Just dashing off a quick note to readers that I’m in Nashville Thursday-Saturday at the LION Publishers conference, and will be traveling the rest of today.
It’s an annual meeting of those who, like East Cobb News, publish local, independent online news sites (hence the name LION).
I will still be publishing to the site, although it may be not be as frequent for the next few days. If you’re a newsletter subscriber, don’t worry, you’ll get your East Cobb News Digest on Sunday as usual.
If you have breaking news to share, don’t hesitate to get in touch: editor@eastcobbnews.com or phone/text 404-219-4278.
As for other items readers and others send, I may not be able to respond and post as promptly as when I’m home. I’ll be taking my laptop with me so I will be doing East Cobb News work when I’ve got a break.
LION was formed in 2012 in response to the need to revitalize local news, as newspapers and other legacy media outlets were cutting staff, space and resources.
Many of us LIONS are like myself, former reporters and editors, mainly from the newspaper diaspora, who are learning how to build and grow sustainable businesses.
We’re now about 200 members strong nationwide, and we’re generating the interest of representatives from Facebook, Google, web publishing entities and other technology companies, as well as journalism foundations that understand the importance not just of preserving local news, but strengthening it.
The decline of the newspaper industry is as deep as it is real, and more and more communities are losing that local news source altogether.
What many of us in LION are aiming to do is not just to fill in the gaps, but to reimagine community news the way it once was done, that really connects with citizens, businesses and organizations in a meaningful way.
At this conference, I’m eager to gain more insights and ideas for furthering the twin missions of East Cobb News—to meet the news and information needs of this community, and to assist local businesses with getting out their messages.
If you’ve got thoughts, ideas or questions along those lines, please feel free to get in touch.
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to stepping back a bit, getting out on the open road, soaking up knowledge and enjoying the Music City!
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