The head of a national online news publishers group says that unlike large-scale newspapers, local online news sites such as BenitoLink, are growing. Matt DeRienzo, executive director of Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION) likened it to the local, craft beer movement. DeReinzo said with that, “communities will have to take on responsibility for their own information needs.”
In the interview with Poynter Institute, DeRienzo compared recent changes in the news business by contrasting the gradual growth and popularity of the local craft beer movement to the big guys like Coors and Budweiser beer companies.
Fortunately, local and regional websites such as BenitoLink are being home-grown or “home-brewed." DeReinzo explained that like small breweries, the local news outlets have more variety, each serving different needs and tastes. Hyper-local online news publications produce their own stories and therefore enjoy more public confidence.
De Rienzo also discussed some of the challenges these local news organizations face: “Two other big changes have been: a consensus developing around the realization that supporting a local news site on traditional advertising alone is extremely difficult, if not impossible; and an emerging willingness by readers to support local news sites — both nonprofit and for-profit — through things such as paid membership programs, crowd-funding campaigns or annual giving.”
BenitoLink is planning an individual donor campaign in May and will be asking for your support through affordable and sustaining donations.
A community-based, locally-produced news website that focuses on San Benito County, BenitoLink initially was a project of the Community Foundation for San Benito County and was largely funded by a Knight Foundation grant. Started in 2012, BenitoLink became a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in December 2015 and now operates independently.
DiRienzo stated, “Getting back to that point about communities taking responsibility for their own information needs and stepping up to fill the gaps in local journalism, we’ve also seen a growing recognition by local community foundations of the altruistic and essential-to-community mission of most of these sites.”
Today, BenitoLink employs approximately 10 freelance reporters and photographers covering government and news county-wide and posts fresh content on our website, as well as our Twitter and Facebook pages, seven days a week —the only San Benito County news source to do so. BenitoLink depends on support through local business sponsorships, as well as individual and major donors.













