Planet Detroit was recognized for its financial resilience, winning the 2024 LION Sustainability Award for financial health. The award was announced on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the LION Sustainability Summit in Chicago, where LION Publishers celebrated organizations that have excelled in building sustainable business models while delivering impactful journalism.

Since its launch in 2019, Planet Detroit has focused on producing high-quality journalism that addresses pressing issues such as climate, equity, health, and the environment in the Metro Detroit area.

The publication, led by Executive Director Laprisha Berry Daniels and Founder and Editor Nina Ignaczak, has worked to center grassroots voices, hold power accountable and spotlight solutions for local communities.

“This award is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication,” said Nina Ignaczak, Planet Detroit’s editor. “We’ve always believed that financially sustainable journalism is crucial to creating long-term impact in the community, and this recognition from LION Publishers reaffirms that we’re on the right path.”

Laprisha Berry Daniels, Planet Detroit’s executive director, echoed Ignaczak’s sentiments. “Our mission has always been about serving the public interest by providing trustworthy, accountability, and solutions-based reporting. But to do that effectively, we need a solid foundation. Financial sustainability allows us to focus on what matters most—delivering journalism that informs and empowers the people of Metro Detroit,” she said.

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The financial health award underscores the organization’s efforts to secure funding and develop a sustainable revenue model essential to maintaining its mission-driven reporting. Planet Detroit’s ability to navigate the challenges of nonprofit journalism while still achieving financial stability reflects its commitment to fiscal responsibility and community service.

The judges of the LION Sustainability Awards noted Planet Detroit’s innovative approach.

“Planet Detroit has demonstrated an impressive ability to create a financially sustainable newsroom while remaining deeply rooted in its mission to serve the community,” the judges remarked. “Their strategic efforts to diversify revenue streams and foster community partnerships have positioned them as a leader in nonprofit journalism.”

LION Publishers’ Sustainability Awards recognize organizations that embody innovation and success in areas like financial health, operational resilience, and community engagement. Planet Detroit’s achievement is particularly notable in the context of local journalism, where many outlets struggle with financial viability. Winning this award is a testament to Planet Detroit’s vision and ability to thrive in a challenging media landscape.

This recognition marks another milestone for Planet Detroit, which has already received several awards for its journalism. As the organization grows, the financial health award reaffirms its ability to serve the Metro Detroit community with independent, impactful reporting.

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Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, equity, health, and environment journalism that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.