Heating Up! The Business of Local Independent Journalism

June 29, 2017 Colleyville, Texas

LNO Editor, Nelson Thibodeaux attended a seminar conducted the Local Independent Online NewS, “LIONS,” at the beautiful Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort out of Phoenix on Friday June 23, 2017.

The Knight Foundation recently gave a total of $455,000 to three journalism groups to launch new initiatives that are meant to improve journalism education and help news organizations share best practices.  Executives from Facebook gave a presentation concerning “Instant Articles” that can be posted by the independent news media outlets.

The organization, now 150 members strong across the United States, discussed the departure of more traditional new sources (such as the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram out of NE Tarrant County) abandoning the actual reporting of news for 4 pages, 2 1/2 of which are advertising.

Also discussed was how to better present these local journalist to their community to seek their readership and financial support to expand.

Topics Included:

Some of the Membership is reflected below;

Andaiye Taylor- Brick City Live

• Nelson Thibodeaux – LocalNewsOnly.com
• Marisa Treviño – Latina Lista
• Andrew Wallmeyer – MinnPost
• Field Walsh – TXK Today
• JohnT. Ward – redbankgreen
• Barb Warden – GOLDEN.COM
• Dan Weisman – AH-HA RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
• Brian Wheeler – Charlottesville Tomorrow
• Dan Whisenhunt – Decaturish
• Teresa Wippel – My Edmonds News
• Jeff Wong – DC Commute Times
• Steve Yablonski – Oswego COunty Today
• Liena Zagare – Corner News Media
• Joe Zlomek – The Sanatoga Post
  • Mike Schoemer – North Wright County Today
  • Jodi Schwan – SiouxFalls.Business
  • Jay Senter – Prairie Village Post
  • MarcieL. Setlow – The Berkshire Edge
  • Jason Shaw – BristowBeat.com
  • Dawn Shelton – lutherregister.news
  • Shereen Siewert – http://www.wausaupilotandreview.com
  • Dan Silverman – PoPville
  • Tracy Simmons – SpokaneFAVS.com
  • John Sinkevics – LocalSpins.com
  • Dylan Smith – TucsonSentinel.com
  • Bill Smith – Evanston Now
  • Tom Sofield – LevittownNow.com
  • Bob Sprague – YourArlington
  • Larry Sribnick – Bellport.com
  • Tom Stites – Banyan Project
  • Michael Stoll – San Francisco Public Press
  • Albert Stumm – Passyunk Post
  • Sharon Swanepoel – Monroe Local News

  Jesus Sanchez – The Eastsider

  • Rick O’Conor – Roosevelt Islander Online
  • Kevin O’Rourke – Germantown Pulse
  • Howard Owens – The Batavian
  • Kellie Panter – Billy Penn
  • Maggie Peterson – My Edmonds News/MLTnews/Lynnwood Today
  • Josh Popichak – Saucon Source
  • Cynthia Prairie – The Chester Telegraph
  • Jason Pramas – Open Media Boston
  • Joy Purcell – nowhabersham.com
  • Dina Rabiner – BKLYNER
  • Doug Rainey – Delaware Business Now
  • Brent Reaney – EDGE
  • Fred Reed – Oswego County Today
  • Bob Reid – BenitoLink
  • Tamara Remedios – NewarkPulse.com
  • Traven Rice – The Lo-Down
  • Mark Roberts – Empowering Colorado
  • Carol Robidoux – ManchesterInkLink.com
  • Jim Robidoux – Manchester Ink Link
  • Chip Rowe – The Highlands Current
    • Charlotte-Ann Lucas – NOWCastSA.com
    • Kevin Lynch – SouthBMore.com
    • Bill Macfadyen – Noozhawk
    • Kaushik Makati – We-Ha.com
    • Ken Martin – The Austin Bulldog
    • Mike Martin – The Columbia Heart Beat
    • KateB. Maxwell – The Mendocino Voice
    • Julie Maxwell Allen – Banana Tree News
    • Suzanne McBride – AustinTalks
    • Meg McGuire – http://www.delawarecurrents.org
    • Elizabeth McNamara – East Greenwich News
    • Mike McNeill – magnoliareporter.com
    • Julia Moak – Greenpointers
    • Clay Morgan – AntiochTenn.com
    • John Muldoon – The Local News
    • Lyle Muller – IowaWatch.org
    • Mary Alice Murphy – The Grant County Beat
    • Daniel Myers – StateCollege.com
    • Matthew Nadler – The Manomet Current
    • Fred Noer – The Drag Report
      Joni HubredGolden- Farmington Voice
      • Steve Hull – Bethesda Beat
      • John Huotari – Oak Ridge Today
      • Joe Hyde – San Angelo LIVE
      • John Jensen – Lake County News
      • Tina Johansson-Long – theYOUjournal.com
      • Jiquanda Johnson – Flint Beat