What LINK nky does

LINK nky is an independent, community-focused local news organization serving Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties in Northern Kentucky. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Covington, Kentucky, the company operates as a privately held LLC without venture capital or private equity backing. Its core product is a digital news website (linknky.com) covering local government, politics, education, business, health, infrastructure, sports, and culture for the Northern Kentucky region. The company supplements the website with six segmented email newsletters (Daily LINK, Sports LINK, Business LINK, Weekend LINK, Arts & Events LINK, and Election LINK) and a weekly print publication, The LINK Reader, offered in three county-specific editions and distributed by mail at $50 per year plus tax.

The platform is built on Newspack, an open-source publishing technology designed for news organizations, with no disclosed proprietary technology stack, AI capabilities, or custom integrations. Engagement programs include the Educator of the Week contest, an annual Readers' Choice Awards program, and serialized sports content such as the 50 Greatest NKY Sports Teams series. LINK nky distributes content across website, email, and a broad social media footprint (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, Blue Sky, YouTube).

The business model combines three revenue streams: recurring reader donations channeled through the NKY Community Journalism Fund, recurring print subscriptions ($50/year), and advertising/sponsored content from local businesses and institutions. The company operates a tiered sponsorship program (Growth Partners, Editors Circle, Bylines Circle) with named institutional partners spanning banking, utilities, healthcare, homebuilding, and government. As a mission-driven local journalism outlet, LINK nky is not structured for venture-scale growth and operates within the TAM constraints of a three-county regional market.

Name

LINK nky

Legal name

LINK nky, LLC

Website

https://linknky.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LINK nky is an independent local news organization covering Northern Kentucky (Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties) via a digital news website, six email newsletters, and a weekly county-specific print edition, funded by reader donations, $50/year print subscriptions, and local advertising/sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Covington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print Subscription: Weekly print newspaper (The LINK Reader) delivered to subscribers' mailboxes for $50 per year plus tax
2. Donations/Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from community supporters through the NKY Community Journalism Fund to sustain independent local journalism
3. Advertising & Sponsorships: Sponsored content from local businesses and organizations; Growth Partners and Editors Circle sponsorships
4. Sponsored Content: Sponsored articles from local organizations such as Meals on Wheels, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, TANK, and others

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

LINK nky is an independent local news organization covering Northern Kentucky (Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties) through a digital news website, multiple email newsletters (Daily LINK, Sports LINK, Business LINK, Weekend LINK, Arts & Events LINK, Election LINK), and a weekly print newspaper (The LINK Reader) with county-specific editions. The organization covers government, politics, elections, sports, business, education, health, culture, and community events.

Product overview

LINK nky is Northern Kentucky's local news organization providing coverage across Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. The organization operates a digital news website complemented by a portfolio of email newsletters (The Daily LINK, Sports LINK, Business LINK, Weekend LINK, Arts & Events LINK, and Election LINK) and a print publication (The LINK Reader weekly newspaper, available in three county-specific versions). Key engagement programs include the Educator of the Week contest and Readers' Choice Awards. The platform covers news, sports, politics, education, health, infrastructure, culture, and local events across the NKY region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The LINK Reader A weekly print newspaper delivered by mail covering local news in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties in Northern Kentucky, including state and local government, lifestyle, business, nonprofit news, and sports. Published in three regional versions specific to each county.
• The Daily LINK Weekday morning email newsletter delivering stories trending in Northern Kentucky to subscribers.
• The Sports LINK Monday noon email newsletter providing a weekly roundup of Northern Kentucky sports headlines.
• The Business LINK Tuesday afternoon email newsletter delivering Northern Kentucky business news to subscribers.
• The Weekend LINK Saturday morning email newsletter featuring a roundup of Northern Kentucky's top stories of the week.
• The Arts & Events LINK Thursday noon email newsletter featuring things to do across Northern Kentucky and the latest arts and culture reporting.
• The Election LINK Wednesday email newsletter providing weekly election updates from mid-March through May.
• LINK nky Website Digital news website providing coverage of news, sports, culture, politics, health, infrastructure, and events across Northern Kentucky (Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties). Features category-specific sections, community content, and reader engagement features.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered growth partner, editors circle and bylines circle.

• Fischer Homesgrowth partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerGrowth Partner sponsor supporting independent local journalism in Northern Kentucky
• BMW Storegrowth partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerGrowth Partner sponsor supporting independent local journalism in Northern Kentucky
• Interact for Healthgrowth partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerGrowth Partner sponsor supporting independent local journalism in Northern Kentucky
• Central Bankgrowth partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerGrowth Partner sponsor supporting independent local journalism in Northern Kentucky
• CForwardgrowth partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerGrowth Partner sponsor supporting independent local journalism in Northern Kentucky
• Duke Energyeditors circleGTM or Marketing PartnerEditors Circle sponsor supporting LINK nky's mission for independent journalism
• Global Business Solutionseditors circleGTM or Marketing PartnerEditors Circle sponsor supporting LINK nky's mission for independent journalism
• NKU Foundationeditors circleGTM or Marketing PartnerEditors Circle sponsor supporting LINK nky's mission for independent journalism
• Republic Bankeditors circleGTM or Marketing PartnerEditors Circle sponsor supporting LINK nky's mission for independent journalism
• Executive Transportationbylines circleGTM or Marketing PartnerBylines Circle supporter of LINK nky's independent journalism
• Daniel Burrbylines circleGTM or Marketing PartnerBylines Circle supporter of LINK nky's independent journalism
• Valerie Newellbylines circleGTM or Marketing PartnerBylines Circle supporter of LINK nky's independent journalism

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mississippi Today: Nonprofit digital news organization covering Mississippi with a donor- and grant-supported model. Comparable to LINK nky in filling a local journalism void in an underserved regional market.
• The Maine Monitor: Independent, nonprofit digital news outlet covering Maine state and local news, funded primarily by reader donations. Comparable to LINK nky in mission, donor-supported funding, and regional concentration.
• The Assembly: Subscription-supported digital news outlet covering North Carolina politics and policy. Comparable to LINK nky in operating a paid digital subscription model for regional news with a focused coverage beat.
• The Daily Memphian: Subscription-supported digital local news outlet serving Memphis and Shelby County. Comparable to LINK nky in operating a paid digital subscription model focused on a single metro market with strong local identity.
• Spotlight PA: Nonprofit, donor-funded digital newsroom focused on Pennsylvania state government and accountability reporting. Comparable to LINK nky in independent, mission-driven local journalism funded largely through reader donations.
• The Colorado Sun: Digital-first, donor- and member-supported local news outlet covering Colorado. Comparable to LINK nky in being independent, for-profit/community-supported, and built to fill gaps left by legacy regional dailies.
• Block Club Chicago: Independent, nonprofit-style digital local news outlet covering specific Chicago neighborhoods with a reader-funded/donor-supported model and email newsletter-heavy distribution. Highly comparable to LINK nky in mission, monetization mix, and community-first GTM.
• MLK50: Nonprofit, donor-supported local journalism outlet focused on economic and social justice issues in Memphis. Comparable to LINK nky in mission-driven independent local news with a community-supported funding base.

Broad incumbents

• Axios: National digital media company with local newsletters in multiple markets (Axios Local). Comparable to LINK nky in leveraging email newsletters and local-market focus, though operating at significantly greater scale and breadth.

Regional players

• CityBeat (Cincinnati): Alternative weekly newspaper and digital outlet covering greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Direct regional competitor and adjacent geographic peer to LINK nky, serving overlapping audiences in the same NKY/Cincy market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/linknky
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTLgB4k59Sy28Eb7gqxhy_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/LINKnKentucky
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/linknky
• Instagraminstagram.com/link_nky

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 LINK nky