News products

News products are ways your newsroom can package, extend or repurpose journalism, audiences and services to generate additional income. They can sit alongside core public interest reporting and, when done transparently, help strengthen your organisation’s sustainability.

Being clear with audiences is critical. Sponsored or paid content should always be clearly labelled, and newsrooms should distinguish between independent journalism and content supported by businesses or organisations to maintain trust and professional standards.

Kickstart your revenue thinking in 2026

LINA is offering subsidies for newsrooms to complete a short, practical mentorship program designed to help identify, test and refine revenue opportunities.

Kickstart 2026 mentorship

News products: the big ones

A couple of popular options for publishers.

Newsletters

Newsletters remain one of the most flexible and effective news products.

How they can be monetised

Subscriptions
Advertising
Sponsorship

Tips and ideas

Secure a sponsor for a regular section (for example, a “Good news of the week” segment).
Offer newsletters as an optional paid extra for subscribers or donors.

Check out our comprehensive guide to starting, growing and monetising newsletters in 2026:

Newsletter Growth Kit

Events

Events can extend your journalism into the community (growing your audience) while creating new revenue opportunities.

How they can be monetised

Ticket sales
Sponsorship
Partnerships

Examples and inspiration

How a Canadian newsroom monetised solutions journalism through events and engagement:

Read about the Green Line

Hear from its Editor

Podcasts

Podcasts allow newsrooms to reach audiences in a more intimate, on‑demand format and can complement written reporting. At the 2025 LINA Summit Angela Priestley (Women’s Agenda) described podcasts as “easier than other revenues” and often more accessible to audiences e.g. they can listen while multitasking.

How they can be monetised

Sponsorship
Advertising
Subscriptions or member-only episodes

Tips and ideas

Secure a sponsor for a season or recurring segment.
Offer bonus or ad‑free episodes for subscribers or members.
Repurpose existing reporting into short, explain‑it‑to‑me audio episodes (read how the Riverine Grazier turns newsletters into podcasts).

Audio editing webinar

Exclusive news products for LINA members

LINA offers access to two news products unique to our membership.

NewsREAM: Widget for ad listings

NewsREAM is a widget/plug-in that enables publishers to generate income through self-serve listings, launching early 2026.

This plug-in has been developed by LINA and Newsport, a news publisher in Far North Queensland. Newsport has been using the widget to host real estate listings and has successfully turned this into a reliable and regular revenue stream.

Mercato screens: Selling place-based ads on retail displays

Mercato and LINA have partnered to help independent newsrooms access advertising and commercial opportunities that are otherwise difficult to secure individually.

These plug and play small-screen retail display devices present an opportunity to promote your news headlines to new audiences, and to generate complementary advertising revenue with a new product offering for clients.

LINA membership

More discounts for newsrooms

Other news product ideas

Awareness days and observances features

Monetisation: Advertising, sponsorship
Tips: Approach an organisation aligned with the theme (for example, a cancer research body sponsoring content around a relevant awareness day).

For more ideas, see LINA’s story leads page.

Exclusive subscriber content

Monetisation: Subscriptions
Tips: Offer subscribers or donors behind-the-scenes content, paywalled articles, podcasts, or newsroom explainers.

Obituaries and death notices

Monetisation: Advertising, sponsorship
Tips:

Paid private notices from individuals.
Sponsorship from florists, funeral homes or related services.

Public holiday guides

Monetisation: Advertising
Tips: Create guides to businesses open on public holidays, such as cafes, pools, pubs, restaurants, grocery stores or gyms.

School holiday guides

Monetisation: Advertising, sponsorship
Tips:

Include advertising from local attractions and businesses.
Partner with local councils or libraries to promote programs and activities.

Sport ‘star’ features

Monetisation: Sponsorship
Tips: Secure a local sports-related business to sponsor a regular profile of an emerging athlete in your area.

Need more tips and ideas?

LINA’s story leads page includes:

Government and helpline references for readers
Monthly and annual story ideas
Key industry events for your calendar
Revenue prompts to consider each month
Useful mailing lists and spokespeople

Learn more about product thinking

An introduction to product thinking, exploring how content, audiences and services relate to potential revenue streams.

Watch the session

Tools and further reading

News Product Alliance – Product Kit
A practical collection of guides, templates and methods for building product capability in newsrooms of all sizes.
NPA Product Kit

Sources of revenue: an exhausting list
A broad overview of revenue ideas for news organisations.
Read the list

LINA Summit 2025: revenue session resources
Session overviews covering topics such as multimedia revenue, global business models, revenue workshops and aligning profit with purpose.
Summit 2025 resources