The State of Local News

DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom

70 million Americans now live without access to a local, community news source due to the shuttering of local newsrooms, resulting in a void of critical news and information. Lon Haenel, new owner of the local news website DecorahNews.com, will share the steps that he and his team are taking to sustain local news in and around Decorah.

Lon is a digital-driven publishing executive in the local news media industry. He has done nearly everything in local news, from selling advertising to marketing subscriptions to serving as an executive for metro newspapers, like the Rockford Register Star and Columbus Dispatch. His favorite work is serving as publisher.  Lon and his spouse Sarah purchased DecorahNews.com this past April from a retiring Paul Scott. Their ties to the local community and their fondness for Decorah are through Luther College, where Sarah graduated in 1994. As a new neighbor in the Decorah business community, Lon claims the feedback and warm welcomes they've received have exceeded their expectations.

Lon and Sarah live in Janesville, Wisconsin. They have two daughters: Hannah, 27,  is an executive sales leader in Madison and McKenna, 16, is a high school junior and plays varsity golf.

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