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

Director of Innovation Kat Duncan shares how journalists and newsrooms in their programs explore innovative ways to engage their communities.

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

The LION Publishers Sustainability Audit Dashboard is an interactive, real-time tool that consolidates key data from the LION Audit.

More than 400 local news businesses later, we’ve adjusted our maturity model to better reflect resiliency in the sector.

BlueLena combines strategy, execution, and technology into a single operating system, helping local newsrooms unlock sustainable growth.

We received 232 submissions, and 58 are up for awards across 10 categories aligned with our pillars of news business sustainability.

Eight questions for LION member Amy Bushatz, whose Mat-Su Sentinel will operate the 80-year-old Frontiersman.

News businesses that regularly engage with their audience make more money, earn more traffic, and boost their subscriber base faster

The series, produced with ProPublica, focused on how CT laws had come to favor towing companies at the expense of low-income residents.

The LION Awards recognize excellence achieved by local independent local news businesses in the U.S. and Canada.

Amalie Nash on news businesses' need to provide 'the right information, in the right formats, on the platforms people actually use'

Find an independent newsroom near you!

We're seeking a database systems manager to help us scale our impact. Apply by April 10 at 11 p.m. PT.

Apply to speak at LION Publishers' Independent News Sustainability Summit by submitting a Learning or Community session by April 10, 2026.

LION Publishers seeks volunteers to serve as judges for the eighth annual LION Publishers Sustainability Awards.

Strengthening the local news industryBY EMPOWERING INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS 2025 Impact Report Who We Are From Our Executive Director 2025 Overview Program Progress Case Studies Looking Ahead Financials...

LION's policy platform represents our priorities for supporting the continued growth of a more equitable and sustainable media ecosystem.

As our first specialized finance manager, Padma will help make LION’s financial management more proactive and efficient.

"These emerging publishers need to learn how to properly manage risk for their businesses. The data shows us that, by and large, many don't do that right now."

In 2025, independent news publishers across the U.S. and Canada saw surges in foundation funding and reader revenue.

A central resource hub for journalism support organizations

A Roadmap for Local News Sustainability Hundreds of surveys, hundreds of hours, hundreds of datapoints. One comprehensive look into the state of local news businesses. Introduction Background & Defini...

LION members and fellow local publishers can improve their SEO ranking and increase readership by following these easy-to-use guidelines.

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

This $265,000 Barr Foundation grant will support post-Audit tools and resources for up to 40 New England newsrooms.

We honored all 51 finalists and announced the winners of the seventh annual LION Publishers Sustainability Awards at our ceremony in St. Louis.