August 1, 2017 2017 LION Summit will feature boot camp for new local online news publishers Here’s a first look at the lineup for LION’s annual summit Oct. 26-28 in Chicago, which will feature an expanded program tackling revenue, technology, audience development, legal concerns and journalism challenges for local independent online news publishers. New this year will be a special “boot camp” for new publishers and idea-stage local news entrepreneurs. By LION Publishers
October 6, 2016 What local independent online news publishers should keep in mind when choosing a CMS Wordpress may be the most widely used web content management system, or CMS, when it comes to small independent websites, but it’s not the only option out there, as we heard at the LION Publishers 2016 Summit Friday afternoon during a roundtable with David Sutton of TownNews (which offers its proprietary BLOX software), Joe Hyde of San Angelo Live (a Drupal disciple), David Walsh of Walsh Creative (a WordPress design house), Steve Ludwig of BIGRMedia (which offers its own platform), and Travis Smith of HOP Studios (an ExpressionEngine design house). By LION Publishers
October 6, 2016 Photos: 2016 LION Summit A few scenes from the 2016 conference of Local Independent Online News Publishers. By Dylan Smith
October 5, 2016 The future is mobile: Howard Owens on the sustainability of local online news Howard Owens believes the Internet can build stronger local communities, and it’s real-time engagement with those communities on the devices they use that will contribute to the sustainability of the local online news model. By Michael Valletta
October 4, 2016 Fundraising for nonprofit journalism: Finding 'true champions' There may not be a lot of foundation money out there for journalism, but there is money out there, both for and from nonprofits, according to members of a panel on nonprofit fundraising at the recent LION 2016 conference in Chicago. Nonprofit and for-profit sites alike need to build relationships within their communities and foster civic engagement, which will both improve local fundraising and entice whatever foundation money that is out there. By LION Publishers
October 4, 2016 Knight Foundation's John Bracken says 'adaptability' is key for news orgs The vice president of the Knight Foundation’s Technology Innovation program urged attendees of the LION Publishers 2016 Summit in Chicago Saturday to continue looking around a now-familiar bend. In remarks delivered Saturday afternoon, John Bracken, invoked retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, advancements in artificial intelligence, and Knight’s just-concluded libraries News Challenge to push local news sites toward innovation. By LION Publishers
October 2, 2016 Photos from the LION Publishers 2016 Summit in Chicago Local independent online news publishers from across the country gathered at Columbia College in Chicago Sept. 29-Oct. 1. By Chris Krewson
October 1, 2016 Beyond pageviews: Measuring the impact of local independent online news To thrive, independent news publishers must demonstrate the impact their work has had on their community. But that impact is central to the conversations they need to have to attract advertisers or funding sources. This was the message four panelists conveyed to attendees at the LION Publishers 2016 Summit in Chicago Friday afternoon. By LION Publishers
October 1, 2016 LIVESTREAM: LION Publishers 2016 Summit – Saturday Follow live video of today’s speakers and panel discussions at the LION Publishers 2016 Summit at Columbia College in Chicago. By LION Publishers
October 1, 2016 Group notes: LION Summit Saturday An exercise in group note taking — pitch in and help capture the conference! By Dylan Smith
October 1, 2016 Group notes: LION Summit Saturday An exercise in group note taking — pitch in and help capture the conference! By Dylan Smith
October 1, 2016 FOI and public records 'orders,' or how to be a mean cat When it comes to obtaining public records – city council minutes, police reports, public employee salaries – David Cuillier of the University of Arizona’s School of Journalism doesn’t take no for an answer. And, as he told attendees at the LION Publishers 2016 Summit in Chicago Friday afternoon, he doesn’t “request” either. It’s all about whether you want to be a cute kitten (“may I please … “) or a mean cat (“gimme the records!”). By LION Publishers
