Below are some answers to frequently asked questions.
We'll continue to update our FAQ as we get closer to the event. In the meantime, if you have a question not answered below, please reach out to summit@lionpublishers.com.
VENUE
We’ll host this year’s Independent News Sustainability Summit from September 5–7, 2024, at the Westin Chicago River North, 320 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL.
We have reserved a hotel block at the Westin Chicago River North at a rate of $219/night. You can still book a room at this rate until August 16. After this date, the room block will close, and no discounted rooms will be available. Use this link to book.
If you run into any issues, please get in touch with Melissa Givens at melissa.givens@westin.com.
The Westin Chicago River North is wheelchair accessible. Please note accessibility needs when registering and request a handicap-accessible sleeping room if required when booking your hotel room.
Yes!
- Valet parking fee: $79 USD per day with in and out privileges
- Nearby parking fee: Nearby lots are estimated at around $64 USD per day; check the SpotHero app for potentially lower rates
We highly suggest staying at the conference hotel, the Westin Chicago River North; however, several hotels are located in the immediate area. The Springhill Suites by Marriott Chicago River North, The Kinzie Hotel, Hotel Chicago, and The Renaissance are all within walking distance of the Westin Chicago River North.
Yes, as of now, all LION-organized events will be at the conference hotel. As we update our schedule, we may have other organized events off-site.
Outdoor Construction
The front drive and west sidewalk of the hotel will be under construction. During this time, vehicles may enter through North Clark Street or North Dearborn Street, but guests will need to use the east sidewalk to enter the hotel. We apologize in advance for this inconvenience.
In addition, important information to know for planning:
- Parking:
- Vehicles are still able to enter the road in front of the hotel, James C. Tyree Way.
- We have a remote Valet placed on the East sidewalk outside of the hotel, and extra Valet and Bell attendants staffed to assist and expedite wait times.
- Vehicles are still able to enter the road in front of the hotel, James C. Tyree Way.
-
- Guests are welcome to self-park off-site, nothing has changed regarding self-park.
- Busses/Transportation:
- Scheduled buses or transportation will not have access to the street pathway directly in front of the hotel (James C. Tyree Way). Scheduled transportation is advised to stage for pick up on Clark or Dearborn Street. Both Dearborn and Clark Street will remain accessible by sidewalk from the hotel entrance.
- Please see this map and photos that further note entry/exit points.
PROGRAMMING
- Leaders of independent news publications. Here’s our membership criteria for independent news. We define a leader as CEO/Executive Director, Founder, Publisher, Editor, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or an equivalent title.
- Anyone who works for independent news publications. Attendees have told us that sending team members who work on the business side has been a valuable experience for them.
- Supporters of independent news publications. This includes vendors who serve publishers, news funders, and those who work for other journalism-support organizations.
We’ll share a more complete schedule in the coming months, but for now, we anticipate the conference will begin at 1 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 5, and wrap up by 4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Yes! We look forward to hearing from our community about what session topics and speakers they’re most interested in. We’ll open pitches in the coming weeks.
We will not livestream or record any sessions, but we will provide written takeaways from key sessions, and if members tell us a session was particularly useful, we will consider creating a News Entrepreneur Academy course that’s available to all LION members.
REGISTRATION
We’re making available 500 tickets for the Summit and 500 tickets for the LION Awards Ceremony & Dinner.
If a member purchases an early bird ticket to the Summit and a ticket to the LION Awards Ceremony & Dinner, we estimate the total cost to be around $1,600 per person:
- Summit ticket: $71.21 (including fees)
- Awards Ceremony & Dinner ticket: $55.20 (including fees)
- Travel: Estimated $500 maximum round trip flight
- Lodging: Estimated $771.32, including taxes, for three nights lodging with Westin hotel block
- Meals: Estimated $210 (About $30/meal for a total of three lunches, two breakfasts, and two dinners)
We are also giving a limited number of complimentary Summit tickets to confirmed speakers and a limited number of complimentary Awards tickets to all Awards finalists.
Additionally, we aim to offer travel scholarships to a limited number of LION members to help subsidize the cost of travel (hotel and/or flights), and we will have more details on that soon.
The 'LION members-only' ticket option is reserved for staff members of active LION member organizations. You should see your news business listed on this page if you are currently a LION member. If you don’t see your news business listed, please contact membership@lionpublishers.com.
If a LION member organization does not have any full-time staff, up to two members of its board of directors can register at the LION-member rate. If it has only one full-time staff member, one member of its board of directors can register at the LION-member rate. If it has two or more full-time staff, no board members are eligible for the member rate. Board committees (outside the BOD) and advisory boards do not qualify for this exception. We appreciate your understanding, as we have a limited number of tickets available!
Yes, we aim to offer travel scholarships to a limited number of LION members to help subsidize the cost of travel. As of July 8, we're in the second (and final!) call for applications. Submit your interest in receiving a travel stipend by July 21.
No. The Summit ticket will provide you with access to the sessions only. If you’d like to attend the LION Awards Happy Hour, Ceremony, and Dinner, you must purchase a separate $50 ticket.
Yes, of course! There is no age minimum, and anyone who purchases a ticket is welcome to attend.
Yes, we will give complimentary Summit tickets to confirmed session speakers. If you purchase a ticket and later commit to being a speaker, we will refund your ticket.
Yes, we will give complimentary tickets to LION Awards finalists. We will provide one complimentary ticket per organization, even if an organization is nominated for multiple awards.
We will offer full refunds up to 30 days before the event starts. If you request a refund for your ticket due to a change in your ability to attend, we will refund the cost of the ticket; we will not refund the original service/processing fee. If you request a refund for your ticket because we are providing you with a complimentary ticket (for speakers or sponsors, for example), we will refund the total cost of the ticket plus the service/processing fee.
LION will share a list of all attendees — just their first and last names and organization names — before the event. Our members tell us this is useful so they can plan to connect directly with people they want to talk with while at the Summit.
LION will never share its members’ or attendees’ personal contact information with vendors or any other third party.
LION strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including persons with disabilities, to fully engage. To request an accommodation, please get in touch with Hayley Milloy at hayleymilloy@lionpublishers.
Our COVID-19 Policy is informed by guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Chicago, Illinois. If CDC recommendations change ahead of or during our event, LION will inform registrants of that change.
We encourage attendees to wear masks if that makes them feel most comfortable. The Summit and LION Awards will be a mask-friendly environment and negative comments or behavior toward attendees wearing masks will not be tolerated. We encourage attendees to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. It will not be required to provide proof of vaccination to attend the event.
We encourage attendees to self-test for COVID-19 prior to traveling to the Summit. If attendees have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms that prevent them from safely traveling to the event, we ask that you stay home and do not attend the event. LION will refund the cost of your ticket if you are unable to attend due to COVID-19.