Questa del Rio News has been selected to participate in the Local Media Association’s (LMA) 2025 Lab for Journalism Funding. The initiative aims to help local news organizations develop sustainable business models amid industry-wide challenges.
With a grant from the New Mexico Local News Fund, Editor-in-Chief Mikayla Ortega and Development Director Monique Parker attended the LMA Summit held April 1–2 at Google’s New York City headquarters. The summit convened journalists from across the country to explore innovative strategies for funding local journalism. The summit brought together journalists nationwide to discuss new funding models for local news.
“Being part of the LMA Lab is a significant opportunity for us,” Ortega said. “It shows that our work is being recognized as an asset for our area, and allows us to learn from peers and experts about sustainable practices that can help ensure the longevity of our community-focused reporting.”
Launched in 2018, Questa del Rio News has become a vital source of information for communities including Questa, Red River, Cerro, Costilla, and Amalia. The paper emphasizes hyper-local coverage, highlighting stories that might otherwise go untold. In recent years, it has expanded its digital presence, reaching an average of 175,000 to 200,000 readers online per month.
The LMA Lab for Journalism Funding, supported by the Google News Initiative, has trained nearly 150 newsrooms since its inception in 2020. Collectively, these organizations have raised over $28 million to support local journalism.
For Questa del Rio News, participation in the lab represents a step toward financial sustainability. The publication relies on a combination of donations, grants, and advertising to operate. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it also benefits from community support and volunteer contributions.
“Joining this groundbreaking six-month journalism philanthropy lab alongside fellow newsrooms presents an exciting opportunity,” adds Parker. “Through the lab we hope to develop innovative strategies to deeply engage with our reader’s needs. This collaborative effort will be instrumental in forging a sustainable path forward, ensuring our ability to deliver essential local journalism for years to come.”
The lab’s expansion into New Mexico, along with cohorts in California and Illinois, reflects a growing recognition of the importance of local news outlets in maintaining informed communities.
As the media landscape evolves, initiatives like the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding offer a lifeline to small publications striving to adapt and thrive.
