| A playbook for launching a local online nonprofit news org
"So you’re starting up a local, nonprofit news firm," write co-authors Adam Fisher and Adam Giorgi, who cite several members of LION and the Institute for Nonprofit News as case studies. "Maybe you’re concerned about sparse statehouse coverage in your state. Maybe you’re concerned about the growth of tribalism and view local media as a tool toward improved civic literacy. Maybe you see systemic issues facing America—like voter suppression, labor rights, decaying infrastructure, political extremism—manifesting themselves at the local level, and you want to build an outlet that is responsive to these trends. Maybe your hometown is in the middle of a news desert. Whatever your motives, they’re important. And whatever your vision, it should be clear and intentional. ... The following playbook strives to build on your motives and connect your vision with a business model that can lead to long-term sustainability."
Reader revenue, seed funding, investigative news at LION summit
 Melanie Sill of the Membership Puzzle, Anne Galloway of VT Digger and Mother Jones CEO Monika Bauerlein will talk about getting financial support from readers for investigative and accountability journalism.
Dorrine Mendoza of Facebook will update publishers on how the platform treats local news engagement and reach in the News Feed, and other efforts by the Facebook Journalism Project.
LION members Joe Hyde of San Angelo Live, Uriah Kiser of Potomac Local and Charlotte-Anne Lucas of NowCastSA will talk about the things every publisher should know and have in order to run a sustainable local independent online news organization.
Denise Malan of INN will talk about investigative reporting ideas and tips for small local newsrooms.
Kenny Katzgrau of Broadstreet Ads will talk about the advantages small local publishers have over big tech platforms in local advertising sales.
And Tracie Powell of the Democracy Fund, Wendi C. Thomas of MLK50 in Memphis and Rebekah Monson of Whereby.Us will talk about seed funding for local news startups and "information inequality."
Admission before June 8 is FREE for LION members, INN members, and registered attendees of the IRE conference, and is only $25 for non-members.
This event is sponsored in part by Broadstreet Ads. RSVP by clicking here.
Could a billionaire or two save U.S. journalism forever?
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