- Donations to LINK nky’s Community Journalism Fund are restricted to funding public-interest reporting, ensuring essential coverage of government, policy, and civic issues.
- Community Ownership shares provide unrestricted operating support, helping the newsroom pay expenses, expand coverage of sports, arts, and culture.
- Ownership also creates a sense of pride and connection, giving shareholders updates and meetings, while reinforcing that LINK nky truly belongs to the community it serves.
When we announced LINK nky’s Community Ownership program, a lot of folks asked me how it’s different from making a donation. After all, we’ve been fortunate to receive generous support through our Community Journalism Fund for several years now, and people are used to contributing in that way. .
Both matter, both keep us going, but they’re not the same thing—and I think it’s important to explain why.
The Community Journalism Fund is exactly what it sounds like. Donations made there can only be used for public-interest journalism. That means our reporting from city and county government meetings, the in-depth coverage that helps residents understand complex issues and the work that ensures Northern Kentucky voices are heard at the statehouse and beyond.
Every dollar in that fund is earmarked for that mission. It cannot be shifted around or spent on anything else. And thank goodness for that. It ensures that the most important stories in our region—the ones that shape our future—are protected and resourced no matter what.
Community Ownership, on the other hand, is more flexible. The dollars raised from people purchasing $250 shares go into our operating fund. That may not sound sexy, but it’s the lifeblood of a newsroom. It means we can pay the bills, keep the lights on, and cover all the parts of life in Northern Kentucky that make this place what it is.
An increased operating fund lets us expand our sports coverage so your kid’s team makes the paper. It allows us to highlight arts and culture, from gallery openings to local theater productions. It helps us with the very practical things too, like our upcoming move to a new office space. (We’re gonna need a new fridge.)
That’s the difference: donations are restricted, ownership dollars are unrestricted. Donations keep our public-interest reporting strong. Ownership dollars help us grow, adapt, and serve the full breadth of our community. Together, they make LINK nky sustainable.
And ownership isn’t just about the money. When you buy a share, you become part of something bigger. You’ll receive quarterly updates directly from me, so you’ll always know how your investment is being used. You’ll also be invited to our annual shareholder meeting, where we’ll walk through our finances, share our challenges and successes, and give you a chance to hear where we’re headed next. It’s a way of staying connected, of knowing that your share isn’t just a symbolic piece of paper. It ties you to the heartbeat of this newsroom.
Now, I want to be clear about what ownership doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean you get a vote on management or a cut of any profits. Our board continues to guide the organization, and if we ever generate a surplus, that money goes right back into LINK nky—into better reporting, stronger technology, and deeper coverage. Your share isn’t an investment in the financial sense. It’s an investment in your community.
Already, I’ve seen the pride people take in becoming owners. They don’t just write a check and move on. They light up when they get their shareholder documentation. They tell their friends and family. They feel a deeper connection to LINK nky, because now they can say, “This isn’t just my local paper. This is my paper. I own a piece of it.”
And that pride is contagious. The more people who buy in, the stronger LINK nky becomes—not just financially, but as a true community institution. Think about what it would mean for Northern Kentucky to be able to say, without hesitation, that our news belongs to us. Not to a corporation in another state. Not to a hedge fund looking for quick returns. To us.
That’s what Community Ownership is really about. Yes, your share helps us buy a fridge. Yes, it helps us cover Friday night football and the best fries in Latonia. But it also helps us prove that local journalism can be sustained in a way that is rooted in the people it serves.
So when you think about whether to donate or to buy a share, remember: both matter. Donations protect our most essential reporting. Ownership fuels the rest of the work that makes LINK nky vibrant and whole. Together, they ensure that Northern Kentucky has the strong, independent newsroom it deserves.
And if you’ve ever wanted to point to a headline, a story, or even the fridge in our new office and say, “I helped make that happen,” well—this is your chance.
Lacy Starling is LINK nky’s president and CEO. Click here to read more Inside LINK columns from Lacy and Executive Editor Meghan Goth.
