What Native News Online does

Native News Online is an independent digital news platform founded in 2011 that delivers daily coverage of issues affecting Native American communities across the United States, with editorial focus on tribal sovereignty, health equity, education, environment, repatriation, Indian boarding schools, and arts & entertainment. The publication serves tribal citizens, Alaska Natives, First Nations people, and non-Native readers interested in Indigenous issues, and operates as part of Indian Country Media, LLC alongside its sister publication Tribal Business News and the Native StoryLab branded-content services arm. The company is led by founder, publisher, and editor Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), who received the 2021 Native American Journalists Association Best Column award.

The core product is a WordPress-based website built on Newspack, organized into seven content verticals (Currents, Opinion, Sovereignty, Education, Health, Environment, and Arts & Entertainment) and supported by four free email newsletters — Native News Today (weekdays), Sunday Morning Native News (weekly), Cultivating Culture (twice weekly), and Native News Health Desk (monthly). Specialized reporting projects include America 250: A Republic Built on Native Land, Heritage Unbound, Native Vote 2024, Health Equity, Indian Boarding Schools, Cultivating Culture, and Repatriation, with additional distribution via a Buzzsprout-hosted podcast and active Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels. No mobile app, API, or proprietary technology stack is disclosed.

Revenue is generated through a diversified but small-scale mix: advertising (display, classifieds, sponsored content via Native StoryLab) with quote-based rates, reader donations in one-time ($15-$100), monthly ($10-$20), and annual ($85-$360) tiers, and foundation grants including MacArthur Foundation support for the Cultivating Culture initiative. The publication is free to readers with no paywall. Headcount is 1-10 employees, no external venture or PE funding is disclosed, and the company is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Name

Native News Online

Legal name

Indian Country Media, LLC

Website

https://nativenewsonline.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Native News Online is an independent Indigenous digital news platform founded in 2011, delivering daily coverage of tribal sovereignty, health, education, and culture to Native American readers nationwide. It operates under Indian Country Media, LLC and earns revenue from advertising, sponsored content, and reader donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Digital News Media

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers (MPAJADAG)

Keywords

• Indigenous news
• Native American journalism
• Tribal news coverage
• Digital news media
• Native storytelling

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Revenue model

1. Advertising: Native News Online generates revenue through advertising, offering display ads and sponsored content options. Advertisers can request rates via email from Rich Tupica at [email protected].
2. Donations: The publication accepts one-time, monthly, and annual donations from readers to support journalism. Donation options include preset amounts ($15, $25, $100) or custom amounts.
3. Sponsored Content: The platform offers Native StoryLab branded content services and sponsored content placements, including Native StoryLab, Branded Voices, and partner content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Native News Online is an independent digital news platform delivering daily reporting on issues affecting Native Americans, including tribal sovereignty, health, education, environment, and arts and entertainment. It distributes free content through its website, four email newsletters, podcasts, and social media, and operates Native StoryLab, a branded content and marketing services arm serving advertisers seeking to reach Indigenous audiences.

Product overview

Native News Online is a digital media company offering a comprehensive Indigenous news platform built around its core website. The portfolio includes four newsletter products (Native News Today, Sunday Morning Native News, Native News Health Desk, and Cultivating Culture), multiple specialized reporting initiatives (America 250, Health Equity, Indian Boarding Schools, Repatriation, Cultivating Culture, Native Vote 2024), and a strategic media marketing arm (Native StoryLab). Additional revenue streams include classified advertising and sponsored content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Native News Online Website The primary news website delivering daily coverage of Indigenous news, tribal sovereignty, health, education, environment, arts, and entertainment affecting Native American communities nationwide. Free to access for all readers.
• Native News Today Newsletter

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches millions of Native and non-Native readers annually

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Indian Country Media, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative News Online is part of Indian Country Media, LLC, the parent company that also owns Tribal Business News. Native StoryLab is the full-service strategic media and marketing arm of Indian Country Media, specializing in authentic Indigenous storytelling.
• Tribal Business NewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal Business News is the sister publication of Native News Online under Indian Country Media, LLC, together forming Indigenous newsrooms covering tribal news and business.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ProPublica: Major nonprofit investigative newsroom with grant and donation funding. Similar mission-driven, donor-supported model, though vastly larger in scale and focused on investigative rather than daily Indigenous coverage.
• Grist: Larger nonprofit environmental news outlet that covers Indigenous environmental issues and climate justice. Comparable nonprofit, grant-and-donor funded model and emphasis on underrepresented communities, though broader in topic scope.

Direct peers

• Indian Country Today: Largest independent Indigenous news organization in the US, covering tribal sovereignty, health, and culture with a multimedia approach. Most direct competitor given overlapping editorial mission, audience, and nonprofit-style funding model.
• Indianz.com: Long-running online Indigenous news site covering tribal politics, federal Indian policy, and Indian Country events. Comparable niche-audience digital news model targeting the same Native American readership.
• Native American Calling: Daily national radio program and online platform covering Indigenous issues. Comparable in subject matter and audience, with an additional broadcast component that broadens reach into similar community conversations.
• Last Real Indians: Independent Indigenous online news and commentary outlet focused on cultural, political, and community coverage. Closely matches Native News Online's grassroots, community-driven editorial positioning.

Regional players

• High Country News: Nonprofit news organization covering the Western US, with significant Indigenous affairs reporting. Similar nonprofit funding model and editorial depth, but with a regional rather than nationwide Indigenous-news focus.

Emerging players

• Montana Free Press: Nonprofit digital news outlet covering state and regional issues, including tribal news. Comparable small-team, donor-and-grant funded nonprofit newsroom model targeting a geographically specific audience.
• The Imprint: Nonprofit news site covering child welfare and youth systems, with significant Indigenous child-welfare coverage. Similar small nonprofit newsroom model sustained by donations and foundation grants.

Others

• Type Investigations: Nonprofit investigative journalism outlet funded by donations and grants. Comparable funding structure and mission-driven editorial model, though focused on investigative reporting rather than daily news.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nativenews_net
• Facebookfacebook.com/nativenewsonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nativenewsonline
• Instagraminstagram.com/nativenewsonline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Native News Online