Snag an early bird ticket to the 2025 Independent News Sustainability Summit

Early bird tickets are on sale now for LION Publishers’ Independent News Sustainability Summit taking place in St. Louis from September 3-5. This event will bring together more than 500 independent news leaders, supporters, vendors, and funders for two full days of keynotes, sessions, and networking opportunities.

Tickets are also available for our seventh annual LION Sustainability Awards Ceremony & Dinner, which will celebrate dozens of winners across 10 categories with recognition and cash prizes. The LION Awards will be held on the evening of September 3. 

Why buy your tickets now, aside from the obvious benefits of locking in big savings and securing your seat before we sell out? Take it from fellow news entrepreneur and LION member Ryan Belmore, the owner and publisher of RI-based What’sUpNewp, who not only makes it a priority to attend every year but is also consistently the first to register. 

We caught up with him this week to find out why he always registers early:

Hayley, LION Publishers: You’re usually the first to sign up for any LION event (kudos on your commitment!); why do you prioritize registering early for the Summit? 

Ryan, What’sUpNewp: It’s the one conference that I make sure that I never miss; I actually plan family vacations around it (like this year). I have found it to be the most relevant and valuable conference I have attended annually. Every year after attending, I get better as a leader and my business improves based on what I’ve learned or who I’ve networked with.

Hayley: What do you like most about LION conferences, particularly the Summit?

Ryan: Our publications cover communities, but often, we, as publishers, don’t feel like we belong to a community; the LION Summit is my community. It’s my once-a-year opportunity to gather with people who “get it.” They get the business, what I’m trying to build, and what everyone else in the room is trying to do, and most importantly, what challenges we are facing and likely can help.

I walk away with more “try this” and “___ can help with…” in my notes than any other event, call, or conference I attend.

Hayley: And if you could sum up the Summit experience in one sentence or word, what would that be? 

Ryan: Community. Support. Family. The quote below sums up how I often feel when leaving a LION Summit, because you walk away believing that what you’re doing is and will make a difference and change the world (or at least your community).

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

---

You can learn more about the event by visiting our conference website. There are only 100 early bird tickets available this year, and each organization can purchase up to two; they’ll be on sale until May 30 or until we sell out, whichever comes first! LION members also receive an additional 30 percent discount. So if you, like Ryan, wouldn’t miss it for the world, get yours today.