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Articles by Natalya Dreszer
LION’s revamped resource library helps local publishers grow revenue, audience, and impact
LION Publishers has revamped its collection of over 150 expert-crafted, easy-to-use templates and guides to help newsroom leaders grow revenue and audience, increase capacity, and strengthen impact. The News Entrepreneur Academy helps publishers: Solve specific, immediate needs through a searchable library of resources addressing finances, HR, revenue growth, and more.
Philanthropy overtakes advertising as most common revenue stream for LIONs - Editor and Publisher
Posted Thursday, December 11, 2025 9:23 am As philanthropic funding at the national and local levels is on the rise, as seen by the over $400 million distributed to local newsrooms by Press Forward, LION members are leaning into philanthropy and cultivating audience-supported revenue. ... Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen philanthropy and community-driven revenue streams play a more important role in revenue strategies for both for-profit and nonprofit newsrooms.
Philanthropy overtakes advertising as most common revenue stream for LIONs
As philanthropic funding at the national and local levels is on the rise, as seen by the over $400 million distributed to local newsrooms by Press Forward, LION members are leaning into philanthropy and cultivating audience-supported revenue. In 2025, LION collected business data from over 300 local, independent newsrooms across the U.S. and Canada. Here’s what we’re seeing around local newsroom revenue strategies in 2025: Breakdown of revenue streams across all LION members in 2025.
Third annual reader survey describes Santa Cruz Local’s impact
Dec. 15, 2023 By Natalya Dreszer Santa Cruz Local aims to understand Santa Cruz County in all of its complexity. We listen to residents’ needs and help people become informed and civically engaged. Our vision is that when we are all watching and engaged in our local government, our needs are addressed, democracy works better and our community is stronger.
Santa Cruz city voters ask candidates to address housing, transit, crime
UC Santa Cruz cognitive science student Maggie Kelly was placed in campus housing, but not near her student center of Merrill College. (Natalya Dreszer — Santa Cruz Local) SANTA CRUZ >> A recent survey of Santa Cruz city voters suggested that housing, homelessness and transportation were key issues for candidates to address in the March 2024 election. In 2022, Santa Cruz residents voted in district elections for the first time.
San Lorenzo Valley voters describe needs from supervisor
Thirty-seven-year-old Melissa Ajuntas, right, moved to California from Texas for a safer and more inclusive community. She stands with her children, from left, Aleena Romero, 14, Misol Hernandez, 7, and Luna Hernandez, 4. (Natalya Dreszer — Santa Cruz Local) SAN LORENZO VALLEY >> An informal survey of voters in Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 5 suggested that disaster preparation, power reliability and housing were key issues for candidates to address in the March 2024 election.
District 2 voters rank transportation, housing as top concerns
Freedom resident Vanessa Tamayo, 39, says she wants local government to help people find housing. She and her daughter, Sophia, attend the Santa Cruz County Fair on Sept. 15. (Natalya Dreszer — Santa Cruz Local) APTOS >> Ahead of the March 2024 election, an informal survey of voters in Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 2 showed road conditions, traffic and housing as key issues that residents want candidates to address.
What is Santa Cruz Local's impact?
Santa Cruz Local is owned and led by local journalists. Our journalism responds to your questions and priorities. We specialize in investigative reporting on our community’s pressing needs. Most of our funding comes from members — locals who keep our news free for everyone. Donate or become a member of Santa Cruz Local.
Live Oak, Soquel voters rank housing as top concern Original
Soquel resident Glen Wunderling, right, says the cost of living and the cost of medical insurance are rising. Wunderling was at a Grey Bears food distribution site in Soquel with Barbara Murray and his dog, Lucas. (Natalya Dreszer — Santa Cruz Local) SANTA CRUZ >> Affordable housing, rental assistance and solutions to homelessness topped the concerns of more than 80 likely voters surveyed recently in Live Oak, Soquel and Capitola.
How homeless services money has been spent in Santa Cruz County
Thomas Paul says he needs permanent housing more than he needs a temporary managed camp. Paul has been part of the Downtown Streets Team and cleaned streets in Downtown Santa Cruz. (Kara Meyberg Guzman — Santa Cruz Local file) Editor’s note: This is the first story in a three-part series on homeless services spending in Santa Cruz County. Read part two, part three and how this series was made.
Pajaro flood victims start long road to repairs
“The need was desperate before the flood,” said Nora Yerena, director of the community-based organization Raíces y Cariño. “The (Pajaro River) bridge being open means nothing in regards to those continued needs,” Yerena said after the bridge opened Thursday. Pajaro is often associated with agriculture, but its residents work in many industries and earned a median annual household income of about $58,500 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
We want to hear from you.
Santa Cruz Local is owned and led by local journalists. Our journalism responds to your questions and priorities. We specialize in investigative reporting on our community’s pressing needs. Most of our funding comes from members — locals who keep our news free for everyone.
Readers share feedback on Santa Cruz Local’s impact
One of Santa Cruz Local’s main goals is to help Santa Cruz County residents get informed and civically engaged. Our vision is that when we are all watching and engaged in our local government, our needs are addressed, democracy works better and our community is stronger. Our journalism is designed to help inform and engage locals. Our news stories explain big decisions in local government. Our Sunday newsletter outlines big upcoming decisions in local government and how to get involved.
What is Santa Cruz Local's impact?
Santa Cruz Local is owned and led by local journalists. Our journalism responds to your questions and priorities. We specialize in investigative reporting on our community’s pressing needs. Most of our funding comes from members — locals who keep our news free for everyone.
Kaiser Permanente medical complex, 5940 Soquel Ave., Live Oak
• Project summary: Leaders from Kaiser Permanente have proposed a 160,000-square-foot building at 5940 Soquel Ave. in Live Oak. it would include 24-hour urgent care, physical therapy, chemotherapy, optometry and a pharmacy. • Location: 5940 Soquel Ave, across from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. The site is now a vehicle towing yard flanked by supply stores for construction and landscaping.
Santa Cruz and North Coast voters describe their priorities for supervisor candidates
Bonny Doon resident Jasmine Sanders, 25, is the head baker at Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill in Davenport. Sanders wants improved cellphone service for Bonny Doon. (Kara Meyberg Guzman — Santa Cruz Local) SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz Local centers its election reporting around the issues that are most important to voters.
South County residents describe their priorities for supervisor candidates
Santa Cruz Local interviewed and surveyed 40 residents of Watsonville and the surrounding areas about their priorities for the District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor race. (Kara Meyberg Guzman — Santa Cruz Local file) WATSONVILLE >> Santa Cruz Local is focusing its June 7 election reporting on the issues most important to residents. To find the priorities of residents of Santa Cruz County supervisorial District 4, interviews and surveys were conducted with 40 residents from the district.
Homelessness survey reveals some common ground in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz resident Julisa Diaz said she wants housing for herself and her children. (Kara Meyberg Guzman—Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> As part of Santa Cruz Local’s series on homelessness solutions, we surveyed 116 housed and unhoused people from Sept. 2 to Oct. 7. The surveys took place in person and online, and included homeless-service providers, formerly homeless people, residents in neighborhoods and residents in tent camps.
Live Oak affordable housing and health clinic project
Last updated: Nov. 17, 2022 Project name: 1500 Capitola Road Location: 1500 Capitola Road project near 17th Avenue Status: Approved by Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in November 2019. Construction began in 2021. Construction of the two clinics will be completed in November 2022 are expected to open by the end of 2022. The housing is expected to be completed by fall 2023.
Pacific Front Laurel downtown housing project
Last updated: Nov. 17, 2022 Project name: Pacific Front Laurel Location: The entire downtown block between Pacific Avenue, Front and Laurel streets. Status: Approved by Santa Cruz City in December 2018. Construction began in 2021. Construction began in 2021 and is 50% completed as of November 2022. The construction is estimated to be completed by the early of 2024.
Housing and construction projects in Santa Cruz County
Last updated: February 2023 Construction continues on a 205-unit housing project with shops at Pacific Avenue and Laurel Street in Santa Cruz on Oct. 19, 2022. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local) Stay up to date with the latest about major housing and construction projects across Santa Cruz County and how to make your voice heard. Stay on top of these housing projects and more. Sign up free to get Santa Cruz Local in your inbox twice a week. We dig into Santa Cruz County's biggest issues.
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