlights in this post.
Got others we should add to the list? Let us know at [email protected].
– Anika Anand, LION’s deputy director
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8 resources for independent publishers
1. Start thinking like a product leader. Apply for the News Product Alliance’s News Product Management Certification (NPMC), a rigorous, part-time, and virtual program for mid to senior-level news professionals looking to bolster product development and innovation skills. (Apply by Nov. 3)
2. Submit a proposal for the Catalyst Grant Program. The program helps nonprofits address inequities in the criminal legal system. (Apply by Nov. 17)
3. Get ready for Giving Tuesday. Classy, a giving platform, compiled this list of resources for creating a successful campaign. (Giving Tuesday is Nov. 28)
4. Shape your AI strategy. Attend Better Leaders Lab’s Deep Dive: Developing a Smart AI Business Strategy for Your Media Organization, a week-long online course for news leaders looking to create a comprehensive AI strategy. (Jan. 22-26, 2024)
5. Apply for the Reynolds Journalism Institute’s Women in Journalism Workshop, an annual program focusing on challenges, accomplishments, and issues specific to women in the journalism industry. (Apr. 12-14, 2024)
6. Shine a light on burnout. Complete the Reynolds Journalism Institute’s anonymous survey to help researchers discover what changes newsrooms and journalism schools might make to help prevent professional burnout.
7. Request complimentary access to NewsGuard’s browser extension. This tool provides reliability ratings for more than 35,000 news sources, and journalists can use it to evaluate source credibility, corroborate research findings, and more — email [email protected] to request a voucher.
8. Learn how to financially plan for the long haul with this six-part video series from the Nonprofit Finance Fund.
What we’re reading
Renewal sales success. How an effective renewal strategy may drive exponential growth for your organization. (Editor & Publisher)
TikTok tips. How The Baltimore Banner found success on TikTok, plus seven insights to help you get started on the platform. (The Lenfest Institute)
Soaring signups. How to boost your email subscriber signups with these ten tactics. (BlueLena)
Closing the gap. Why managing expectations is one of the most important skills a project manager should have, and five principles to start practicing now. (Harvard Business Review)
Creators covering news. How independent online creators are reshaping how people get their information, and the benefits and drawbacks of this seismic shift. (The Washington Post)
Local news, according to Black Americans. How often Black Americans consume local news, plus their views toward local coverage and journalists. (Pew Research Center)
LIONs in the news
Arizona Luminaria won our 2023 New LION Business of the Year Award in the small revenue tier, and we’re not the only ones celebrating their outstanding work.
The nonprofit newsroom was featured by the Reynolds Journalism Institute on how they have prioritized building a mindful, values-oriented work culture.
Their secret? According to Arizona Luminaria’s Irene McKisson, “[Take] the same time and care that you would take on the editorial side to also think through how you work on the HR side.”
Radical transparency, open and thoughtful communication, and iterative processes are just a few ways they have developed a strong internal foundation. Read the case study to learn more about their approach.
In other LION member news:
- Outlier Media, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, and Sahan Journal are featured in an article about why representation matters in local media, especially for Black Americans.
- Sahan Journal’s founder, Mukhtar M. Ibrahim, who started the newsroom in 2019 as a solopreneur and turned it into a 20-person operation with a $2.5 million annual budget, is stepping down as publisher and CEO to seek more work-life balance.
- Outlier Media staff published a memo explaining how they plan to cover the Israel-Hamas war through a local lens.
- Resolve Philly announced a new permanent name and brand identity for its news collaborative of 29 local newsrooms, The Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative (PJC), which evolved from ‘Broke in Philly’ and will address a broad spectrum of critical issues affecting Philly residents.
How to reach us
When you reply to this email, we all receive it, and you’ll hear back from one of us. You can also email us directly at [email protected].