Natalie Van Hoozer joins LION as our new Community Manager

At LION, we’re constantly listening to what our members value most, and one theme always shines through: the power of community. Our more than 500 members consistently highlight the importance of connection, shared learning, and the support they find in being part of a group of news entrepreneurs who “get it.”

That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Natalie Van Hoozer to the team as our new community manager. Natalie will lead our efforts to strengthen LION’s vibrant community of independent news publishers and ensure they have opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together. Her work will include:

• Developing online and in-person groups around member needs, shared interests, and geographies
• Creating learning opportunities, such as webinars, trainings, and discussions, based on LION’s programming and member feedback
• Managing LION’s Community Ambassador Program
• Actively facilitating and improving our News Entrepreneur Community (NEC) Slack, a hub for connecting our more than 5,000 members and fellow news entrepreneurs
• Supporting the LION Sustainability Awards and helping to plan and execute our annual Independent News Sustainability Summit

Natalie brings a wealth of experience to this role. She most recently worked as a bilingual Spanish/English community engagement journalist at KUNR Public Radio in Reno, Nevada, and as the media partnerships manager for Factchequeado, a Spanish-language fact-checking initiative in the U.S. Previously, Natalie worked on Latin American projects at the International Center for Journalists in Washington, D.C., and served as a Fulbright scholar in Argentina.

Natalie will remain the U.S. representative for SembraMedia, an international nonprofit that supports independent digital media. She has a proven track record of building relationships and creating opportunities for connection across diverse networks.

We’re excited to have Natalie on board as we continue building a thriving community for independent news entrepreneurs. Natalie is based in Reno, Nevada, and you can reach her at natalievanhoozer@lionpublishers.com.