LION seeks 40 news businesses interested in hands-on support to grow stronger

If you’re leading a small or mid-size newsroom, you probably understand the feeling of having an endless to-do list. And it can be tough to step back from daily tasks and think critically about where all your efforts are leading you.

So to help busy news leaders get a clear picture of what long-term success looks like and how to achieve it, LION Publishers is expanding its Sustainability 360 pilot to serve 40 additional members this year. This program is made possible through the generous support of the Google News Initiative and the MacArthur Foundation.

What is the Sustainability 360 program?

Here’s the short version: It’s a free, year-long program for LION members seeking the operational, financial, and leadership support they need to grow through a combination of hands-on coaching, expert consulting, and peer-connection opportunities. It’s also the natural next step for those who have completed a Sustainability Audit and are looking for hands-on support as they implement their learnings.

While every newsroom is different, many face similar challenges as they launch and grow their businesses. And in most cases, those challenges can be overcome with timely support. There are proven ways to develop a functional budget, implement basic financial tracking, create HR policies, and streamline workflows. But figuring it out on your own takes time, trial and error, and energy you probably don’t have — especially as news leaders are also covering a news cycle spinning at unprecedented speed. 

The Sustainability 360 program provides high-touch, tailored support through a flexible mix of coaching, consulting, and community connection, including matching you with your own strategic coach and subject matter experts who will help you solve your pressing human resources and financial management challenges. These experts won’t just “coach” you, but act as an extra set of expert hands to take work off your plate, and build out robust HR and finance systems.

That’s what distinguishes the Sustainability 360 program from most training programs.

Without the right support, it’s easy to become immersed in the day-to-day and get caught off guard when a crisis hits. Whether it’s an HR issue, legal risk, or financial oversight problem, these situations don’t just cause stress — they also have the potential to put you out of business.  

As a participant in the Sustainability 360 program, you’ll get the support you need to skip the guesswork and establish systems to help prevent such crises and avoid burnout. Then you can use your limited bandwidth to focus on what matters most: growing your audience, strengthening your product(s), and increasing your revenue, ultimately paving the way for you to produce impactful journalism that strengthens your community.

Here’s how Jake Hylton of LOOKOUT describes his Sustainability 360 experience:

“Running a younger organization like LOOKOUT with a small staff means you’re constantly spinning plates, and building our organizational resilience often has felt like a goal we couldn’t quite reach. Enter: The LION Sustainability 360 program. Getting to work with [HR consultant] Deb on the essentials for our team – things like putting together our hiring and onboarding processes, creating a real employee handbook, and getting clear job descriptions drafted – honestly, it’s been a game-changer for us. Having Kimberly Spencer as my strategic coach for bi-weekly chats is fantastic for bouncing ideas around, getting clarity on priorities, and giving me the push to keep the plan I started with on track. We’ve been able to really flesh out the important details that are so easy to skip over. We went in hoping to get LOOKOUT ready for expansion, and that’s exactly what we’ve achieved.“

What program participants can expect

Strategic Coaching
Once accepted into the program, you’ll be matched with a strategic coach who will meet with you bi-weekly throughout the year. Together, you’ll set focused goals based on your organization’s current capacity and Sustainability Audit recommendations. Your coach will help you prioritize the most impactful next steps to strengthen your operations, grow and engage your audience, and increase your revenue, while keeping you accountable as you navigate the day-to-day realities of running a small and mid-size newsroom.

In addition to coaching, you’ll have access to two subject-matter experts (HR and finance) who will take the lead on building out key systems while involving you in the decisions that shape them. 

HR Support
Your HR expert can help you build or improve the systems that support a healthy, sustainable team — whether you’re hiring for the first time, restructuring roles, or aiming to improve retention and culture. This expert can also help execute, taking the lead on drafting materials or setting up processes, with your input shaping the final result. 

Deliverables may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating or updating an employee handbook
• Writing or refining job descriptions
• Designing compensation policies and structures
• Developing onboarding systems
• Conducting staff feedback surveys
• Assessing and improving benefits
• Building performance review and evaluation processes
• Designing corrective action policies
• Creating an organizational chart or role visioning plan
• Structuring equitable and inclusive hiring processes
• Drafting people policies, such as PTO or remote work guidelines

Finance Support
You’ll also work with a finance expert who can help you understand, organize, and strengthen your financial systems. Whether you’re building a budget for the first time, planning for growth, or trying to make more strategic decisions with your financial data, this expert will support you every step of the way.

Finance support may include, but is not limited to:

• Creating or refining your organizational budget
• Building cash flow projections
• Identifying your runway or break-even point
• Organizing your chart of accounts
• Tracking restricted vs. unrestricted revenue
• Interpreting financial reports for strategic decisions
• Clarifying the true cost of staff roles and planned hires

Peer Learning and Community
Finally, you’ll join  a cohort of fellow news leaders who are navigating similar challenges. Peer connection is an important part of this program, and you’ll have multiple ways to engage:

• Quarterly cohort calls focused on shared topics and challenges
• Optional small groups for ongoing feedback and accountability
• A dedicated Slack channel for resource-sharing and real-time support

Throughout the year, the LION team will be here to help you stay on track, troubleshoot challenges, and connect you with additional tools and resources.

Who is a good fit for this program?

If you find yourself thinking, “I know what I should do, but I don’t want to do it alone” or “I don’t have the time to figure out the best way to manage my finances or build out HR policies,” then this program is for you.

You’re a strong fit if:

• Your organization has unmet needs around budgeting, staffing, internal processes, or basic HR systems. Maybe you’ve never built an annual budget from scratch, or your job descriptions haven’t been updated since your launch. One pilot participant realized mid-program that they didn’t have a clear process for onboarding new hires and they were about to bring on two new staff members.
  
• You want more clarity and confidence around where you’re headed, and you’re looking for help with long-term planning. For example, you might be deciding whether to double down on your current product or experiment with a new revenue stream, but you’re unsure how to weigh the tradeoffs. This program gives you space to think strategically, not just reactively.
  
• You’re wearing many hats — managing the editorial work, handling the budget, and keeping operations afloat — often with a very small team. We’ve worked with founders who were simultaneously reporting, editing, sending invoices, and managing funder relationships. If that sounds familiar, this program is designed to make your load more manageable.
  
• You’re feeling stretched thin or isolated, and you want partners to help lighten the load and build stronger systems. One newsroom leader told us, “This is the first time I’ve felt like someone had my back.” If you’ve ever wished for a sounding board or a co-pilot, we’ll help you build a support system you can rely on.
  
• You lead a newsroom that reflects or serves a systematically excluded community, and you want support that’s grounded in your lived experience. Our coaches and consultants understand the unique challenges faced by BIPOC-, immigrant-, LGBTQIA+-, and women-led news organizations. One participant shared that it was the first time they didn’t have to explain why their approach was different, the support just got it.

FAQ

Who’s eligible to participate?
You’re eligible to participate if you’re a LION member currently in the Building or Maintaining stage of sustainability. We’ll determine your stage using the data from your most recent Sustainability Audit and membership application. We’ll also ask for your own self-assessment as part of the application, and we’ll take both into account when reviewing your eligibility. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, feel free to reach out to our associate director of coaching, Elaine Díaz, at elainediaz@lionpublishers.com.

Do I need to have completed a Sustainability Audit to apply?
Ideally, yes. This program is designed as a natural next step after completing a LION Sustainability Audit. The Audit provides a shared roadmap, helping you and your coach get aligned on priorities from the start. Without it, we may spend valuable time early in the program trying to define your goals. If you haven’t done an Audit yet but want to apply, reach out to us. We can talk through your options.

What’s the application deadline, and how long will the application process take?
Submit your application by  June 9, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET. We estimate that the application process will take about 30 minutes to complete. 

What kind of time commitment should I expect over the course of the year?
You can expect to spend about four hours a month in face-to-face coaching sessions, plus one to two hours providing input to the HR and finance consultants so they can keep your deliverables moving forward. You’ll also need time to implement recommendations and apply what you’re learning. Importantly, this program isn’t meant to feel like extra work — it’s meant to make the work you’re already doing more efficient, more strategic, and more supported.

Can more than one person from my organization participate in the program?
Yes, but participation works best when one person serves as the main point of contact and attends all the coaching sessions. You’re welcome to loop in other team members for specific meetings or deliverables. For example, your operations lead might join the HR consultant on a policy draft, or your bookkeeper might meet with the finance coach to clarify your chart of accounts.

How is this program different from other coaching or training that LION offers?
Sustainability 360 is more structured and hands-on than our general coaching and training offerings. It’s a year-long commitment with dedicated support from a strategic coach, access to subject-matter experts, and a small cohort of peers. Unlike one-off webinars or short-term labs, this program offers continuity, accountability, and tailored deliverables to help you make real progress over time.

Can someone who is not in a senior leadership role participate in the program?
Yes, but with some conditions. This program is designed for people who have the ability to influence or make decisions about their organization’s strategy, operations, or staffing. If you’re not the top leader but play a key role in setting direction or implementing changes, you’re encouraged to apply. We may follow up to confirm that you have the access and authority needed to get the most out of the program.

Are you directly funding members through this program?
No. LION’s long-term strategy is to support members by lowering the cost of doing business, not by writing checks. Instead of direct funding, we cover the cost of coaching, expert consulting, and business tools and services while you’re in the program. All together, including staff time, this represents an investment of about $20,000 per organization.

Do I need to be a LION member to apply?
Yes. If you’re not a LION member yet, you can apply here. You’ll need to be an active member by June 9, 2025.

How can I get more information about this program?
You can sign up to attend our info session on May 27 at 3 p.m. ET. We will cover the program objectives, eligibility criteria, application process, and timeline. We will also invite one strategic coach and our finance and HR coaches. Our team will be available to answer your questions. You can also contact our associate director of coaching, Elaine Díaz, at elainediaz@lionpublishers.com.