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News, information and much more for independent online news publishers. 
When communities step up to fill gaps in local journalism

The local journalism reporting and editing jobs lost in deep cuts that have been (and are being) made by the big newspaper chains aren't going to be restored.

So it's up to individual communities, argues LION Executive Director Matt DeRienzo in a new Q&A with Poynter, to take responsibility for their own news and information needs.

"The solution is going to come from individual communities supporting entrepreneurs who step up to meet the need. And the approach will be as different as communities are different."

That's reflected in the diversity of business models, focus of content, size and approach of LION's members, but "the common thread among those who are successful is a deep connection to those communities."

Related: Only entrepreneurs will save local journalism, by LION member Howard Owens of The Batavian in New York. And in Canada, news needs of smaller communities require special attention, researcher says.


When investment firms control local news

Seven investment firms with no real background in or tradition of being in the journalism business now control 349 local daily newspapers across the country. A new book details "how investment companies picked off bankrupt and otherwise struggling newspaper chains, buying them up at distressed prices often with highly leveraged loans and then making deep staff cuts in an effort to turn a quick profit – their primary goal for entering the publishing business."  We know the impact that's had so far, but what is the end game?

Ken Doctor looks at one of the major players - Gatehouse.


News About Local Independent Online News Sites

DNA INFO: DNA Info lays off five from its New York staff, following cuts at its Chicago operation.

ICJ: Months after breaking the Panama Papers, ICIJ is going independent.

LAUNCHING: Creating a journalism startup: Problem to prototype in five weeks. A recipe for journalism that works. Skift's Rafat Ali on how mid-size media businesses can thrive.

PRO PUBLICA: Craigslist founder gives Pro Publica $1 million. With its new editor on board, Pro Publica Illinois’ ambitions are starting to take shape.


Tools and Tips: Advertising and Revenue

AFFILIATE MARKETING: Amazon just provided a nice little reminder of why it’s risky to build a journalism business on affiliate fees. News organizations hiccup as Amazon servers malfunction.

DATA: Don’t just collect data, use it! Data, not platform, should drive media business decisions.

FACEBOOK: Zuckerberg raises the right questions – Local news should answer them. Local news is struggling — but handouts from digital giants aren’t the answer.

FUNDERS: Can donor-funded newsrooms be truly independent?

NATIVE ADS: Report: Nearly 40% of publishers don't comply with FTC's native ad guidelines.

NEWSLETTERS: Here are 42 ideas for your newsroom’s next newsletter. Huffington Post tries newsletter-only content to woo teens.

PROGRAMMATIC: How programmatic advertising fuels fake news. Another 100 companies pull advertising from Breitbart.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: How Norway's largest local media company capitalized on digital subscriptions with a three-stage plan.


Tools and Tips: Journalism and Technology

COPY EDITOR: Revenge of the copy editors: Grammar pros find internet stardom.

CORRECTIONS: Journalism can’t afford for corrections to be next victim of ‘fake news’ frenzy.

DIVERSITY: Investing in infrastructure to support diverse newsrooms. Can the black press stay relevant?

ENGAGEMENT: Blacks more likely to follow up on digital news than whites.

FACEBOOK: How to leverage the brand-building power of private Facebook groups.

FACT CHECKING: Fact-checking changes minds but not votes, according to new research.

HOMEPAGE: The ghost of print still haunts us: Analyzing seven different news homepages.

METRICS: Metrics goals: Are you in the entertainment or work business?

MOBILE: The Guardian Mobile Innovation Lab is experimenting with formats for live events coverage.

OBAMACARE: Cost of the Cadillac: The Obamacare story reporters are missing.

STORY COMMENTS: By measuring millions of opinions, Opinary wants to reinvent comments, engagement. This site is “taking the edge off rant mode” by making readers pass a quiz before commenting.

TIPS: How the media are using encryption tools to collect anonymous tips. Newsrooms are making leaking easier–and more secure–than ever.

TOOLS: Ten tools to tackle common problems journalists face.

VIDEO: Twitter opens up Periscope Producer service to everyone. Three reasons video should be published with every article.


Industry News

FACEBOOK: Portugal’s media companies plan to pool user data to compete with the duopoly. The unintended consequences of algorithms. Who cares if Facebook is a media company? Can Zuckerberg save journalism -- or democracy?

FAKE NEWS: Getting to the root of the “fake news” problem means fixing what’s broken about journalism itself. Defense against the dark arts: Networked propaganda and counter-propaganda. How YouTube serves as the content engine of the Internet’s dark side. Many Americans believe fake news is sowing confusion.

FIRST AMENDMENT: Q&A: Floyd Abrams on the battle for the soul of the First Amendment. Press freedom organizations are teaming up to start a news site.

FOIA: Public officials can't shield government business by using personal email, California Supreme Court rules.

FOURSQUARE: Foursquare allowing third parties to access its location intel.

MILLENNIALS: How the Raleigh News & Observer is reaching college students. New report details how youth express low trust in media.

MOBILE: Mozilla acquires Pocket to gain a foothold on mobile devices.

Mobile boom stalls, with double-digit declines in app installs.

PRINT: Why do the big stories keep breaking at night? (Print workflows die hard.)

TRUMP: New York Times executive editor: Every time Trump tweets, ‘It drives subscriptions wildly.’ What can data tell us about Breitbart?

TWITTER: How Twitter could do "live" better.

Twitter will now let you mute specific words from your timeline — and mute ‘eggs’ without profile photos.


Is Your LION Publishers Membership Up for Renewal?
 
For many of our LION Publishers members, it's time to renew! Your membership includes participation in the LION Publishers Den on Facebook, networking and support from fellow LION publishers, our new newsletter, discounted rates on media liability and directors and officers insurance and more. 

Plus, being a member gives you access to a members-only rate to the LION Summit – a savings of up to $175 compared to the non-member rate. If your membership is due for renewal, please go to http://www.lionpublishers.com/members/dues/renew to submit your payment. Those who opt for multi-year membership save, and easy, secure payment options are available via credit card or through Paypal. (Not sure when your membership expires? You can look it up easily on LIONPublishers.com.)
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