Annual summit of local independent online news publishers Oct. 11-13 in Chicago

The country’s largest gathering of local independent online news publishers will return to Chicago this fall for three days of discussion, advice, idea sharing and training on revenue, journalism, audience engagement and technology.

Discounted early-bird registration is available now for the annual LION Publishers Summit, Oct. 11-13 at Columbia College in Chicago.

Speakers wanted: Get up on your soap box!

While we’re already fleshing out a lineup of amazing speakers on revenue, tech and editorial topics for the 2018 LION Summit, we’re still eager to hear more great ideas. We’re looking for LION members who want to take part in a panel or breakout session, as well as other news industry experts who want to help rebuild local news.

Students playing key role in local journalism at some indie online sites

Independent web publishers from Texas, Wisconsin and Illinois discussed the benefits of their education-based work with youth reporters — ranging from teens to graduate students — at the 2017 Local Independent Online News Publishers Conference held last month in Chicago.

Local online news sites talk membership programs as key new revenue source

To build a paid reader membership program, publishers need to establish a relationship with their audience, grow the number of subscriptions, and — most importantly — take the leap and ask for money, News Revenue Hub chief Mary Walter-Brown said Oct. 28 at the 2017 LION Summit in Chicago, the country’s largest gathering of local independent online news organizations.

Ample opportunities to monetize sports coverage, local online news publishers say

Readers in Saucon Valley in eastern Pennsylvania love their sports, so it was natural for the Saucon Source to monetize its coverage of the local athletic scene.

A 'small-batch digital magazine' fills a local news hole in Texas

Tasneem Raja is the driving force behind The Tyler Loop, a news magazine out of deeply red East Texas, and she explains it best: “We’re a new ‘small batch’ digital magazine for Tylerites who want to better understand our beautiful, complicated, evolving city. We’ll be posting a few meticulously crafted stories each month. Sign up for our newsletter below and never miss a story!”

'Always be requesting:' Fighting for public data as a constant process

It’s not enough for journalists just to seek public information from government and public agencies for a specific story or reason. It’s a full-fledged obligation that requires persistence and a good bit of diplomacy.

Foundation reps outline vision for supporting local journalism organizations

For many local journalism publishers, foundation funding seems like the Holy Grail – if you can get it, it will solve all of your revenue problems.

But is that true?

Journalists warned: ‘We cannot be ignorant of our privilege’

Journalism and truck driving have a lot in common: Both professions have had requirements for hiring that make it tough to break in if you haven’t followed a traditional path. LION Summit speaker Heather Bryant made the comparison in recalling a widely read and discussed column/rant she wrote and posted over the summer.

Overcoming sales objections means research, listening, and providing solutions

Every media sales rep is going to hear his or her share of variants of “no” on the appointed rounds.