The Lenfest Institute for Journalism and Momentum Lab Pro Partner to Help Local Newsrooms Build Sustainable Revenue

NEWARK, N.J., [August 14, 2026] — Momentum Lab Pro today announced the launch of a national pilot, supported by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, that will bring together seven independent news organizations to help shape the next generation of AI-powered business tools for local journalism.

As independent news organizations continue to navigate shrinking staffs, mounting financial pressures, and increasingly complex revenue challenges, the need for practical business infrastructure has never been greater. While publishers continue producing trusted journalism that serves communities across the country, many operate with limited business resources, making it difficult to diversify revenue, strengthen partnerships, and plan for long-term sustainability.

The initiative represents one of the first collaborative efforts to develop an AI-powered revenue intelligence platform designed specifically by and for independent news organizations. Rather than building technology in isolation, participating publishers will work alongside Momentum Lab Pro to test, refine, and validate the platform using real-world newsroom experiences.

The participating news organizations are El Tímpano (Oakland, California), Te Lo Cuento News (Kansas City, Missouri), Spotlight Delaware, Eugene Weekly (Eugene, Oregon), Capitol News Illinois, Planet Detroit, and Washington City Paper.

Momentum Lab Pro is an AI-powered Revenue Intelligence Platform that serves as a Revenue Operating System for local news organizations. Functioning like an AI business strategist for newsroom leaders, the platform helps publishers uncover new revenue opportunities, prepare for high-impact sales and partnership conversations, strengthen sponsor and funder relationships, and make more informed business decisions.

Developed by veteran media executives Richard E. Brown and Penda C. Howell, the web-based platform combines artificial intelligence with decades of newsroom leadership, advertising, fundraising, and partnership expertise. It analyzes an organization’s audience, staffing, editorial focus, market conditions, existing revenue streams, and strategic priorities to generate customized revenue roadmaps and actionable recommendations.

Beyond identifying opportunities, Momentum Lab Pro provides practical implementation support through AI-powered sales and sponsorship coaching, communication preparation, relationship intelligence, strategic meeting planning, and personalized business guidance tailored to the needs of independent news organizations.

“This pilot represents something much bigger than a technology collaboration,” said Richard E. Brown, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Momentum Lab Pro. “Local journalism does not have a journalism problem—it has a business sustainability challenge. Newsroom leaders need practical tools that help them make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and identify revenue opportunities that support great journalism. Our goal is to equip publishers with business intelligence that helps them grow stronger organizations while remaining focused on serving their communities.”

Momentum Lab Pro was founded after Brown and Penda C. Howell, Co-Founder & Chief Partnership Strategy Officer, spent decades leading newsroom transformation, revenue growth, advertising strategy, and business development initiatives. Their experience revealed a common challenge across independent media organizations: publishers excel at serving their audiences but often lack access to affordable business intelligence and strategic planning tools designed specifically for local journalism.

“Independent publishers wear multiple hats every day,” said Howell, who also serves as CEO and Publisher of New Jersey Urban News. “They’re leading editorial teams, managing operations, selling advertising and sponsorships, writing grants, building partnerships, serving their communities, and making countless business decisions—all while producing meaningful journalism. Momentum Lab Pro was built to become a trusted business partner that helps publishers work smarter, strengthen revenue, deepen relationships, and spend less time worrying about sustainability and more time producing journalism that matters.”

Unlike many technology solutions developed outside the newsroom environment, this initiative places publishers at the center of innovation. Participating organizations will help shape the platform’s capabilities, workflows, and recommendations through ongoing implementation and feedback, ensuring the technology evolves to address the industry’s most pressing business challenges.

“At The Lenfest Institute, we believe the future of local journalism depends on pairing strong editorial leadership with sustainable business innovation,” said Cheryl Thompson-Morton, Head of Advisory Programs at The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. “Momentum Lab Pro brings together practical newsroom experience, revenue expertise, and emerging technology in a way that has the potential to help publishers make more informed business decisions. We’re excited to partner on this initiative and to work alongside participating newsrooms as they help shape tools designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability of independent local journalism.”

In addition to supporting the participating organizations, the pilot is expected to generate scalable business practices and operational insights that can benefit the broader local news ecosystem. As the platform evolves, lessons learned through the collaboration will help inform new approaches to revenue diversification, business planning, partnership development, and organizational sustainability for independent publishers nationwide.

“This initiative is about building with publishers—not for publishers,” Howell and Brown said in a joint statement. “Every feature, recommendation, and workflow will be informed by newsroom leaders who understand the realities of independent journalism. By combining technology with decades of newsroom leadership and direct publisher collaboration, we’re helping create the business intelligence infrastructure local news organizations need to become stronger, more resilient, and better positioned to serve their communities.”

About Momentum Lab Pro

Momentum Lab Pro is an AI-powered Revenue Intelligence Platform that serves as the Revenue Operating System for local news organizations. Founded by veteran media executives Richard E. Brown and Penda C. Howell, the platform combines artificial intelligence, business intelligence, strategic coaching, and decades of media revenue expertise to help publishers diversify revenue, strengthen relationships and operations, improve decision-making, and build financially sustainable news organizations.

About The Lenfest Institute for Journalism

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a sustainable future for local news by investing in innovation, technology, leadership development, and business models that strengthen independent journalism and the communities it serves.

Media Contact

Penda C. Howell
Co-Founder & Chief Partnership Strategy Officer
Momentum Lab Pro
info@momentumlabpro.io
(973) 349-4565
www.momentumlabpro.io