Newsberg Accepted into LION Publishers

In a step to improve legitimacy and tap into resources for scaling, Newsberg applied and has been accepted into the LION (Local, Independent, Online, News) Publishers organization!

“LION Publishers strengthens the local news industry by helping independent news publishers build more sustainable businesses,” the organzation writes on its website. “We focus primarily on the business side of news entrepreneurship, as many other support organizations exist to help publishers level up their journalism skills.”

Access to this organization means Newsberg will be learning from 450-plus other independent, online news publishers around North America who may have a few years of experience and a willingness to share information in the name of strengthening local, independent news outlets.

Not to mention, LION Publishers focuses on connecting independent news outlets like Newsberg with education resources and grants that help a publisher not only grow, but grow sustainably.

Other Oregon-based independent publishers affiliated with LION Publishers include:

• Oregon360 (Portland, Ore.)
• BikePortland (Portland, Ore.)
• Philomath News (Philomath, Ore.)
• Columbia Insight (Hood River, Ore.)
• McKenzie River Reflections (McKenzie Bridge, Ore.)
• Ashland News (Ashland, Ore.)
• Gales Creek Journal (Gales Creek, Ore.)
• Underscore News (Portland, Ore.)

In 2022, LION Publishers contributed to $1.8m in direct funding, 850 hours of coaching and consulting, developed a sustainability summit, and recognized local, independent journalists and publishers through the LION Local Journalism Awards.

Editor Note: This is nothing short of great news for this small, living room company. We went through a vetting process to be accepted, in which LION employees combed the site, my experience, and our core pillars to ensure we’re actually what we say we are. They saw Newsberg’s current stage and waived membership dues as we find a path to revenue (thank you!).
Proven legitimacy aside, we’ve already been connected with education and incubator programs, such as Google’s GNI Digital Growth Program, which will help me accelerate building this company in the right way. They seek grant sources and connect publishers with potential sources of funding. We’re just starting this journey together, but I’m optimistic about Newsberg as a member company with LION Publishers!

LION operates on seven core principles:

• Data-informed: We can’t make an impact without defining how to measure our impact. We strive for excellence in our work by gathering data, consistently articulating what success looks like, measuring our progress and making time to celebrate our learnings, regardless of whether we achieve our intended outcome.
• Equitable and inclusive: We stand against racist and discriminatory business and editorial practices that oppress historically marginalized communities. We believe the most impactful journalism effectively reflects a community’s diverse perspectives while prioritizing the stories of those who have been historically overlooked or marginalized. While legacy newsrooms often haven’t been welcoming or supportive to people from marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, we believe it’s our job to ensure the independent news industry is creating space for these leaders and voices to thrive.
• People-centered: Good design requires being responsive to peoples’ needs, which includes practicing empathy, holding ourselves and others accountable to shared standards, and always prioritizing people’s personal wellbeing over work.
• Systems thinkers: A rising tide lifts all boats, so we always consider how individual pieces of our work fit into a larger vision. We solve complex challenges by thinking about the systems in which they function, rather than discrete problems. We balance the need to scale our work with acknowledging that not all solutions are one-size-fits-all, and we support unique needs as we are able to.
• Transparent: Open information and candid communication are at the heart of building trust. This includes acknowledging mistakes, learning out loud about what is and isn’t working, and sharing the thought process behind major decisions.
• Iterative: We believe there is always room for improvement. We commit to using the iterative “build-measure-learn” loop to design experiments, measure outcomes and gain new insights as we support sustainable models for local, independent news businesses.
• Collaborative: We seek to build strong relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders to learn and grow from their expertise, ensure we aren’t duplicating efforts, and share capacity and resources toward achieving a common goal.

Learn more about LION Publishers: https://www.lionpublishers.com/