Independent News Sustainability Summit

September 9–11, 2026 • San Diego, CA

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2026 Summit and LION Awards

Why LION is getting out of the big-conference business (for now)

By Chris Krewson | September 23, 2026

An FAQ of sorts about how we’re setting our sights on different ways to convene in 2027

Meet the 17 winners of the 2026 LION Sustainability Awards

By Jess deRivera | September 10, 2026

We celebrated the 2026 LION Publishers’ Sustainability Awards at the Independent News Sustainability Summit in San Diego.

Sign up to join a LION 2026 peer learning group

By Natalie Van Hoozer | September 2, 2026

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until September 25.

Forget the fads: Why community listening is the future of local news (Q&A with RJI)

By Hayley Milloy | August 12, 2026

From Director of Innovation Kat Duncan: “… what matters is what actually works for the people you’re serving.”

How Newspack helps independent news publishers strengthen audience relationships in the AI era

By Hayley Milloy | July 29, 2026

Founder and Principal Kinsey Wilson explains how their open-source platform helps newsrooms optimize their data and leverage new technology.

Meet the 45 finalists for the 2026 LION Sustainability Awards

By Jess deRivera | July 8, 2026

Join us in San Diego this September for our in-person celebration, where we’ll reveal the 17 winners.

How BlueLena helps independent news publishers build the systems behind sustainable audience and revenue growth

By Hayley Milloy | July 8, 2026

Founder and CEO Daniel Williams shares how newsrooms with limited capacity and competing priorities can get ahead.

Meet the 6 nominees for LION Publishers’ 2026 Community Member of the Year Award

By Hayley Milloy | May 13, 2026

LION members: Cast your vote by midnight on May 29.

Knight’s new journalism VP: Sustainability depends on community demand (Q&A)

By Hayley Milloy | April 22, 2026

Amalie Nash on the importance of providing the right information, in the right formats, on the platforms people actually use

Applications are now open for the 2026 LION Publishers Sustainability Awards

By Jess deRivera | April 1, 2026

How (and why) to apply for the only industry awards that celebrate sustainable business models in independent journalism.

Learn more about past LION events

Funders reveal what makes grant applications stand out

By Hayley Milloy | September 24, 2025

Standing-room-only session at the 2025 Summit revealed five tips from philanthropy officers who help decide the fate of funding proposals.

Three takeaways from our 2024 Independent News Sustainability Summit

By Hayley Milloy | September 18, 2024

At the sold-out annual event, publishers shared dozens of tips and tricks; here are three that caught our eye.

3 takeaways from the inaugural Independent News Sustainability Summit

By Ben DeJarnette | November 3, 2022

Why we’re still buzzing after our three days together in Austin.