Sign up to join a LION 2025 peer learning group

If you want to meet like-minded members, build community, learn from your peers, and share your knowledge with others, we have an opportunity for you! LION is launching 10 peer-led groups to connect members with shared experiences, so they can learn from each other as they work to build more sustainable news businesses. 

These groups are part of our 2025 community ambassador program, which is an expansion of our 2024 program and back by popular demand. Each group will be led by a LION community ambassador and meet monthly from April to September to discuss challenges, solutions, and resources. Apply to join a group by Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m. PT.

This year’s program features two new offerings: Ambassadors will host the final sessions with their peer groups in person during the Independent News Sustainability Summit, taking place September 3-5, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri. They will also host at least one small in-person gathering with their groups, if possible.

The 10 peer groups are:

1. BIPOC news leaders, led by Eden Fineday of IndigiNews
2. Email-first publishers, led by Reid Williams of NowKalamazoo
3. Fundraising for newsrooms, led by Kimberly Griffin of Mississippi Free Press
4. Immigrant news leaders, led by Mia Warren of Feet in 2 Worlds
5. Incorporating creator insights into your newsroom, led by Travers Johnson of Queerency
6. LGBTQ+ news leaders, led by Leo Cusimano of Dallas Voice/Out North Texas
7. Managing your newsroom tech stack, led by Chas Hundley of Gales Creek Journal
8. Newsrooms serving rural communities, led by Steven Hanson of Eye On Dunn County
9. Newsrooms serving Spanish-speaking audiences, led by Valeria Fernández of Altavoz Lab, Inc.
10. Scaling from solopreneurship, led by Penda Howell of New Jersey Urban News

Groups will meet via Zoom for 90 minutes each month from April to August, with the final meeting taking place in person at the LION Summit in September. Group participants will also have the option to join a private Slack group or WhatsApp channel to communicate between meetings.

We ask that you only add your name to one group in order to focus your attention on that group and provide the best possible experience for all participants. The deadline to apply for a peer group is Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m. PT.

Eligibility

You must be affiliated with an active LION member organization to participate in a peer group. Additionally, please do not add your name to a group that you are not affiliated with (i.e., don’t sign up for the immigrant news leaders group if you are not a news leader who is an immigrant, or for the newsrooms serving rural communities group if your newsroom’s audience isn’t rural).

Selection

Groups are designed for a minimum of 10 members and a maximum of 25 members, with acceptance on a first-come, first-served basis. Group members will be notified if they are accepted by Wednesday, March 26.

Meet the 2025 LION Community Ambassadors

The 10 ambassadors in the 2025 cohort were selected from a highly competitive pool of applications from LION members. Ambassadors were assessed based on their expertise, clarity related to what they want to accomplish with their proposed peer group, and facilitation experience.

BIPOC news leaders

Leader: Eden Fineday, Publisher, IndigiNews

Description: Recognizing that colonial borders do not define our shared experiences, this peer group is for BIPOC journalists in both Canada and the U.S. navigating the challenges of white supremacy and systemic barriers in media. Members of this group will support each other as they explore topics including inequitable access to funding, exclusion from decision-making spaces, and the constant need to justify the value of their work. This space will foster collective problem-solving, resource-sharing, and mutual accountability. Please do not sign up for this group if you don’t self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color.

Email-first publishers

Leader: Reid Williams, Director, Civic Engagement & Audience, NowKalamazoo

Description: Being an email-focused publisher in an industry built around websites is challenging. Technical differences, from email-related laws, to analytics, to revenue solutions, create unique obstacles. This peer group is designed for email-first publishers. Members will exchange learnings on topics such as tactics for growing newsletter lists, selling ads or sponsorships, and technical aspects about operating an email platform, securing it, and what to do with all your data.

Fundraising for newsrooms

Leader: Kimberly Griffin, Publisher and CRO, Mississippi Free Press

Description: LION members are in different stages of transitioning from traditional revenue models to new, more sustainable models, with common challenges such as donor fatigue and competition for philanthropic contributions. Participants of this peer group will discuss creative fundraising strategies and explore best practices to help grow independent media, such as revenue diversification, membership programs, and pursuing philanthropy. This group is open to all newsrooms, both for-profit and nonprofit.

Immigrant news leaders

Leader: Mia Warren, Managing Director, Feet in 2 Worlds

Description: As new anti-immigrant policies take effect, the information needs of immigrant communities are greater than ever. Immigrant news leaders are often overwhelmed by day-to-day responsibilities, making it difficult to develop longer-term strategies for sustainability. This peer group is a space to connect, share resources, and support one another. Participants will explore concepts such as how to adapt publishing and distribution models to serve immigrant and diaspora audiences. Please do not sign up for this group if you don’t self-identify as an immigrant news leader.

Incorporating creator insights into your newsroom

Leader: Travers Johnson, Founder/CEO, Queerency

Description: This group will bring together creator journalists — newsroom professionals who use social media platforms as primary distribution channels for their reporting — and newsrooms aiming to develop their social-first skills. Participants will explore best practices for how newsrooms can thrive on platforms like Instagram and TikTok by building audiences, monetizing their work, and maintaining journalistic integrity while adapting to ever-changing algorithms and platform policies.

LGBTQ+ news leaders

Leader: Leo Cusimano, Publisher | President, Dallas Voice | OUT North Texas

Description: This peer group is a dedicated space for independent news leaders who identify as LGBTQ+ to connect, collaborate, and support one another in navigating the unique opportunities and challenges of serving LGBTQ+ audiences. Participants will share strategies for financial sustainability, audience engagement, and combating misinformation while fostering inclusive journalism. Through peer learning and resource-sharing, this group will strengthen LGBTQ+ representation in independent media, and will provide a valuable network for leadership development and long-term collaboration. Please do not sign up for this group if you don’t self-identify as LGBTQ+.

Managing your newsroom tech stack

Leader: Chas Hundley, Founder, Gales Creek Journal

Description: Technical leads in independent newsrooms often oversee everything from content management systems and web development to security, automation, and integrations with third-party tools. Members of this peer group will collaborate on topics such as selecting and getting the most out of a CMS, tools to streamline workflows, use of AI tools, coding tips and help, platforms for newsletters and social media, and internal tools for sales and marketing. Participants will support each other to maximize their technical efficiency and troubleshoot common issues.

Newsrooms serving rural communities

Leader: Steven Hanson, Publisher, Eye On Dunn County

Description: Rural newsrooms face unique challenges, including typically smaller potential audiences, greater difficulty finding advertising revenue, and differences when it comes to what is newsworthy in rural areas. Participants will exchange ideas about how to attract audiences, further sustainability, and tell stories to engage with communities in sparsely-populated areas that may not all have access to broadband and advanced technology.

Newsrooms serving Spanish-speaking audiences

Leader: Valeria Fernández, Executive Director (CEO), Altavoz Lab, Inc.

Description: Newsrooms serving Spanish-language audiences provide vital information while also facing direct attacks. This peer group will support newsrooms serving Spanish-speaking audiences by addressing safety, mental health, editorial capacity, and revenue strategies, fostering collaboration to strengthen their ability to serve Spanish-speaking communities effectively.

Scaling from solopreneurship

Leader: Penda Howell, CEO / Publisher, New Jersey Urban News

Description: This peer group is for LIONs who have successfully launched and sustained their businesses as solopreneurs but now face the complexities of hiring, managing employees, and establishing sustainable operations as they transition to full-time leadership. Members of this peer group will develop actionable plans for sustainable growth, while exchanging insights and best practices for revenue growth, sales, hiring, team management, and business sustainability.

We encourage all LION members who are interested to apply to join these groups by March 21 at 5 p.m. PT. If you have any questions about the peer groups and LION’s 2025 Community Ambassador program, please email LION Community Manager Natalie Van Hoozer at natalievanhoozer@lionpublishers.com.