Written by Greg Fischer, LINK nky’s founding chairman
When we launched LINK in 2021, we weren’t just starting a news organization—we were taking a stand for Northern Kentucky.
We believed this region deserved local journalism that was independent, inclusive, solutions-focused, and unapologetically local. Four years later, LINK is thriving.
And today, we begin the next chapter.
Our founding CEO, Lacy Starling, has announced she will be stepping down at the end of 2025. That news comes with immense gratitude—for her leadership, for the legacy she leaves behind, and for the opportunity ahead.
From day one, Lacy brought the courage, clarity and the sheer determination needed to turn a bold idea into a real institution.
She took LINK from two scrappy, dedicated one-person news operations—each deeply embedded in their communities and committed to local storytelling—and built a scaled, sustainable business that now reaches every household in Northern Kentucky.
While many legacy media outlets shrank, Lacy and the LINK team grew. She professionalized every aspect of the organization—from CRM-driven sales strategy and a robust tech stack to HR policies and award-winning editorial infrastructure.
Because of her, LINK didn’t just survive the modern media landscape. It succeeded in it.
Now, as we look forward, we see a powerful opportunity to build on that foundation. We call it LINK 2.0—a strategic evolution that prioritizes long-term sustainability, deeper community ownership, and bold innovation. We want to expand our reach to underserved audiences, embrace new technologies to better serve readers, and continue increasing transparency around our operations.
To get there, we need a new kind of leader.
The next president & CEO of LINK won’t be managing a startup—they’ll be scaling a civic institution. We’re looking for someone with strong business instincts and a real passion for local news. They must be front-facing in the community and able to speak with authenticity about why this work matters. They need to understand how to generate revenue and how to market not just LINK, but our advertisers too. They’ll need grit, curiosity and the ability to think strategically while executing practically.
And above all, they must believe in LINK’s mission:
To advance Northern Kentucky by providing transformative coverage of the news of the day—while staying focused on the deeper issues that matter most to our community.
We built LINK with a unique structure—part for-profit, part philanthropic, governed with nonprofit-style accountability. We have a Managing Board made up of civic leaders and an independent Editorial Board made up of community members who help ensure our journalism stays grounded in integrity. That separation between business and editorial is sacred here. It protects our credibility, and it allows us to serve the public with honesty—even when it’s hard.
Because let’s be clear: Local journalism isn’t always comfortable.
Sometimes we publish stories that ruffle feathers. Sometimes we get it wrong and have to own it. Sometimes the most important stories are the ones that leave everyone a little uncomfortable. Our job is not to win popularity contests. Our job is to shine a light on the truth and hold up a mirror to the community, even when the reflection isn’t flattering. Trust me, I know. I do it every morning—and that mirror doesn’t pull any punches.
Being part of LINK has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. I’ve watched our journalists break stories that make a difference, celebrate community milestones, and spark vital conversations. I’ve seen our readers show up—not just to read and comment, but to care, question, and contribute. And I’ve watched our partners, donors, and advertisers rally behind the belief that Northern Kentucky deserves better.
Better news. Better access. Better connection.
We’re just getting started.
As we begin the search for LINK’s next CEO, I want to thank Lacy again for her tireless work and her belief in what LINK could be. I want to thank our board members and staff for their continued commitment. And I want to thank you—our community—for supporting us, challenging us, and trusting us to do this work.
If you believe in LINK’s mission, if you care about the future of local news, and if you know someone who might be the right fit to lead us forward, now is the time to speak up.
The next chapter of LINK is here. And together, we’ll write it.