LION seeks 10 Community Ambassadors for expanded 2025 program

This post was updated on February 19, 2025, to include top FAQ from our info session on February 13.

Members regularly tell us that strengthening a sense of community with other independent news entrepreneurs is a key reason they join LION Publishers. 

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that applications are now open to become a 2025 LION Community Ambassador. We’re seeking up to 10 individuals from LION member organizations to lead facilitated peer groups. These cohorts will give participating publishers the opportunity to share experiences, talk about challenges, exchange resources, build a sense of belonging in the LION community, and support one another as they work to make their news businesses more sustainable.

Those interested in leading a group should attend our info session on February 13 at 11 a.m. PT and apply to become an ambassador by February 24 at 5 p.m. PT.

Community ambassadors will propose a peer group for members with shared experiences that would benefit from community building and peer learning.

If you’re looking for a little inspiration, here’s a list of our 2024 peer groups:

• Solopreneurs (news founders who started and run their news business independently, without full-time employees) 
• Newsrooms serving diaspora communities
• Newsrooms serving Spanish-speaking audiences
• Black news leaders
• Florida newsrooms 
• Membership managers

“My favorite part about being a 2024 LION Community Ambassador was meeting so many passionate news entrepreneurs and how eager everyone was to learn from each other,” said Camille Padilla Dalmau, the founder of 9 Millones and the leader of the group for newsrooms serving diaspora communities.

Why we’re expanding the Community Ambassador program

In 2024, LION launched six peer-led groups that connected nearly 100 members with shared experiences, so they could learn from each other as they worked to build more sustainable news businesses. Each group was led by a community ambassador and met monthly in online spaces to discuss challenges, solutions, and resources. Some of these groups then met in person at the Independent News Sustainability Summit as part of affinity groups and table talks. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to our 2024 program, we’re expanding from six to 10 groups this year.  

“Helping members connect with other publishers is a core part of LION’s mission. We know that our members can make big changes that impact their bottom line based on ideas and feedback from peers,” said Sarah Gustavus Lim, LION’s director of membership. “We want to make sure these connections are happening throughout the year, which is why the Community Ambassador program is continuing in 2025.”

Community ambassador responsibilities and expectations

Community ambassadors will work with LION to recruit members for their groups, facilitate monthly meetings between April and September, and wrap up the program with LION staff in October. They will be paid $3,000 each. 

As a new addition to the 2025 program, ambassadors will also have access to up to $1,500 in reimbursement funds to host at least one small in-person gathering with their groups (we understand that this may look different for every group and may not be achievable for some of the groups). 

Finally, each ambassador will also receive up to $1,000 to travel to the LION Independent News Sustainability Summit, where they will lead a session for their peer group in person.

Between April and October, community ambassadors will:

• Identify a group of LION members with shared experiences who would benefit from regular peer group meetings
• Collaborate with LION to define who is eligible, then recruit and engage at least 10 current LION members to participate in their groups
• Facilitate monthly virtual or in-person gatherings for the group
• Foster a welcoming and supportive space for group members, including sharing knowledge and lived experiences to inform how group members approach shared challenges
• Initiate discussions on challenges, solutions, and resources
• Participate in monthly cohort meetings with other ambassadors and LION staff to exchange ideas and insights
• Host at least one in-person session with their peer groups during the LION Summit, which could include opening up the discussion to other Summit attendees who are aligned with the group but did not join earlier in the year
• Participate in program wrap-up with LION staff at the completion of the program in October

How to apply

Applications are open now through February 24 at 5 p.m. PT. Only active LION members are eligible to apply. You can check if your organization is a LION member here (if you need to renew your membership, please email membership@lionspublishers.com as soon as possible). In an effort to expand this opportunity to as many members as possible, LION will prioritize selecting group leaders who were not community ambassadors in 2024. 

We will select community ambassadors based on applicants’ facilitation skills and expertise related to the peer group they would like to lead. We will also look for clarity from applicants regarding what they envision peers in this group will learn from each other. 

FAQ

We hosted an information session on Thursday, February 13, for those interested in learning more about being a community ambassador. Here are the top FAQ from that session:

What is the time commitment for selected community ambassadors?

Ambassadors are contracted for roughly 40 hours total of direct facilitation, preparation, and very light administrative work over the course of eight months. Each ambassador will:

• Lead a monthly 90-minute meeting with their peer group from April until September
• Attend a monthly one-hour call with fellow ambassadors and LION staff 
• Spend about 20 minutes each month completing a report about the peer group session

Do I need to be with a LION member organization to apply?

Yes, to be eligible to be a community ambassador, you must work for a LION member organization. You can check if you are an active LION member here. We won’t consider applications from non-members, so if you are not an active member, please complete your LION membership application or renewal as soon as possible so we have time to process it. If you think you’re a LION member but you’re not featured on our active member list, please email us at membership@lionpublishers.com.

Can I apply if I’m a LION member in Canada?

Yes, LION members in both the U.S. and Canada are eligible to apply.

As community ambassadors, what should we strive for participants to get out of the peer groups?

The primary goal of our community ambassadors program is to create a space where LION members can engage in mutual learning, problem-solving, and ongoing support within a trusted, peer-driven environment. These groups should provide tangible value by helping members navigate challenges within their newsrooms, share insights around specific areas, and build lasting professional relationships.

What size peer group is LION looking for?

We will select peer groups with the potential to accommodate a minimum of 10 LION members. If the idea you’d like to propose is for a smaller group, we invite you to think through how you can broaden the focus of your proposal so at least 10 LION peers are a good fit to join your group.

Can I co-lead a peer group with another ambassador?

No, we are only selecting one ambassador to lead each peer group. If you know another LION member interested in this program, please encourage them to submit their own application to facilitate a peer group.

If you have any questions about applying or are unsure whether you qualify, contact our community manager, Natalie Van Hoozer, at natalievanhoozer@lionpublishers.com.