{"id":217069,"date":"2023-01-10T11:42:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T15:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lionpublishers.com\/?p=217069"},"modified":"2023-01-11T18:13:07","modified_gmt":"2023-01-11T22:13:07","slug":"election-guides-arent-just-a-public-service-they-can-earn-revenue-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lionpublishers.com\/election-guides-arent-just-a-public-service-they-can-earn-revenue-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Election guides aren’t just a public service. They can earn revenue, too."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This post is sponsored by Ballotpedia, which is piloting a new program to help publishers level up their voter guide and build a strategy to monetize it. Learn more and apply\u00bb<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Election 2022 might be barely behind us, but it\u2019s never too soon to start thinking about the next voting cycle, especially when there\u2019s revenue on the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, revenue! From election coverage! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s one of the goals for a new program led by Ballotpedia that will help local news publishers improve their voter guide \u2013 and build a strategy to monetize it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to funding from Arnold Ventures, Ballotpedia will select 10 publishers in 2023 to participate in a pilot program designed to help them build a top-notch election guide and sell sponsorships to underwrite the cost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this Q&A, Ballotpedia COO Gwen Beattie shares more details about the new voter guide program, its timeline, and how to apply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the inspiration for this program, and what are some of your favorite examples of voter guides produced by local independent publishers?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fifteen years ago, Ballotpedia was founded to help voters understand ballot initiatives. Today, we cover politics and policy at every level, including elections in the country\u2019s 100 largest cities by population and every state capital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we continue to expand our coverage with the ultimate goal of ensuring that every voter has the chance to better understand their ballot and the candidates on it, we know we can\u2019t do this alone. We see a major opportunity to help newsrooms across the country, particularly those outside major metropolitan areas, have access to the resources they need to produce more in-depth Local Voter Guides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These guides will bolster their existing offerings and give them specialized content to share with readers. At the same time, this gives candidates something that most don\u2019t have at the local level: a platform to reach their communities directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for favorite examples, Montana Free Press<\/a>, SpotlightPA<\/a>, and CalMatters<\/a> all have voter guides that we admire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How have you seen publishers earn revenue from their election coverage, and how will this program help participants emulate that success?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The New Jersey Globe produces a downloadable voter guide that it sells sponsorships and advertising against. This is the primary avenue for generating revenue through voter guides, and program participants will receive a sponsorship kit to help them secure sponsors for their voter guides, if desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What other support and resources will Ballotpedia offer program participants?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Participants in our pilot program will receive access to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n