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Pennon to Gift LNP | LancasterOnline to Newly Formed Nonprofit, Ensuring Local Journalism Continues to Thrive

via Business Wire

Pennsylvania Native and Award-Winning Journalist David Greene to Helm New Nonprofit

Under a historic agreement designed to ensure local journalism continues to thrive in Lancaster County, Pennon, the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit public media organization and current owner of LNP | LancasterOnline, will gift the news organization’s assets to a newly formed nonprofit led by award-winning journalist David Greene.

The closing of the transaction will mark the first time in its more than two centuries of operation that LNP | LancasterOnline will operate as a nonprofit.

Greene, who grew up in Lancaster, will serve as LNP | LancasterOnline’s interim publisher through the transaction’s expected completion by the end of the year. Executive Editor Tom Murse will continue to lead the newsroom, while General Manager Chris Fidler will step in as interim president until assuming the role permanently upon the transaction’s close. Operations will continue uninterrupted during this process, and subscribers, advertisers and community partners can expect a continued commitment to coverage of the community, with a focus on innovating for today’s audience.

“Growing up in Lancaster, I saw firsthand how vital a trusted local newspaper is to this community. Now I’m honored to build on LNP’s proud legacy,” said Greene, who began his professional journalism career in Lancaster at the Sunday News. “Nonprofit newsrooms are proving to be a model that can help local journalism thrive in today’s world, and we’re excited to bring it to the Lancaster community.”

Pennon and LNP’s boards of directors reviewed strategic options to ensure LNP | LancasterOnline’s long-term sustainability and service to the local community. The new nonprofit status will enable LNP | LancasterOnline to continue serving the Lancaster community while allowing Pennon to focus on its broader mission of providing local journalism and public media through WITF and educational services across its 19-county region.

“This gift agreement supports Pennon’s ongoing commitment to preserving and advancing local journalism across central Pennsylvania,” said Leigh Horner, Pennon’s Board Chair. “This change will open the door for philanthropic support to LNP | LancasterOnline to ensure readers and subscribers continue to enjoy a strong local news presence, even as other local newsrooms nationwide are closing.”

With its expected nonprofit status, LNP | LancasterOnline will be able to support local reporting via three direct revenue streams: subscriptions, advertising and charitable contributions.

“The legacy of LNP is special. I felt it the moment I walked into the Sunday News as a college intern,” said Greene. “The Steinman family shepherded this newsroom for the better part of two centuries and built a cherished institution. We plan to carry on LNP’s commitment to vibrant local journalism.”

The new nonprofit is expected to announce additional details about its publishing schedule, staffing and community engagement initiatives following the close of the transaction. That includes the formation of a Community Advisory Panel that will lead a series of listening sessions to ensure LNP | LancasterOnline is a voice of all perspectives and delivers the news and content the community is seeking.

“We are energized by this chance to hear more from our readers and double down on delivering the news that’s most important to their lives,” said Murse. “Our commitment to local news is not changing. The goal is to grow and strengthen it by becoming a nonprofit.”

About Pennon

Pennon is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization committed to strengthening public media, education and community journalism across its 19-county region. Through partnerships and philanthropy, Pennon invests in initiatives that foster informed civic engagement and trusted local news. For more information visit, https://pennon.org/

About David Greene

Greene hosts the public radio programs Left, Right & Center and Sports in America. He grew up in Lancaster and graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School and Harvard University. Greene previously served as co-host of NPR’s Morning Edition and as the network’s Moscow bureau chief. He leads the newly formed nonprofit Always Lancaster.

This gift agreement supports Pennon’s ongoing commitment to preserving and advancing local journalism across central Pennsylvania.

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