Issue Media Group

Name

Issue Media Group

Legal name

Issue Media Group, LLC

Website

https://issuemediagroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Digital News Media

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Publishing Platforms (News/Magazines) (BPAMAJAE), Community-Integrated Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAI)

Keywords

• Solutions journalism
• Local digital media
• Community news
• Editorial underwriting
• Narrative publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Underwriting/Underwriter Support: IMG's primary revenue model. Corporations, governments, institutions, nonprofits, and foundations provide financial support (underwriting) that allows IMG to dedicate editorial resources to cover key issue areas important to both the underwriter and IMG's mission. Underwriting is considered crucial to the organization's sustainability.
2. Voluntary Reader Contributions: Content is freely available without paywalls, but readers may support the journalism with voluntary contributions.
3. Custom Publishing Services: IMG creates custom content solutions based on client needs and stories they want to tell, leveraging their deep bench of freelance talent and experience covering topics related to growth, development, talent, and the new economy.
4. Foundation Grants: IMG accepts grants from foundation partners and often uses fiscal sponsors locally (community foundations, United Ways) and nationally (Report for America, Tiny News Collective) which have accountability requirements for nonprofit funding.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Issue Media Group publishes weekly digital news magazines across multiple U.S. cities, using a solutions journalism methodology that examines how communities respond to problems. The company operates 18 paywall-free digital publications across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, and Tennessee, supported by underwriting partnerships with corporations, foundations, and government entities.

Product overview

Issue Media Group operates a multi-local network of 18 digital news publications across the Midwest and beyond, with a focus on solutions-based journalism. The portfolio includes flagship publications like Model D (Detroit), 83 Degrees (Tampa), and regional outlets in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and other states. IMG's publications share a unified editorial approach—solutions journalism that highlights community transformation—while maintaining local editorial leadership. Supporting programs include On the Ground (embedded journalism in specific communities), Voices of Youth (youth reporting initiative), and Common Ground (national platform for sharing solutions stories). The company operates an underwriting model where partners support coverage editorially independent of sponsor influence, and recently launched Common Ground as a new national platform to expand reach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Model D: Flagship publication covering talent, innovation, and placemaking in Detroit since 2006
• Soapbox Cincinnati
• 83 Degrees
• Input Fort Wayne
• Hub Springfield
• Confluence
• Rapid Growth
• Second Wave
• Concentrate
• Flintside
• Metromode
• The Keel
• Epicenter
• RIX | Rural Innovation Exchange
• Common Ground
• Voices of Youth
• On the Ground

Products and services

• Model D
• 83 Degrees
• Soapbox Cincinnati
• Input Fort Wayne
• Hub Springfield
• Common Ground
• Confluence
• Rapid Growth
• Second Wave
• Concentrate
• Flintside
• Metromode
• The Keel
• Epicenter
• RIX - Rural Innovation Exchange
• On the Ground
• Voices of Youth
• Editorial Underwriting Partnerships
• Custom Publishing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• IMG's Cincinnati team recognized for 'Health Justice in Action' series at Ohio's Best Journalism awards
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Fourth Estate Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2024Fourth Estate Inc. acquired Issue Media Group in August 2024. John Montgomery was appointed as the new CEO. Founders Brian Boyle and Paul Schutt remain to support the transition. Fourth Estate is a family-owned private company dedicated to impactful community journalism.
• The Chamber of Greater SpringfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2020Coalition partner for The Hub publication in Springfield, Ohio. Represents local business community interests in advancing the Springfield narrative.
• Mercy Health - SpringfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2020Healthcare coalition partner for The Hub publication, supporting coverage of community health and wellness initiatives in Springfield, Ohio.
• City of SpringfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2020Municipal government coalition partner for The Hub publication, supporting coverage of city development and community initiatives.
• Springfield City School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2020Education coalition partner for The Hub publication, supporting coverage of youth and educational initiatives in Springfield.
• Neighborhood Housing PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2020Housing nonprofit coalition partner for The Hub publication in Springfield, Ohio.
• Clark State Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2020Higher education coalition partner for The Hub publication, supporting coverage of workforce development and educational opportunities.
• Springfield Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2020SBDC coalition partner supporting coverage of entrepreneurship and small business development in Springfield.
• Wittenberg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2020Higher education coalition partner for The Hub publication, supporting coverage of academic and community partnerships.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Lenfest Institute for Journalism: Philadelphia-based journalism philanthropy that funds and supports local news sustainability initiatives. Comparable in mission and funder relationship—Lenfest is both an IMG supporter and a peer in the local-news sustainability ecosystem, though operating as a funder rather than a publisher.

Direct peers

• VTDigger: Vermont-based nonprofit digital news outlet providing in-depth state and local coverage funded by donations and foundation grants. Directly comparable paywall-free, donor-funded model serving civic-minded local readers, with similar reliance on foundation support.
• The Connecticut Mirror: Nonprofit digital news outlet covering Connecticut state and local policy. Comparable paywall-free, foundation-supported model focused on civic accountability and community issues, with similar funder mix (Knight, Google News Initiative).
• City Bureau: Chicago-based civic journalism nonprofit using community-driven reporting and solutions-focused methods. Comparable to IMG in editorial philosophy (solutions journalism) and in addressing gaps in local news coverage through community partnerships.
• Block Club Chicago: Nonprofit digital news outlet providing hyperlocal, solutions-oriented coverage of Chicago neighborhoods. Directly comparable to IMG's multi-local model, paywall-free distribution, and reliance on donor/underwriter funding to address local media contraction.
• Resolve Philly: Philadelphia-based collaborative practicing solutions journalism across multiple local outlets. Directly comparable editorial methodology and coalition-based structure to IMG, though operating as a collaborative rather than a single multi-local publishing network.
• Lookout Local: Santa Cruz-based local digital news network operating multiple hyperlocal sites funded by subscriptions and donations. Comparable multi-local digital news network strategy addressing local media gaps, with overlapping mission and funding model.

Emerging players

• Type Investigations: Nonprofit investigative reporting collaborative partnering with local outlets on accountability journalism. Comparable foundation-supported nonprofit model and partnership-based distribution approach, though focused on investigative rather than solutions journalism.
• The 19th News: Nonprofit national news organization covering gender, politics, and policy. Comparable nonprofit/foundation-supported digital news model, though operating at national rather than local level, and with narrower topical focus than IMG.
• Spotlight Labs: Nonprofit civic news organization producing local accountability and solutions-oriented journalism across multiple US cities. Comparable mission-driven, foundation-supported local journalism model, though with a different geographic footprint and partnership structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IssueMediaGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/issue-media-group
• Xx.com/issue_media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Issue Media Group