45 LION members selected for Sustainability Audit’s 2024 October-December cycle

We’re excited to announce the final 45 LION members participating in the LION Sustainability Audits and Funding program this year, which helps independent news businesses identify and overcome barriers to reaching sustainability. To date, 309 LION members, more than half of LION’s total membership, have participated in the program, receiving funding and an action plan tailored to their organizational goals.

The program, supported by Knight Foundation and the Google News Initiative, includes a thorough assessment of each participating news business, actionable recommendations, resources, and up to $20,000 in direct funding to help them take the next steps toward organizational sustainability (see how we’ve charted the path to sustainability via our maturity model). These organizations will work with dedicated expert analysts who will offer guidance based on each organization’s needs and ambitions.

This is the final Sustainability Audit cycle of 2024. Learn more about the future of the Audit program here.

You can read more about each participating organization and their interest in the Audit below. Congratulations to these 45 news businesses as they continue along their journey to organizational sustainability!

#EnNYConMás

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: As an independent journalist who works by myself, participating in the Sustainability Audit will provide me with resources to increase my journalistic impact and audience while seeking financial stability. I will also be able to develop an operational structure that will provide me with the teachings needed to build new revenue streams, while allowing me to provide accurate information via high-quality video. Moreover, our news industry is facing some challenges, especially financial. Therefore, in the Sustainability Audit, I will learn how to fight those challenges and keep moving forward with my project.  

Mission: #EnNYConMás is a daily 10-15 minute news brief that seeks to keep the growing Hispanic population in the U.S. informed about the many issues affecting our communities.

Based in: Mount Vernon, New York

American Witness

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We are at a pivot point and need to have a clear strategy to maximize our opportunity. Unlike many news orgs, we actually have a really strong way forward and are looking to grow and evolve — not just survive. What does our path look like?

Mission: Changing communities’ relationships with their criminal justice systems. 

Based in: Washington, D.C.

Asheville Watchdog

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: Founded by a dedicated and intrepid team of Pulitzer prize-winning recently retired journalists in 2020, Asheville Watchdog is now at a critical juncture to build the supportive structure needed to grow the Watchdog, expand its newsroom, transition to a fully-staffed organization, and build sustainability. This will allow the Watchdog to increase its vital service to and engagement with Asheville and the Western North Carolina region.

Mission: Our mission is to inform and engage the citizens of Asheville and surrounding communities by providing fair, factual, and reliable in-depth news stories about local government, institutions, issues, and people. We believe that high-quality, independent local journalism is essential for a successful democracy.

Based in: Asheville, North Carolina

BG Independent News

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We are an eight-year-old enterprise facing the retirement of one founder. We started in crisis mode and surprisingly have managed to be cash-positive, though not lucrative. We need to move forward if the enterprise, which has garnered strong support, is to survive.

Mission: Our mission is to provide free news and quality journalism by professional, experienced journalists committed to the community of Bowling Green. 

Based in: Bowling Green, Ohio

Black Catholic Messenger

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: To strengthen our news business and increase revenue to make our publication sustainable in the long term. We seem to be in a bit of a holding pattern, which hampers our ability to perform the best work possible. We’d like to correct that if possible, despite our small size and limited resources. 

Mission: Black Catholic Messenger is an independent, nonprofit digital media publication covering stories of interest to African-American Catholics.

Based in: San Francisco, California

Coachella Valley Independent

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We’ve made a lot of changes to our operation in the last four years — some good (investing in our tech stack, revamping and increasing our newsletter strategy), some not great for the Independent (the publisher’s time has been divided between CVI and our new sister paper in Reno). Since we anticipate the publisher’s attention being mostly or fully back on CVI in the next 3-12 months, we want a game plan to move forward. 

Mission: The Coachella Valley Independent is the valley’s source of independent news, arts coverage, commentary and culture.  We believe in true, honest journalism: We want to afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted. We want to be a mirror for the entire Coachella Valley. We want to inform, enlighten and entertain. We will never let advertisers determine what we cover, and how we cover things. In other words, we will always tell it how we see it. For example: Some other publications in this valley do puff-piece reviews or feature stories on advertisers to make said advertisers happy. We will never, ever do that. If we lose an advertiser due to an unflattering story, a negative review or something else, so be it.

Based in: Palm Springs, California

CommonWealth Beacon

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: CommonWealth Beacon has two special opportunities in the near future to expand our readership, add members, and grow revenue — the hiring of a new editor-in-chief later this year and our 30th anniversary in 2026. We are excited to participate in this program to explore ways to leverage these opportunities to diversify and grow our revenue streams and enhance our business strategy for long-term sustainability. As our newsroom continues to evolve to better serve readers across Massachusetts with high-quality civic journalism, we look forward to working with LION Publishers to further strengthen our financial health.

Mission: CommonWealth Beacon’s mission is to contribute to a more inclusive and vibrant civic culture that makes our government more responsive and effective by providing rigorous coverage of important issues affecting life in Massachusetts.

Based in: Boston, Massachusetts

Corner Post Media/The Insider

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We’ve made it 30 years without a plan. Just think what a plan could do for us! 

Mission: To foster community connection, civic engagement, economic resilience and journalistic integrity for rural southern Utah.

Based in: Escalante, Utah

CTNewsJunkie.com

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: My company is in transition following the loss of a partner and lead reporter. I need to re-invent the methodology.

Mission: CTNewsJunkie’s mission is to remain a locally-owned and operated public service journalism organization covering politics and public policy in Connecticut.

Based in: Hartford, Connecticut

Deceleration.news

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: Deceleration is poised for rapid growth — in fact, it feels only limited by our ability to keep up with expanding readership and interest in partnerships. We desperately need to deepen our business model and create resources to serve an expanding readership by growing our revenue so we may support a larger staff and contributor base.

Mission: Deceleration is a nonprofit online journal producing original news and analysis responding to our shared ecological, political, and cultural crises. We write at the intersection of environment and justice — journalistically, academically, and creatively — with emphasis on our home communities and bioregion (the watersheds of San Antonio, South Texas, and the Gulf South, broadly). Deceleration is dedicated to cultivating radical imagination that goes to the roots of climate disturbance in historical systems of oppression while expanding and deepening the sorts of solutions we put into practice for protecting and creating the commons. 

Based in: San Antonio, Texas

Delaware Local Journalism Initiative / Spotlight Delaware

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: Spotlight Delaware launched earlier this year with significant start-up funding from both local and national philanthropic sources (locally from a community-based foundation, nationally from American Journalism Project, among others). But we know we cannot depend on philanthropic support for long-term sustainability, and we’re interested in finding ways to grow and stabilize our existing revenue streams (memberships, individual giving, sponsored content) while finding new revenue streams to create a solid foundation for the future.

Mission: Our mission is to inform and engage Delawareans with local news and information about public policy, how it affects their daily lives, and how they can advance the change they want to see.

Based in: Wilmington, Delaware

Door County Knock

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We’ve reached an exciting point of organizational growth and are excited to leverage the opportunities available to us to grow further, learning from the expertise available through the Sustainability Audit to grow local revenue streams and further solidify our organization’s long-term sustainability.

Mission: Door County Knock advances the truth; centers, and drives understanding of, critical issues that affect Door County residents’ lives; and holds powerful institutions accountable to the people, including by investigating betrayals of the public trust and other abuses of power.

Based in: Egg Harbor, Wisconsin

East End Beacon

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: Our organization has been building its audience for more than ten years but has been undercapitalized from day one and is weighed down by the strain of chronic low compensation, heavy workloads, and reliance on the contributions of volunteers. We have several revenue streams but not enough staff to build them out and make them sustainable.

Mission: The East End Beacon is a newspaper and online news portal (eastendbeacon.com) that serves the five towns of Eastern Long Island, New York (East Hampton, Southampton, Shelter Island, Southold and Riverhead). We are dedicated to providing online coverage of local news free of charge. Our focus is on exploring community-based solutions to social and environmental problems and coverage of local arts produced by people from all cultures and walks of life.

Based in: New Suffolk, New York

Feet in 2 Worlds

Interest in the Sustainability Audit:  We are interested in participating in the LION Sustainability Audit because, as a small organization with limited capacity, we focus most of our resources on programming. This Audit provides a valuable opportunity to create a sustainable path forward for our fundraising efforts and to reassess our revenue streams. We hope that the insights gained will help us secure long-term financial stability.

Mission: Feet in 2 Worlds (Fi2W) empowers immigrant journalists and documents the construction of a new American identity. We center immigrant voices and voices from communities of color. Our work brings meaningful and lasting change to the journalists we mentor and work with, our partners, and our audience.

Based in: New York, New York

Going Local Long Island

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We want to be a central hub to support all things Long Island local — the small businesses, the food trucks, the “helper” organizations — and amplify their missions through authentic coverage with “active and impactful” news — stories that sophisticated, on-the-go audiences can take with them while enjoying Long Island at all budgets and interests. As a small, entrepreneurial business ourselves, our expertise is in design and communication, and not necessarily in business models. Receiving advice from those in the know, the leaders of “old new media” and “new new media,” from those who have walked these same paths will prove invaluable for us and help us define a new media for new audiences.

Mission: We are an authentic, local-focused source for where to go, what to do, how to help, and for what impacts Long Islanders.

Based in: Huntington, New York

Heady NJ

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: I am committed to building a media company covering a niche topic that could help people. However, I need help. 

Mission: Heady NJ LLC is an Independent media company focused on New Jersey cannabis news. We cover the fight in New Jersey for medical and adult-use cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics legalization, along with the businesses springing forth and the culture surrounding it. Heady NJ regularly reports on the latest political changes and updates at the dispensaries, cultivators, and manufacturers in the New Jersey cannabis industry.  We want to provide you with the best in New Jersey cannabis news, culture, events, and reviews. Heady NJ favors just remedies to the War on Drugs, and an equitable New Jersey cannabis industry that includes an underground legacy to legal path and legal cannabis home growing. We are the ultimate hub for all things cannabis in New Jersey!

Based in: Livingston, New Jersey

Highway 58 Herald

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: The Highway 58 Herald is working to provide accurate news coverage along the Hwy 58 corridor. While I believe we have established a foothold, we are a volunteer organization striving to reach the next step. A LION Sustainability Audit would be a significant factor in our growth. 

Mission: The Highway 58 Herald is a non profit, nonpartisan news organization founded by volunteers to provide professional journalism and vital information as a free service to Oakridge and other communities along Oregon’s busiest mountain highway. Funded by donations, grants and advertising, this digital media platform is being created to fill a news vacuum in communities desperately in need of accurate, comprehensive and reliable information that citizens need to participate fully in community life and to stay safe in times of emergency. 

Based in: Oakridge, Oregon

Hispano Media Inc.

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We want to evaluate how we are doing. The results will serve to improve our editorial services. They will also serve as a basis for creating new products and advertising offerings for the Latin community.

Mission: Our mission is to empower the northern New Jersey immigrant community by providing our audience with daily information about the daily events of their local governments on issues such as schools, the economy, housing laws, taxes, job protection, health resources, assistance for immigrants, and legislative decisions. Our reporting is done in print and digital, as well as on social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Based in: White Plains, New York

India Currents Foundation

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We need an independent perspective on our business performance to understand where we stand.

Mission: India Currents is an award-winning, nonprofit, nonpartisan, ethnic media organization focused on the Indian American community. Our mission is to illuminate pivotal and timely narratives within the Bay Area diaspora and serve as an incubator for a new generation of diverse storytellers.

Based in: San Jose, California

Investigative Project on Race and Equity

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: As our organization transitions from start-up to operations mode, we are excited to build on our existing organizational plan to ensure sustainability.

Mission: The Investigative Project on Race and Equity trains journalists in data-driven reporting and collaborates with news organizations to uncover systemic racism through compelling stories that inform public discourse and drive change.

Based in: Chicago, Illinois

Kingston Springs Gazette

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We want to be around for generations to come, providing a trusted news source by locals for locals in rural middle Tennessee. The Sustainability Audit will help us see our gaps in coverage and operations so we can continue to build trust and provide critical coverage to Kingston Springs residents.  

Mission: The Kingston Springs Gazette aims to be a trusted, hyper-local news source for the community, covering all things local government, culture, and events.

Based in: Kingston Springs, Tennessee

Kingston Wire

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We hope the Audit will help us create an organization that has the stability and depth to attract and keep good people, and to do more with our journalism than we are currently able — deeper reporting, expanded coverage, and reaching new audiences. We have boot-strapped, jury-rigged, and pivoted our way to a marginally profitable operation, but it is by no means “sustainable” beyond trusting that we can exploit whatever opportunity might come along. We hope the Audit can help us find some breathing room. 

Mission: Our aim with Kingston Wire is to preserve local journalism at a time when many Kingston-based media outlets have shuttered publications, outsourced newsrooms or greatly diminished their coverage. We are dedicated to covering Kingston in a fair, objective manner with honest and accountable reporting. Local journalism is crucial for a community to understand and govern itself. An informed community is an empowered community.

Based in: Ellenville, New York

Londonderry Times / Nutfield Publishing LLC

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: I want to make sure my paper will survive, to expand it into other towns and maybe even the state, so it can continue to be the voice of the people, for the people to incite badly needed change.

Mission: A family owned and operated business working for over 20 years to supply local news and assist businesses in growing their reach to help them succeed.

Based in: Londonderry, New Hampshire

MercerMe

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: MercerMe is interested in participating in the LION Audit to build a stronger financial foundation and develop a strategic business plan. While revenue covers basic costs, it is not enough to pay operational staff — like the editor, publisher, and sales team (all of whom are one unpaid person right now) — support that is crucial for sustainability. The Audit will help us identify new revenue opportunities and provide insights into sustainable growth, ensuring MercerMe can continue to serve Hopewell Valley effectively.

Mission: MercerMe is dedicated to providing reliable, comprehensive, and free daily news coverage for Hopewell Valley, empowering our community through timely reporting on local government, events, and issues that matter. As the sole consistent news source in this news desert, we strive to uphold community journalism and foster an informed, engaged, and connected community.

Based in: Hopewell, New Jersey

MHF News

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: MHF News has shared updates about Henry County, Georgia, since 2017, but the business has struggled to achieve long-term financial sustainability. The LION Sustainability Audit will assist MHF News in better understanding how we can improve to achieve our long-term goals.

Mission: MHF News strives to keep Henry County residents informed about our community by sharing updates not found elsewhere. Through this work, we encourage residents to participate in and access their local government.

Based in: Locust Grove, Georgia

Montclair Local Nonprofit News

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We are a recently merged operation (summer 2023), and having the Sustainability Audit will allow us to take stock of where we are, consider opportunities and position ourselves for greater sustainability.  

Mission: Montclair Local Nonprofit News is an independent local news organization founded in 2017 with the mission to “spark dialogue, objectively inform and build community in Montclair.”

Based in: Montclair, New Jersey

Nashville Public Media/Nashville Banner

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: As a startup, I think it is important to track progress from the beginning. Our company is 90 percent journalists, and having an outside group look at our business and processes is important.

Mission: We exist to empower the people of Nashville to make informed decisions by providing non-partisan journalism from an independent, nonprofit newsroom.

Based in: Nashville, Tennessee

Plymouth Independent

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We are most interested in participating in the Sustainability Audit because we are motivated to ensure the PI has the funding to continue to be a reliable resource for the residents of Plymouth and beyond. With 18,000 free subscribers and nearly 500,000 unique visitors over the past nine months, we are aiming to find more and better ways to convert more readers to donors/supporters. Our current donor base is just under 1,500 donors, and we realize we need more and larger gifts to keep the PI running. 

Mission: The Plymouth Independent is a nonprofit digital news organization based in Plymouth and dedicated to serving the local community. Our mission is to inform and engage the public on important local issues, including government, education, culture and the environment, through our commitment to accuracy, professionalism and ethical journalism. We maintain editorial independence and a firewall between our news coverage decisions and our sources of funding to ensure that our journalism is free from fear or favor. Our goal is to promote transparency, accountability, and community engagement through reliable, fact-based journalism.

Based in: Plymouth, Massachusetts

Queer & Trans Wealth

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: I’m interested in participating in the Sustainability Audit because I want Queer & Trans Wealth to continue making an impact in people’s lives for years to come! I struggle to publish editions of my newsletter on a regular basis and some pressure off of the business side would really help with that.

Mission: Queer & Trans Wealth is dedicated to increasing the financial literacy and economic empowerment of queer & trans communities across the U.S.

Based in: North Hollywood, California

Rio Grande Guardian

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: I believe this is a great way to get us more organized so that we may provide our readers better news coverage.

Mission: Our mission is to provide our readers with impartial, informative reporting, and with an outlet for civic engagement and discourse on public policy, politics, government and other matters of border-wide concern.

Based in: McAllen, Texas

Roosevelt Islander Online

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: I have been the sole publisher, editor, reporter and revenue generator of Roosevelt Islander Online since 2007. I have been assisted by many resident volunteer contributors during this time. I am primarily interested in the Sustainability Audit to help me ensure the long-term viability of Roosevelt Islander Online as a news and info-gathering resource for the Roosevelt Island community.

Mission: To accurately inform Roosevelt Island residents, business owners, workers, government officials, non profit organizations, visitors and any other stakeholder in a timely and trusted manner about local community news, information and events.

Based in: New York, New York

Sahan Journal

Mission: To provide fair, groundbreaking news coverage that illuminates issues affecting Minnesota immigrants and communities of color and to chronicle how these communities are changing and redefining what it means to be a Minnesotan.

Based in: Saint Paul, MN

Southpoint Access

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: I’d like to make my ultra-local news project into a revenue-positive endeavor that also provides valuable information to the Durham community.

Mission: Local news matters.

Based in: Durham, North Carolina

The Intersection Magazine

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: I want to help move my organization forward. I want it to be sustainable, hire local reporters, and make the product better. 

Mission: The Intersection Magazine LLC is a Black-led local news organization reporting on Black and people of color in Prince George’s County, specifically South County. The Intersection is a part of the Black Press, which has a long tradition of serving the Black diaspora internationally and locally. The Intersection uses narrative storytelling to uplift, educate and challenge. 

Based in: Washington, D.C.

The Nevada Independent

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: Understand and implement best practices to understand and create sustainability checks and balances. 

Mission: The Nevada Independent is a statewide, reader-supported, digital-only nonprofit newsroom committed to illuminating the state’s most pressing issues, fostering insightful conversations and holding those in power to account. We tell the story of the Silver State and its people in a timely and nuanced way that promotes civic engagement and empowers Nevadans to improve their communities and quality of life.

Based in: Las Vegas, Nevada

The Salt Lake Tribune

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: In 2019, The Salt Lake Tribune was the first legacy newspaper to become a nonprofit. In the five years since, we have achieved profitability, become a digital-first operation, and diversified our revenue streams. As we now look to expand statewide and make Tribune journalism more accessible for Utahns, we are grateful to discover ways to strengthen our business, and make it more resilient, via this Audit.

Mission: Since 1871, The Salt Lake Tribune has been the independent voice of Utah, telling the stories others can’t — or won’t. The Tribune ensures that people know how Utah’s power players operate, surfaces solutions to challenges facing our communities, and provides Utahns with essential information for their daily lives. 

Based in: Salt Lake City, Utah

The San Diego Sun

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: The San Diego Sun is founded on good journalism focused on a hyperlocal region. We’d like to get insight on making the business side of the outlet strong enough to allow us to keep us creating the news stories that serve our primary mission.

Mission: The San Diego Sun exists to report on all the news that affects the downtown neighborhood of San Diego (92101). We aim to keep an open dialog going on homelessness, as well as all aspects of residential life in the city.

Based in: San Diego, California

The Shoestring

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We heard through word of mouth that the Audit process was very helpful to our peer newsrooms, and it sounds like exactly the kind of work that we struggle to prioritize. And a five-figure grant is always welcome.

Mission: The Shoestring is an independent news publication in Western Massachusetts that provides in-depth and accurate journalism covering local politics, culture, and power.

Based in: Northampton, Massachusetts

The Washington Informer

Mission: The Washington Informer is a Black, woman-owned multimedia news organization serving the African-Americans in the DMV.

Based in: Washington, D.C.

The Yellow Springs News

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: The Yellow Springs News is at an inflection point and must find a pathway to survival. We need assistance in reviewing our current business structure for future growth with a particular eye towards new revenue streams and business stability.

Mission: The Yellow Springs News is an award-winning independent weekly newspaper serving residents of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and Miami Township. 

Based in: Yellow Springs, Ohio

Tri-Community NewsPlus

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: As Tri-Community NewsPlus shifts from a print-centric model to a digital-first approach, we’re focused on making news more accessible, particularly for younger generations. To support sustainable growth, we need to reevaluate our business model and newsroom workflow to better serve our rural, underserved community with localized news that regional sources don’t provide. By participating in this Audit, Tri-Community NewsPlus hopes to adapt to the evolving news landscape, strengthen its foundation, and remain a trusted news source beyond our tenure.

Mission: At Tri-Community NewsPlus, our mission is to deliver accurate, fair, and unbiased reporting that builds trust and credibility within the communities of Phelan, Pinon Hills, and Wrightwood. We strive to provide in-depth, community-centered reporting that reflects the diverse voices and perspectives of the Tri-Community. By supporting and promoting local businesses, preserving cultural heritage, and actively engaging with our readers, we empower residents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. We pledge to embrace innovative approaches to journalism, ensuring that Tri-Community NewsPlus remains the primary news source for our community for years to come.

Based in: Phelan, California

VoxPopuli Corp.

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We know how to do journalism. Our business acumen is lacking. We could use some guidance.

Mission: VoxPopuli produces reliable, fact-based, public-service journalism that makes local government more transparent, holds local leaders accountable and amplifies voices not typically heard in traditional media.

Based in: Winter Garden, Florida

Winchester News

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: Winchester News believes local news is so important that it should be accessible to all residents and not behind a paywall. However, in order to meet this goal, we must increase our readership and free subscribers and, in turn, our donors. We want to be a community asset with longevity and therefore need any advice that will help us be sustainable going forward.

Mission: The mission of Winchester News is to be a trusted and reliable source of local news.

Based in: Winchester, Massachusetts

Wrangell Sentinel

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: The Wrangell Sentinel will be 122 years old in November. That’s too much history to waste, but the next 122 years will require a different product — and I could use help in figuring that out.

Based in: Wrangell, Alaska

Yellow Scene Magazine

Interest in the Sustainability Audit: We are interested in participating in the LION Sustainability Audit because, despite producing award-winning journalism and making significant community impacts, it remains difficult for us to get by as a small team. We’ve achieved so much, but we recognize the need to strengthen our operations and create a more sustainable future for Yellow Scene. This Audit will help us identify areas for improvement and give us the financial support needed to implement changes that can ensure our continued growth and success.

Mission: YS provides community-based, hyper-local stories to Boulder County and the North Metro Area with a strict dedication to real journalism, editorial integrity, and stunning design. We believe there is power in reading the printed word and that factually based, interesting, and engaging content are at the core of serving the public good. 

Based in: Erie, Colorado

Audit Analysts

The analysts for 2024 are:

Anne Galloway is the founder and editor-at-large of VTDigger, the statewide newspaper of record for Vermont. In addition to her work as an investigative journalist, she has 13 years of experience in business planning, financial projections, management, growth strategies and fundraising. When she stepped down as executive director in 2022, the organization had 35 employees, a budget of more than $3 million, 10,000 contributing members and 600,000 readers a month.

Ariel Zirulnick is a media strategist working at the intersection of editorial, product, engagement, and revenue to help newsrooms do journalism with and for their communities and build systems that make that work sustainable. Most recently, she did that work as the director of news experimentation at LAist, where she led a small team that piloted new products, formats, features, and workflows to help the newsroom build its digital strategy. She also teaches a class on applying audience insights to news product strategy with the News Product Alliance’s News Product Management Certificate program. Prior to LAist, she led the Membership in News Fund and Membership Guide at the Membership Puzzle Project, a global public research project studying membership models in news. She also led The New Tropic, a news startup in Miami; reported from Nairobi; and edited the Christian Science Monitor’s Middle East coverage. She’s an alumna of the 2023 cohort of CUNY’s Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership, the Poynter Women’s Leadership Academy, and Miami Fellows.

Ashley Woods Branch is the vice president of growth and publisher success at BlueLena. She served previously as the executive director of the Fund for Equity in Local News and was founder and CEO of the Detour Detroit newsletter, a visiting Nieman fellow, a Marshall Memorial Fellow and a proud LION Awards winner. She is now a consultant who loves partnering with startup news publishers to help them tackle their biggest challenges and stay sane through the process. Ashley also worked with the Google News Initiative on initiatives like the GNI Startups Lab and coached more than 100 publications through a partnership with the Center for Cooperative Media. Before startup life, she led digital strategy for the Detroit Free Press.

Bene Cipolla is an organizational consultant and coach working with news organizations, media companies, and nonprofits. She loves to connect big ideas to on-the-ground execution and to build things — organizations, teams, workflows, projects — using a design thinking framework. In 2022, she wrapped up a five-year tenure at Chalkbeat, first leading the newsroom as editor and then, as publisher, setting up structures and practices to establish a multi-vertical operation, now known as Civic News Company. Over the course of her career, Bene has tackled just about every facet and format of journalism and media across film, video, radio, print, and digital. Her time in digital startups taught her about launching products, scaling organizations, managing operations, and driving revenue — experiences that enriched her work back in journalism when she returned. She’s a systems thinker with a creative streak (or a creative with a passion for systemic analysis), and she’s never believed in the left brain vs. right brain dichotomy. Bene lives in New York City and spends most of her free time cooking, eating, and talking about cooking and eating.

Christian Skotte (he/him/his) is an independent consultant who works with non-profits and media brands to grow their audience, deepen their impact, and craft sustainable futures. During his 20+ year career, he has created impactful digital campaigns, overseen organizational rebranding efforts, and built and mentored high performing teams. He’s passionate about journalism and its place in a functioning democracy. Christian was most recently director of growth and innovation at Grist, where he oversaw the audience growth, product, and partnership efforts. Before that, he spent eight years at Science Friday overseeing their digital, audience, and commercial income strategies. A former RJI fellow, he’s spoken at conferences in the U.S. and abroad on topics like digital media and audience growth. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife and child.

Dan Petty is the director of audience strategy for ProPublica. He leads the organization’s audience team, whose focus is to help ProPublica journalism reach wide, loyal and diverse audiences on and off the organization’s platforms. He was previously director of audience development at MediaNews Group, where he worked on editorial strategy, operations and business development and helped build the company’s digital subscription business. He previously spent seven years at the Denver Post in a variety of production and editing roles, and he has consulted for news organizations in Kazakhstan on behalf of the International Center for Journalists and the U.S. State Department. He received a bachelor of science in biology and journalism from the University of Richmond and an MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 2022.

Elaine Díaz is the associate director of coaching at LION Publishers. She was most recently the founder and editor-in-chief of Periodismo de Barrio, an independent investigative publication in Cuba, where she led coverage on social, environmental issues and climate change alongside fundraising and institutional development work. She has worked with SembraMedia, a non-profit that helps independent media in Ibero-America find and develop sustainable business models. Her work there included serving as an ambassador manager for a team of 16 ambassadors representing the digital media ecosystem across Latin America and as a mentor for Metis, a business mentorship program for women founders of independent digital media projects in the region. Additional career highlights include seven years as a professor of digital journalism at the University of Havana and a 2014-2015 Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.

Frances Dinkelspiel is the co-founder and former executive editor of Cityside, which runs Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside in California. Dinkelspiel and two journalist friends started Berkeleyside in 2009 and developed it from an all-volunteer, bootstrapped organization to a nationally recognized, award-winning nonprofit with a staff of 24 and a budget of more than $4 million. Since stepping down in 2022, Dinkelspiel has served as an Audit analyst for LION, joined the board of Highway 29, an organization working to strengthen the news ecosystem in Napa Valley, and informally advises other news start-ups. She continues to freelance (her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Beast, and elsewhere). She is the author of two bestselling nonfiction books, Towers of Gold and Tangled Vines.

Graham Ringo, a 20-year journalism veteran, is the vice president of customer success and growth at the News Revenue Hub in charge of client success and the point of contact for the organization’s newest tech venture, the News Revenue Engine. A proud Mizzou graduate and Online News Association board member, Graham has worked for major metros, digital behemoths, and scrappy digital nonprofit startups, and is a lover of the full-funnel approach, well-crafted CTAs, killer UX, and insider journalism speak.

Jennifer Mizgata is a consultant and coach who collaborates with organizations on program design, audience research, business and operational strategy. Specializing in digital innovation, leadership development and organizational change, Jennifer coaches managers, senior leaders and entrepreneurs on their careers and business strategies. She helps teams and individuals shift mindset, work more collaboratively and bring new products to market. With extensive experience working at the intersection of journalism and technology, she has worked as a program director, editor and business strategist, using human-centered design to build new products that respond to community needs and help create a more equitable world. She also teaches media, innovation and business strategy at American University and writes about improving work culture.

Joanne Griffith is the chief content officer for APM Studios, the podcast-production division of American Public Media. She is also the founder of En(title)d! Leaders, a conversation and coaching space for leaders of color in media. Joanne was the founding managing editor of the California Newsroom, an NPR regional news hub, where she worked closely with local newsrooms and independent online news organizations, developing strategies for audience engagement, guidance on editorial projects and training of newcomers and established newsroom leaders. Joanne is committed to diversity and inclusion in content creation, and the audiences that need it.

Maple Walker Lloyd is the senior director of development at Block Club Chicago. She works extensively on their fundraising strategies through philanthropic support, individual donations, events and corporate sponsorships. Previously, she was team coordinator for the Journalism and Media program at the MacArthur Foundation and weekend news anchor for WGN Radio. Maple holds a B.A. in Telecommunications from Bowling Green State University, and a Master’s degree in journalism from Full Sail University.

Ryan Tuck is a consultant and coach, advising organizations on all aspects of revenue-raising and audience-centric practices, in addition to product development, user experience, testing and analytics. He specializes in performance-driven change and strategic planning. He has led programming for and coached organizations of all sizes and forms throughout the world. Previously, he worked for about two decades in various roles in and outside the newsroom for a range of organizations, from The New York Times to digital-only startups. He has a B.A. in journalism and political science (and Spanish) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master’s certificate in technology and communication also from UNC, and a law degree from the University of Georgia. Ryan believes that life is best lived busily and with empathy and a constant hunger to learn — and grow. Because he believes so deeply in staying busy, he lives in the eastern United States with his five children and a dog.

Shay Totten is the newsroom success manager at the American Press Institute. Shay works with newsrooms that utilize API’s proprietary analytics tools, Metrics for News and Source Matters. Most recently, Shay led the growth and membership strategy at The Compass Experiment (a collaboration between the Google News Initiative and McClatchy) that launched digital newsrooms in underserved communities. He has previously worked as a consultant for the News Revenue Hub, LION Publishers, Inside Climate News, as well as other mission-driven organizations on audience engagement and membership best practices as well as strategic communications. Before working in audience and membership roles, Shay spent more than 15 years in publishing and communications — in top editorial and communication positions at a national nonfiction book publisher, as well as an investigative reporter, political columnist, newsroom editor, and founder and publisher of a digital-print hybrid news organization in Vermont in the early 2000s.

Shira T. Center is the general manager for editorial revenue and strategy at Boston Globe Media. In this role, Shira oversees news programs and products that drive commercial revenue growth, such as the editorial calendar, live journalism events, sponsorships and newsletters. Before pioneering this unique role, Shira was a political journalist for 15 years, both in Washington, D.C., and Boston. She is an alumna of the Poynter Institute’s Leadership Academy for Women in Media and, in 2023, she graduated with her MBA from the Yale School of Management. She has served previously as a coach for LION’s Sustainability Lab, “Unblocking Revenue Barriers.”

Todd Stauffer currently serves as the association manager for the Association of Alternative Newsmedia and AAN’s lead digital specialist and lab director for grant-funded revenue labs. Before joining AAN, he was the publisher and co-founder of the Jackson Free Press, an alternative newsweekly (sometimes bi-weekly, sometimes monthly) that served Jackson, MS, from 2002 until 2022 when its journalism assets were acquired by the non-profit Mississippi Free Press. Todd has enjoyed the opportunity to participate in Sustainability Audits and revenue coaching for LION Publishers in the past. As a staunch believer in the First Amendment and a proponent of the Fourth Estate, Todd enjoys working with startups and legacy publishers who seek to improve revenues, add a revenue stream or dig deeper into opportunities to sustain their journalism.