Mat-Su Sentinel named 2025 New Business of the Year
The LION Publishers award recognizes long-term sustainability and financial health.
PALMER — The Mat-Su Sentinel has been named the 2025 New Business of the Year by LION Publishers, a national organization that supports independent local newsrooms across the country.
The award recognizes news organizations founded after January 2024 that demonstrate strong potential for long-term sustainability through financial health, operational resilience and meaningful journalistic impact.
Why the Sentinel was chosen
Judges highlighted the Sentinel’s quick growth since launching in June 2024 and its commitment to connecting Mat-Su residents with nonpartisan, community-centered coverage. They noted the newsroom’s voter guides, borough and city government reporting, and innovative community events as examples of journalism designed to serve the public good.
“This award is about more than the Sentinel’s first 14 months of work,” said founder and editor Amy Bushatz. “It’s about the Mat-Su community recognizing the value of having local, trustworthy reporting and standing behind it. I’m honored that LION Publishers saw the impact of this work and chose to recognize it.”
The award was announced Sept. 3 at a ceremony in St. Louis.
A community effort
The Sentinel’s success and this award are the direct result of support from the people and organizations who believe in local news. Sponsors, grant-makers and hundreds of contributors make it possible to cover news across Mat-Su, including the borough assembly and school board, city council decisions in Palmer, Houston and Wasilla, local elections, and area issues with depth and clarity.
“We could not have done this without the generosity of donors and sponsors who understand that journalism is a public service,” Bushatz said. “Every single contribution, whether $5 or $5,000, makes a difference.”
You can be a part of what makes the Sentinel great
As the Sentinel looks ahead to its second year, continued support will be crucial to sustain and expand coverage. Readers who value nonpartisan, community-driven reporting are invited to join the Sentinel’s supporter community.
You can become a donor today for less than the cost of a couple of coffees a month and directly invest in keeping local news alive in Mat-Su.
About LION Publishers
LION Publishers is a national association of more than 500 independent local news organizations. The nonprofit provides training, peer support, grants and recognition to help member outlets like the Sentinel build sustainable businesses while serving their communities.
Winning a LION Award puts the Sentinel alongside innovative local publishers nationwide working to rebuild local news at the community level.