Hyperlocal News Network launches on demand HR for media companies

Hello! Here’s what’s in this week’s issue:

→ Hyperlocal News Network launches on demand HR for media companies

→ LION announces winners of 2024 Sustainability Awards

→ Poynter launches a new podcast about the news media industry

→ Will the California Google deal exclude the smallest local news publishers?

→ Study shows insights into newsletters

📰 Hyperlocal News Network launches on demand HR for media companies

Local media focused CMS platform Hyperlocal News Network recently announced that they’ll be the first content management system to offer HR services to customers.

The new venture is a partnership with HR Kickstart, a firm that works with businesses to scale quickly and sustainably by providing quick, innovative and practical HR support.

HNN offers additional à la carte back office services for local media companies such as analytics, a DIY marketing platform, newsletter marketing, and more. Click here to listen to my recent interview with founder Michael Shapiro to learn more about Hyperlocal News Network.

📰 LION announces winners of 2024 Sustainability Awards

LION Publishers announced the winners for its annual sustainability awards for local media companies earlier this month in Chicago.

The awards, sponsored in part by the Knight Foundation and Google, awarded nearly $60,000 in cash prizes to 18 Lion member organizations.

Some of the winners:

• Business of the Year Award (Medium/Large Revenue Tier): Block Club Chicago

• Business of the Year (Micro/Small Revenue Tier): CivicLex

• Product of the Year (Micro/Small Revenue Tier): Santa Cruz Local

• New LION Business of the Year: The Pulp

📰 Poynter launches a new podcast about the news media industry

The Poynter Institute is launching a new podcast about the news media business called The Poynter Report Podcast. The first episode will air on September 23rd to be followed every two weeks with new content.

The podcast will be hosted by Tom Jones, a long time journalist and talk radio host, who will interview “news industry guests discussing behind-the-scenes issues facing the media news landscape”.

The first guest will be NPR TV critic and media analyst Eric Deggans, author of “Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation.”

📰 Will the California Google deal exclude the smallest local news publishers?

The controversial deal that Google cut with California lawmakers last month may end up excluding the smallest, and some say most in need, local news publishers.

As of now, there is language in the former bill that would exclude publishers who earn less than $100,000 annually and that have been publishing for less than two years from receiving any of the funds that Google agreed to pay.

Critics have raised the question about the language which has not yet been finalized.

Read more here.

📰 Study shows insights into newsletters

A study from Sherwood Media and MAGNA Media Trials gives some insights into how newsletters have gained so much momentum recently.

The study revealed some surprising revelations, such as the fact that 30% of newsletter readers don’t use websites as their regular news source. Respondents also mentioned the quality of content and how newsletters fit into their daily routine, with 65% saying newsletters provide the highest quality content among platforms and 75% reporting that they read newsletters daily.

According to 6AM City COO Ryan Heafy, “Publishers are not using newsletters optimally yet. You’ll see a material increase in ad revenue shift to newsletters as they become a more important part of a publishers’ inventory, but many publishers aren't there yet.”

Read more here.