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News, information and much more for independent online news publishers. 
Why aren't local independent news sites getting legal ad revenue?

"... there’s another uncomfortable and underreported reason for the struggles of new community news startups, as well as the survival of a kind of zombie community print press that soldiers on increasingly without an audience: the major, quiet subsidy to print community papers, which comes in two basic forms — legislation requiring that legal notices be published in print, and advertising by government agencies."

BKLYNER's Liena Zagare and Ben Smith tackle the issue in the latest issue of Columbia Journalism Review.


When you're a reporter for a company that hurts local journalism

A reporter keeps democracy alive in a rust belt town, in spite of the tactics of his newspaper's ownership. https://dfmworkers.org/2017/05/17/keeping-democracy-alive-in-a-rust-belt-town/

About a year after arriving, the newspaper was purchased by the infamously tight-fisted (and now defunct) Journal-Register Company.

Since then, the belt has been pulled ever tighter, through bankruptcies, new owners, pension payment contractions, pay freezes, crippling health insurance increases and endless lay-offs.

Brandt no longer uses the phrase “I don’t know what else they could cut” because he has too often discovered the answer soon after uttering it.

“When I miss a meeting, these days most often due to a threadbare staff, officials literally say ‘The Mercury’s not here, what should we get done?’”

Related: No, Gannett is not the "last hope for local news." The dis-economics of scale for small-town newspapers, according to a former Gannett editor.


Facebook: Foe, friend, or dinosaur-extinction meteor?

"How Facebook hurts independent local news." Emily Bell writes in Columbia Journalism Review about the impact Facebook's domination of local advertising dollars had on local independent online news site The Watershed Post.

But recently, Facebook and Google have been reaching out to local news sites, listening to concerns, offering training and talking partnerships.

Related: Facebook will partner with LION, INN and the Detroit Journalism Collaborative. A focus on digital habits could help news publishers fight Facebook. Facebook tweaks its News Feed to take another swipe at clickbait.


LION member spotlight: The Highlands Current

This week's LION member Q&A features Chip Rowe, whose Highlands Current in New York was launched after Roger Ailes, then head of Fox News, moved to the area and bought the community's 3,000-circulation weekly newspaper.

"... we try to tackle larger issues that affect the area. It also may be unusual that we moderate our comments section and require people to use their full names, which is a lot of work, but an anonymous free-for-all doesn’t seem to contribute much to the civic discourse elsewhere."


How nonprofit news and commercial sites can partner

“Won’t work for exposure”: The financial nitty-gritty of commercial–nonprofit news partnerships. A new report from API delves into how news partnerships work.

And a LION member, Steve Beatty of The Lens in New Orleans, talks about how partnerships helped his site's bottom line and impact.


News About Local Independent Online News Sites

CITIZEN JOURNALISM: The Evolution of Citizen Journalism: How Three Modern Outlets Are Updating the Model.

DC REPORT: After Releasing Trump’s Tax Returns, What’s Next For David Cay Johnston and His News Site, DCReport?

LOCAL NEWS: Let’s return to journalism’s roots, where every story is tied to a community.

NEW JERSEY: Samantha Bee Segment Saves New Brunswick Today.

PRO PUBLICA: How Pro Publica Defines Success for Engagement Projects.

PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE: Public News Service sees 26-fold spike in donations after its reporter was arrested in West Virginia. Q&A: Public News Service founder on ‘whirlwind’ since reporter’s arrest.


Tools and Tips: Advertising and Revenue

CROWDFUNDING: Patreon doubles in a year to 1 million paying patrons and 50,000 creators.

FACEBOOK: Dotdash CEO Neil Vogel: Instant Articles, AMP ‘make no economic sense.’ Independent: Apple News drives traffic, not revenue, but Facebook instant articles is important source of ad sales.

FOUNDATIONS: What are the challenges and opportunities of philanthropic journalism funding in the UK?

FUNDRAISING: How to use Facebook Live to raise money. What WGBH learned from using Facebook Live for fundraising.

GOOGLE: Google will now go easier on publishers that violate its ad policies.

MEDIUM: After being wooed by Medium, some publishers are beginning to leave. Medium now offers audio versions of its stories for members.

SALES REPS: With Online Advertising on the Rise, How Can Newspapers Find, Train and Keep Digital Sales Reps?

SPONSORED CONTENT: Sponsored Content Widgets: Embarrassing Spam or Revenue Builder? (Both, which is why they're everywhere.) When is a native ad not native? Understanding it’s all about context. Celebs from Diddy to Lindsay Lohan cited by government for not disclosing sponsored posts.

STORY COMMENTS and MONEY: How story comments could be a key to unlocking reader revenue, by LION Executive Director Matt DeRienzo. Related: Could a platform deepening relationship between readers and reporters help nonprofit news solve funding challenges?

SUBSCRIPTIONS: "I think there’s a direct connection between investigative reporting and subscriptions," says Washington Post Editor Marty Baron. More European newspapers are charging for content online (but there are differences by country). The Guardian and The New York Times bet on reader support. Looks like it’s paying off. Guardian now gets as much revenue from readers as advertising. https://www.ft.com/content/9044ff9a-358b-11e7-99bd-13beb0903fa3

TV: As Viewers Drift Online, Advertisers Hold Fast to Broadcast TV. Forget About the Internet, Network Execs Say — TV Is Still Where It’s At. Sinclair (about to become even bigger in local markets across U.S.) requires stations to air conservative stories.


Tools and Tips: Journalism and Technology

AUDIENCE: Your Biggest Asset Is Sitting In Your Newsroom: Your internal talent could be key to a great distribution strategy.

DATA: Politico opens data for others to use.

DESIGN: How product thinking can help the media industry thrive: Making a case for lean journalism.

DIVERSITY: “The choice of two very unhappy headlines”: ASNE will focus on newsroom diversity, not jobs lost. How journalism internships, workshops can help diversify newsrooms. The role sexism plays in news judgment.

DRONES: ‘Trust Through Transparency’: Lessons In Drone Journalism.

ENGAGEMENT: Here’s How to Run Focus Groups in Your Local News Community. It’s Time to Remind Readers That Journalism is a Noble Profession.

FOIA: Under Trump, inconvenient data is being sidelined.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Three ways that niche publishers stand out on social media. Instagram May Allow Users to Search Publicly Shared Stories By Location.

WRITING: How bureaucratic language strangles journalism’s accountability.


Industry News

ASSOCIATED PRESS: The Associated Press is adding more user-generated social content (verified, of course) into its wire services.

CHICAGO: Michael Ferro's Tronc Aims to Complete Chicago Domination With Sun-Times Purchase. Journalists at Chicago Reader authorize strike.

FACEBOOK: Facebook’s advertising strategy raises questions over ethical practices. Facebook admits to a measurement error, refunds affected advertisers.

Facebook is still violating user privacy, Dutch and French regulators say.

FAKE NEWS: Facebook promised to tackle fake news. But the evidence shows it's not working. Facebook cracks down on fake live videos. Fake News Isn’t New; History Offers A Way To Fight It. Media Manipulation and Disinformation Online: A new report.

GOOGLE: Google Photos just hit 500 million monthly users — now it plans to make your camera roll obsolete. The Current State of Google Maps — Fake News, Fake Reviews.

NET NEUTRALITY: FCC moves ahead with plan to scrap net neutrality rules.

PHILADELPHIA: In Philadelphia, three newsrooms had to become one. Now, they’re taking on a whole new kind of change.

PRESS FREEDOM: In a private meeting, President Trump allegedly urged Comey to imprison journalists. Trump’s wish to jail reporters is more than possible. Ask his international friends. Reporter manhandled by FCC guards because he asked question. Electronic Communications Surveillance: What Journalists and Media Organizations Need to Know.

TRUMP: How the chaotic Trump news cycle confuses and misinforms the public.

WIKI TRIBUNE: Craig Newmark & News Integrity Initiative are offering to match every penny pledged to WikiTribune, up to $100,000.


UPCOMING EVENTS

INN DAYS: The Institute for Nonprofit News will hold its annual conference in association with IRE in Phoenix, June 21-22. LION members are welcome.

IRE: Investigative Reporters & Editors conference in Phoenix, June 22-25.

LION SUMMIT - PHOENIX: LION Publishers will hold a day-long program at the IRE conference hotel in Phoenix on June 23.

LION SUMMIT - CHICAGO: Save the dates! LION Publishers' annual conference will be held Oct. 26-28 in Chicago.

LION WEBINARS: LION Publishers hosts a monthly webinar series. Upcoming webinars:
* June 22: Copyright and fair use for journalists, with American University Professor Patricia Aufderheide.
* July 18: Making sense of metrics for local independent online news publishers, with Metrics Shift Editor Jason Alcorn.
* Aug. 17: Free content for local publishers from national partners, with Tucson Sentinel Publisher Dylan Smith.
* Sept. 14: Hiring, paying and managing sales reps at local independent online news sites, with ARLNow.com Publisher Scott Brodbeck, Home Page Media Publisher Kelly Gilfillan and Richland Source Publisher Jay Allred.


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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