Meet the 40 news orgs in LION’s expanded Sustainability 360 program

We’re excited to announce that 40 member news organizations from more than 19 states and Puerto Rico are receiving customized coaching, as well as help with finance and human resources, through LION Publishers’ expanded Sustainability 360 program, supported by the MacArthur Foundation and the Google News Initiative.

The goal of the 2024 Sustainability 360 pilot was to see what happened when we paired organizations poised for growth with coaches who could most easily help with that challenge. We’ve quantified how some of the key indicators for growth, like adding staff, revenue streams, and even new products, can become difficult to navigate if an organization doesn’t have strong systems in place to support these new workstreams. 

In this new cohort, these 40 business leaders are paired with a coach for one year, who can offer strategic guidance as they set both short and long-term goals. We’ve also matched each member organization with an HR consultant who is working with them on people management documentation, like employee handbooks or contracts, and a finance consultant who will help them build strong systems for tracking spending and forecasting future financial needs.

“The Sustainability 360 pilot proved transformative for the participating news organizations, and we’re grateful for their experience and help co-creating a program devoted to their needs,” said Chris Krewson, LION’s executive director. “I’m thrilled to open the experience up to dozens more organizations who stand to benefit from the successful approach, and excited to see where it leads.”

Program participants also took the new version of our Sustainability Audit during their onboarding, which generates an automatic report with recommendations that publishers can take to strengthen their business. This current cohort of Sustainability 360 began in July 2025 and will run through June 2026. We expect to add an additional cohort in the spring of 2026.

Sustainability 360 Participants

2Puntos Platform covers Latine immigrants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (English and Spanish) 

9 Millones covers Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican diaspora (English and Spanish) 

Altavoz Lab covers historically disinvested audiences across the U.S. 

Bay City News Foundation covers the San Francisco Bay Area in California

Black Belt News Network covers rural communities in Alabama  

Bucks County Beacon covers Bucks County, Pennsylvania 

Burlington Buzz covers Burlington, Massachusetts 

Chilkat Valley News covers Haines, Klukwan, and the Upper Lynn Canal in Alaska   

Dallas Free Press covers neighborhoods in South and West Dallas, Texas 

Enlace Latino NC covers Latino / Hispanic immigrant communities in North Carolina (English and Spanish) 

Feet in 2 Worlds trains journalists and produces stories on immigrant communities in New York City and across the U.S. 

Fresnoland covers the central San Joaquin Valley in California 

Green Philly covers climate and environmental issues in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Indianola Independent Advocate covers Indianola, Iowa

LebTown covers Lebanon County, Pennsylvania  

MindSite News covers mental health policy and mental health issues in communities across the U.S.  

Moab Sun News covers southern Utah 

My Neighborhood News Network covers communities in South Snohomish County in Washington State 

North Carolina Health News covers health issues in communities across North Carolina 

Newsberg covers the Newberg-Dundee area in Oregon 

Now Habersham covers communities in Northeast and West Central Georgia 

Oviedo Community News covers communities in central Florida, including Oviedo and Winter Springs 

Peekskill Herald covers Peekskill, New York 

Prison Journalism Project covers the prison system across the U.S.  

Santa Cruz Local covers Santa Cruz County in California 

Saucon Source covers the Saucon Valley in east central Pennsylvania  

Shasta Scout covers Shasta County in California 

Shoresides covers coastal North Carolina 

Sioux Falls Simplified covers Sioux Falls, South Dakota  

The Bedford Citizen covers Bedford, Massachusetts  

The Bridge covers central Vermont 

The Eastsider LA covers Eastside Los Angeles, California 

The Frisc covers San Francisco, California 

The Highlands Current covers communities in the Hudson Valley, New York 

The Lens covers New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in Louisiana  

The Record North Shore covers the northern suburbs of Chicago  

The Tributary covers government issues across Florida and is based in Jacksonville  

The Xylom covers Asian American communities in the Southern U.S. and the Global South  

Unpretentious Palate covers food and drink news in Charlotte, North Carolina  

Verified News Network covers Indigenous communities in Oklahoma and across the U.S.

Sustainability 360 Coaches

Ten coaches with industry expertise and experience working with independent publishers are providing strategic coaching for this cohort. 

Kim Fox is a leadership coach dedicated to helping media professionals lead with purpose, navigate organizational transitions, and achieve strategic outcomes with clarity and confidence. With more than 20 years of experience at the crossroads of journalism, product development and innovation, she employs a pragmatic, human-centered approach to growth and transformation. She has developed and led editorial, audience and product strategies for some of North America’s most respected news organizations, including Hearst, CalMatters, Bloomberg, CBS, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Fox is renowned for implementing human-centered design in newsrooms, launching new products from scratch, and mentoring teams through periods of change and uncertainty.

Ingrid Marthy is a Brooklyn-based business and nonprofit strategist. She brings more than a decade of experience leading sustainable growth initiatives across the private and nonprofit sectors. Ingrid is passionate about helping organizations bring clarity, structure and support to leaders navigating growing pains and the challenge of wearing multiple hats.

John Davidow is an experienced news manager, startup founder, consultant and coach with four decades of local news experience. As the former managing director of digital at WBUR, he successfully navigated the editorial and cultural challenges local news organizations face, fostering innovation in both on-air and online content delivery. Davidow was a founding Public Radio Digital Major Action Coalition member and played a key role in launching the CPB/Knight-funded Public Radio Business Lab. Today, he serves as a principal at Media Bridge Partners, a consultancy focused on helping newsrooms establish sustainable operations while fostering diversity, equity and inclusion to support long-term growth.

Kimberly Spencer is a leadership consultant and executive coach who specializes in nonprofit governance, board development, and fundraising strategies. Kimberly is the founder of NP Solutions Collective, where she works with CEOs of nonprofits and local news organizations to enhance their leadership, fundraising, and compliance practices. With previous leadership roles at The Pivot Fund, Capital B, and Public News Service, Kimberly has developed strategic fundraising initiatives for a range of organizations. Her coaching expertise spans revenue growth, operational support, and ethical leadership, making her a vital asset to the cohort as they strive to build sustainable newsrooms.

Steve Katz is assistant dean for advancement at UC Berkeley Journalism. He also coaches nonprofit newsroom leaders to help navigate the choppy waters of sustainability, growth and change. His work is focused on building nonprofit organizations driven by compelling purpose, strong leadership and the resources to get the job done. With expertise in philanthropy and fundraising, organizational leadership, management and strategy, Katz helps build strong boards, successful fundraising and effective strategic communication. In addition to his frontline fundraising work at UC Berkeley Journalism, he serves as a mentor and coach to nonprofit news executives and development leaders, combining his deep understanding of the media landscape with proven fundraising and leadership development capabilities to support organizations in creating long-term sustainability and impact.

Joanne Griffith is the chief content officer for APM Studios, the podcast production division of American Public Media by day, and a consultant and cheerleader-in-chief for independent and nonprofit newsrooms. In 2020, she launched En(title)d! Leaders, a conversation and supportive coaching space for leaders operating at the crossroads of audience, revenue and growth. As a content executive, she has led teams at ESPN’s 30 for 30, developed change management strategies at Marketplace and grown audiences at Southern California Public Radio and the BBC.

Anne Galloway is a principal of NewzOps, and the founder and editor-at-large of VTDigger, one of the biggest online only local news nonprofits in the U.S. Galloway pioneered a sustainable business model for VTDigger based on journalism impact, audience growth and revenues from membership, underwriting and philanthropy. VTDigger started with $16,000 and no employees and grew to a $3.7 million nonprofit daily news operation with 12,000 paying members annually and a staff of 35.

Jennifer Mizgata, founder of Little Key, helps news leaders better understand audiences, launch products that respond to community needs, and build sustainable organizations. She advises newsrooms, media leaders, and entrepreneurs on business and career strategies. As a program director, editor, and strategist, Jennifer has guided dozens of newsrooms on new initiatives and supported hundreds of news leaders as they have made change in their organizations. Previously, she wrote about work culture for Fortune, directed impactful training programs and invested in award-winning projects at ONA, and led engagement strategies at the World Food Program. 

Upasna Gautam is a technology leader with 17+ years of experience across global CPG brands, Fortune 500, and media. Most recently she was a senior product lead at CNN for six years, where she led the development of the content platform technology that delivers breaking news to the world. Upasna also serves as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at the News Product Alliance, and is an advisor + investor in early stage software startups. 

Bene Cipolla, founder of Allium Partners, helps news organizations, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs distill big ideas into actionable plans. As a consultant and coach, she specializes in leadership and organizational development, especially for organizations and individuals at pivot points and moments of change. Her services include strategic planning, organizational design and workflow, impact strategy, programming and facilitation, and change management. Previously, she served as editor-in-chief and publisher of Chalkbeat; ran editorial at several digital startups; and worked as an editor in magazines. She started her career in film production in Rome, Italy, before moving into journalism as a religion reporter. Bene is based in New York City.

HR & Finance Consultants

Participants will also receive support on HR and finance from consultants at Dakin Ventures Consulting Group.

Amy Bennett is a mission-driven, client-focused nonprofit accountant with a legal background and 20 years of proven experience successfully managing accounting and finance functions. Amy has significant experience collaborating with chief financial officers (CFOs) in creating new internal controls and interdepartmental protocols to increase accounting department efficiencies. She also has a proven track record of client satisfaction, with progressively increasing responsibility with every single client. Her systems experience includes Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT certification, with advanced Excel skills.

Deborah Brown is a seasoned and well-versed senior HR leader with a dynamic background in employee relations, leadership development, talent acquisition, management coaching, policy development, organizational design, and DEI. She’s a flexible and open-minded leader and strategic business partner who also enjoys writing fiction in her spare time.

Allyson Dubenko is a finance and operations consultant with 13+ years of experience helping nonprofits and small businesses strengthen financial health and streamline internal processes. She specializes in accounting, budgeting and forecasting, reconciliations, and internal controls, with a proven track record of implementing scalable systems that deliver lasting results.

Heather Patterson is a seasoned and versatile senior HR executive with over 15 years of experience across diverse industries, including tech, non-profit, advertising, media, fashion/beauty, and startups. Her expertise spans employee relations, organizational development, HR strategy, talent management, leadership coaching, DEIB, and change management. Known for her thoughtful, human-centered approach, Heather is a trusted advisor and strategic business partner. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, writing and reading.

Janiece Hill is a seasoned finance and operations consultant known for creating practical solutions that align with long-term goals. She’s skilled in tools like Adaptive Planning, Sage Intacct, Salesforce, and a variety of project management platforms. Outside of work, she loves baking intricate desserts and watching cheesy holiday movies.