Flathead Beacon
Flathead Beacon is an independent digital local news outlet serving Montana's Flathead Valley, operating a web-based publishing platform under Flathead Citizen LLC since 2007, monetized through digital advertising, subscriptions, recurring reader donations, and ancillary print and commerce products.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersKalispell, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Flathead Beacon does
Flathead Beacon is an independent digital local news publication serving Montana's Flathead Valley, operated by Flathead Citizen LLC from a single office in Kalispell, Montana. Founded in 2007, it transitioned from print to a digital-only news platform while retaining a quarterly print lifestyle magazine (Flathead Living) and annual specialty publications (Glacier Journal, Menu Guide, Shop Local). The core product is a web-based news website covering local news, government, outdoors, sports, arts, opinion, and community events for Flathead Valley residents.
The underlying technology is a conventional web-based content management and publishing platform delivering articles, photo galleries, podcasts (including Project 7), and a free Daily Roundup email newsletter. The company has no mobile app, no disclosed API, no third-party integrations, and no proprietary AI features. Distribution is multi-format, spanning the website, email newsletters, quarterly and annual print publications, podcasts, organic social media, and community events coverage.
The business model blends three revenue streams: digital advertising and sponsored content placements on the website and in publications, digital subscriptions with a free newsletter tier, and the Editor's Club recurring donation program (starting at $10/month or $120/year) that bundles member benefits including a quarterly newsletter and Glacier National Park poster. The publication also operates a photo purchase service and a related commerce site (glaciernationalparkprints.com). The company is privately held with no disclosed investors, funding rounds, parent entity, or public filings, and reports no disclosed revenue or headcount.
Flathead Beacon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Flathead Beacon
- Legal name
- Flathead Citizen LLC dba Flathead Beacon
- Website
- https://flatheadbeacon.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Flathead Beacon is an independent digital local news outlet serving Montana's Flathead Valley, operating a web-based publishing platform under Flathead Citizen LLC since 2007, monetized through digital advertising, subscriptions, recurring reader donations, and ancillary print and commerce products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Flathead Beacon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local News Publishing
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- akta.pro primary industry
- News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels (MPABAHAK)
Keywords
Where Flathead Beacon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kalispell
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Flathead Beacon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Advertising and Sponsorships: The publication generates revenue through sponsored content arrangements and advertising placements on its website and publications.
- Subscriptions: Digital-only subscription product. Free daily email newsletter available, with paid subscription options for full access.
- Recurring Donations (Editor's Club): Recurring monthly or annual donations from community supporters in exchange for membership benefits including Glacier National Park posters.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Editor's Club monthly recurring donation |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Flathead Beacon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flathead Beacon is a digital-only local news publication serving Montana's Flathead Valley, providing independent journalism across news, features, outdoors, sports, arts, and opinion. It distributes content through its website, free daily email newsletter, quarterly Flathead Living magazine, annual special publications, and podcasts, and is funded by advertising, subscriptions, and reader donations.
Product overview
Flathead Beacon operates as a digital-only news platform offering a unified journalism product supplemented by several publications and membership offerings. The core product is the Flathead Beacon News Website delivering local coverage across news, outdoors, sports, arts, and opinion. The publication portfolio includes quarterly Flathead Living magazine and annual Glacier Journal, Menu Guide, and Shop Local publications. Additional offerings include a free Daily Roundup Newsletter, the Project 7 investigative podcast series, and a photo purchase service. The Editor's Club membership program provides recurring donor benefits including the quarterly magazine and commemorative poster.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Flathead Living: A quarterly magazine featuring local lifestyle content for the Flathead Valley region.
Products and services
- Flathead Beacon News Website Primary digital news platform providing local journalism for Montana's Flathead Valley, covering news, features, outdoors, sports, arts, and opinion, available to readers without a paywall.
- Flathead Living Magazine Quarterly lifestyle magazine covering local living, food, and community features for the Flathead Valley region.
- Glacier Journal Annual publication featuring Glacier National Park content and local community stories for the Flathead Valley audience.
- Menu Guide Annual publication showcasing local restaurants and dining options in the Flathead Valley.
- Shop Local Annual publication promoting local businesses in the Flathead Valley.
- Daily Roundup Newsletter Free daily email newsletter featuring the best content from the Flathead Beacon, delivered to subscribers.
- Project 7 Podcast Original podcast series covering local history and community topics in the Flathead Valley.
- Photo Purchase Service Service allowing customers to purchase photographs from the Flathead Beacon archives.
- Editor's Club Membership Recurring donation/membership program offering the quarterly Flathead Living magazine, Editor's Club newsletter, and an 18x24 Glacier National Park poster for supporters contributing $10/month or $120/year or more.
Companies that use Flathead Beacon
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Flathead Beacon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Flathead Beacon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Flathead Beacon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Missoulian: A long-established regional daily newspaper serving western Montana with a digital subscription model. Comparable as a Montana regional news outlet with overlapping advertiser and reader pools, though based in Missoula rather than the Flathead Valley.
- Montana Standard: Regional daily newspaper covering Butte and southwestern Montana with digital operations. Comparable as another Montana regional news brand competing for state-level reader attention and digital advertising share.
- Ravalli Republic: Community newspaper serving the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana. Comparable as a small-town Montana news outlet operating with a hybrid print-digital, local-advertising-supported business model.
- Bozeman Daily Chronicle: The dominant daily newspaper in Bozeman, Montana, with a digital presence. Comparable as a regional Montana news outlet competing for state-wide reader attention and digital subscription/donor dollars, though serving a different city market.
Direct peers
- Montana Free Press: A Montana-focused nonprofit digital news outlet covering state-level policy and local investigative journalism. Operates with a similar reader-supported, digital-first model and competes for grant funding, donor support, and engaged Montana readers.
- Daily Inter Lake: Headquartered in Kalispell, Montana, the Daily Inter Lake is the Flathead Beacon's direct local print/digital competitor covering the same Flathead Valley market. Both outlets compete for the same local readers, advertisers, and subscribers in northwest Montana.
- Last Best News: An independent digital local news outlet covering Montana communities. Competes with Flathead Beacon for digital readership, local advertising, and reader-supported funding within Montana's fragmented local news landscape.
Emerging players
- Montana Kaimin: Independent student-run news outlet serving the University of Montana community. Comparable as a digital-first Montana local news voice covering community, government, and culture for a defined geographic audience.
Others
- Montana News Exchange: A statewide nonprofit news collaborative that distributes local reporting across Montana outlets. Comparable as a Montana local-news ecosystem participant that could be a partner, syndication source, or grant funder for Flathead Beacon's journalism.
Broad incumbents
- Montana Public Radio (MTPR): Montana's statewide public radio network covering news, culture, and regional affairs. Comparable as a Montana-focused news provider with member-supported funding and overlapping audience for state and regional journalism.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Flathead Beacon social profiles
Digital presenceFlathead Beacon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Flathead Beacon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Flathead Beacon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Flathead Beacon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Flathead Beacon
What does Flathead Beacon do?
Flathead Beacon is a digital-only local news publication serving Montana's Flathead Valley, providing independent journalism across news, features, outdoors, sports, arts, and opinion. It distributes content through its website, free daily email newsletter, quarterly Flathead Living magazine, annual special publications, and podcasts, and is funded by advertising, subscriptions, and reader donations.
Is Flathead Beacon a public or private company?
Flathead Beacon is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Flathead Beacon founded?
Flathead Beacon was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Flathead Beacon based?
Flathead Beacon is headquartered in Kalispell, United States, in the North America region.
How does Flathead Beacon make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising and Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are subscriptions and recurring Donations (Editor's Club).
Who are Flathead Beacon's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Missoulian, Montana Standard, Ravalli Republic and Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Direct peers are Montana Free Press, Daily Inter Lake and Last Best News. Montana Kaimin is listed as an emerging player. Montana News Exchange is listed as an others. Montana Public Radio (MTPR) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Flathead Beacon have an API?
No public API is recorded for Flathead Beacon.
What industry is Flathead Beacon in?
Flathead Beacon's product category is Local News Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAHAK, News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels. Its NAICS code is 516.