LINA Sustainability Audits are a structured way for independent publishers to step back, assess what’s working, and focus limited time and resources on the activities that make the biggest difference to their sustainability.
Running a local newsroom means constantly juggling journalism, audiences, revenue, operations and everything in between. It can be hard to step back and work out what’s helping your business become more sustainable – and what’s simply taking up valuable time.
The LINA Sustainability Audit is designed to help you do just that.
Adapted from LION Publishers’ successful Sustainability Audit, the LINA Audit gives independent Australian news publishers a practical snapshot of their business health, highlights areas of strength and opportunity, and provides tailored recommendations for what to focus on next.
The Audit is available free to LINA members.
A tool to help you focus on what matters
Independent news publishers are constantly experimenting with new ways to build audiences, generate revenue and strengthen their businesses. But with limited time and resources, it’s not always easy to know which activities are making a real difference.
Many publishers have a pages-long to-do list for their business. Based on benchmarking data from over 400 independent publishers, this audit will tell you which are going to have the biggest impact. And these might not be the things you expect….
The Sustainability Audit provides a structured way to step back and look at the bigger picture.
It assesses your newsroom across three key areas:
- Operational resilience – how well your systems, processes and leadership support the business
- Financial health – the strength and diversity of your revenue model and financial foundations
- Journalistic impact – how effectively your journalism is reaching and serving your community
Together, these areas provide a picture of your newsroom’s current position and help identify practical opportunities to build greater resilience.
Built by LION, adapted for Australian publishers
The Sustainability Audit was developed by LION publishers, the North American organisation supporting independent online news publishers. LION launched the Audit in 2021 to help news entrepreneurs answer a simple question: How is my business doing?
Since then, hundreds of independent news businesses have completed the Audit, providing a growing body of data about what sustainability looks like in practice.
LINA has now adapted the Audit for Australian newsrooms, working closely with LION to make sure the questions, resources and recommendations reflect the Australian regulatory and operating environment.
LINA will also use the aggregate, anonymised Audit data to build a clearer picture of the needs, strengths and challenges facing Australia’s local and independent news sector.
What have LION publishers found?
LION’s experience shows that taking a closer look at the business can lead to meaningful change:
- News businesses that completed the Audit twice had a 100% median revenue increase.
- Those that completed it three times had a 220% median revenue increase.
Other results include:
- 66% of news businesses grew their staffing between Audits, by a median of four contributors.
- 1/2 of news businesses saw an increase in monthly web users between Audits.
- 91% of participants said the Audit had, or would have, a positive impact on the sustainability of their news business.
These results show what’s possible when publishers have a clearer picture of their business, a plan and a way to track progress.
What does a Sustainability Audit involve?
The Audit is designed to be straightforward and practical.
You’ll work through a series of questions covering your newsroom’s operations, finances and journalism. The questions are designed to help build a clear picture of how your business is currently operating.
Once you’ve completed the Audit, you’ll receive a report showing where your newsroom sits across the key areas of sustainability.
Your results will highlight strengths, identify areas where there may be opportunities to improve, and provide recommendations for next steps.
You don’t need to tackle everything at once.
The Audit is designed to help you identify the areas likely to have the greatest impact, so you can focus your limited time and resources where they matter most.
Your results will point you towards relevant resources, guidance and practical actions to help you address the opportunities identified in your Audit.
Sustainability isn’t a one-off exercise. As your newsroom changes, you can use the Audit again to see how you’ve progressed and identify your next priorities.
What can the Sustainability Audit help you identify?
Every newsroom is different, so your results will be specific to your business. Depending on your responses, the Audit may highlight opportunities such as:
- Diversifying your revenue streams
- Strengthening your financial foundations
- Improving systems and workflows
- Using audience data to inform decisions
- Developing a clearer business or growth plan
- Dedicating more time or resources to revenue development
- Reducing reliance on individual leaders
- Strengthening your newsroom’s operational resilience
- Identifying opportunities to grow your audience or develop new products.
Ready to take a closer look?
The Sustainability Audit is available free to LINA members.
Not sure whether it’s right for your newsroom? Get in touch with the LINA team and we’ll be happy to talk you through it.