AAN Publishers is thrilled to announce that 25 publishers will go through the AAN Tech Stack Checklist program, a new initiative designed to help independent news organizations improve their publishing technology infrastructure, leading to increased sustainability. Each participating publisher will work with an expert coach and receive a $5,000 grant funded by the Google News Initiative to identify inefficiencies, solve key problems, and develop new revenue opportunities.
The selected publishers represent various alt-weeklies, local independent news outlets, and digital-first publications dedicated to serving their communities. These publishers include The Current Media Inc., Stet News, Planet Detroit, Oklahoma Gazette, Toledo City Paper, The Vallejo Sun, Mabuhay Canada, The Frisc, The Bowie Sun, Washington City Paper, Canopy Atlanta, Verified News Network (VNN) Oklahoma, Eugene Weekly, Watermark Out News, Creative Loafing Tampa, C-VILLE Weekly, Kingston Springs Gazette, Orlando Weekly, Palo Alto Weekly, QBurgh, Open Vallejo, The Austin Chronicle, Yellow Scene Magazine, Chicago Reader, and Mountain Xpress.
Through this program, each publisher will take a comprehensive look at their tech stack—from the CMS and audience engagement tools to ad tech and analytics—to pinpoint gaps and inefficiencies. Working closely with an assigned coach, they will develop a strategy to optimize their digital infrastructure, improve audience reach, and unlock new revenue streams. This initiative is all about making impactful changes that support long-term sustainability, whether those changes involve upgrading their website, enhancing newsletter automation, or refining their programmatic ad setup.
The $5,000 grant allows each publisher to take action on their findings. Whether they invest in new software, integrate better analytics tools, or implement membership and subscription solutions, this funding ensures that insights become tangible improvements. Focusing on critical quick fixes and long-term growth, the program helps publishers strengthen their business models and better serve their readers.
At a time when local independent news outlets face increasing challenges, the AAN Tech Stack Checklist program empowers these publishers to build more resilient, tech-savvy operations. By the end of the program, these 25 publishers will not only have tackled pressing tech issues, but also positioned themselves for sustainable growth in an evolving media landscape. We look forward to sharing their progress and lessons learned in the months ahead.
