Smiley Pete Publishing, LLC Selected for National Lenfest News Creator Collaborative

Lexington-based publisher to expand local journalism through creator partnerships, short-form storytelling and new audience engagement strategies

Smiley Pete Publishing, LLC has been selected as one of only 10 news organizations nationwide to participate in the Lenfest News Creator Collaborative, a national initiative launched by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism to help local news organizations build partnerships with independent news creators and reach audiences in new and innovative ways.

A total of $818,000 in funding will support the 10 selected organizations as they test strategies focused on audience growth, revenue generation and brand marketing over the next year. The initiative compensates both participating news organizations and the independent creators they partner with.

As part of the collaborative, Smiley Pete Publishing, publisher of Chevy Chaser Magazine, Southsider Magazine and Business Lexington, will provide editorial training and assign beats to local news creators, helping them translate complex local reporting into accessible short-form video and audio journalism designed to reach broader audiences.

The initiative is funded by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism and Blue Grass Community Foundation, a member of the institute’s Knight Communities Network, and Press Forward Blue Grass, an initiative of Blue Grass Community Foundation.

“This recognition reflects exactly the kind of innovation local news needs right now,” said Melissa Newman, executive director of Press Forward Blue Grass. “Communities deserve trusted journalism delivered in formats that are accessible and reflective of how people consume information today. We are proud to see one of our regional newsroom partners recognized nationally for their willingness to experiment and expand what local journalism can look like.”

Chris Eddie, publisher of Smiley Pete Publishing, said the initiative creates an opportunity to meet audiences where they are while strengthening local reporting.

“We know people still care deeply about what’s happening in Lexington—they’re simply consuming information differently than they did a decade ago,” Eddie said. “This opportunity allows us to partner with emerging creators who understand digital platforms and audience behavior while maintaining the editorial standards and community trust that strong local journalism requires. We’re excited to experiment with new ways of telling important local stories.”

In addition to funding, participants will receive ongoing strategic guidance, access to training resources from Google News Initiative, one-on-one consulting through the Lenfest Expert Network, and opportunities to participate in national convenings with peers exploring similar strategies.

The Lenfest News Creator Collaborative is supported by the Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund and Google News Initiative.