FT Strategies and Google News Initiative team up to offer free News Sustainability Audits for LMA members

Our goal is to meet each publisher with meaningful insights and provide clear, practical recommendations that turn ambition into action. These consultations are helping newsrooms of all sizes uncover new revenue paths, rethink operations and better serve their audiences.”

George Adelman, director at FT Strategies

June 13, 2025 | London & Washington, D.C. — FT Strategies, the specialist media consultancy from the Financial Times, has partnered with the Local Media Association (LMA) and the Google News Initiative (GNI) to deliver News Sustainability Audits free of charge to eligible LMA member organizations. These audits, designed to help newsrooms accelerate growth and long-term viability, are available to the first 100 publishers who register by June 30.

The initiative is part of the ongoing News Sustainability Project, launched in 2021 by FT Strategies and GNI to understand, measure and foster sustainability across the global publishing landscape. Leveraging insights from over 700 publishers worldwide, the project has produced a suite of performance tools designed to meet publishers where they are — offering both deep-dive diagnostics and fast-turn health checks on everything from subscriptions to AI-readiness.

“This is more than just a report card — it’s a springboard for transformation,” said George Adelman, director at FT Strategies. “Our goal is to meet each publisher with meaningful insights and provide clear, practical recommendations that turn ambition into action. These consultations are helping newsrooms of all sizes uncover new revenue paths, rethink operations and better serve their audiences.”

Publishers can choose one of four tailored assessments:

Apply For Your Free Consultation

• The Sustainability Diagnostic — a 30-minute, data-informed consultation ideal for mid- to large-size publishers seeking a comprehensive review.

• Tech & AI Preparedness Health Check — a 10-minute snapshot designed for any newsroom looking to optimize operations and stay ahead in a tech-driven world.

• Reader Revenue Health Check — a 10-minute review focused on improving subscription and contribution strategies.

• Business Strategy for Emerging Publishers — a 15-minute diagnostic built for digital-native or early-stage newsrooms seeking sustainable growth.

In addition to the digital assessment, LMA-member news organizations selected for this program will receive:

• A tailored sustainability report with benchmarking and readiness scores.

• A one-hour strategy session with FT Strategies consultants.

• A custom follow-up report with actionable next steps.

These premium consultations, valued at $6,000 each, are fully funded for LMA members thanks to GNI’s support. Publishers must register by June 30 to be considered:  https://programmes.ftstrategies.com/news-sustainability-consultations

To date, more than 100 publishers across 40+ countries have taken advantage of these consultations, earning a customer satisfaction rating of 4.8 out of 5.

All data submitted is securely managed, confidential and used exclusively by FT Strategies for the purpose of this initiative. NDAs are available upon request.

For more on the global findings from FT Strategies’ sustainability research, visit: https://www.ftstrategies.com/en-gb/ 

Media Contact:
George Adelman
Director, FT Strategies
george.adelman@ft.com
+44 7590 430456