In this episode, Daralyse Lyons and Emily Smith tackle one of the biggest questions facing local journalism: how do we fund real reporting in an era dominated by algorithms? Inspired by a DAME Magazine article shared by a reader (thank you, Michael), they explore the collapse of traditional ad revenue, the rise of AI and social media, and the growing vulnerability of communities caught in echo chambers.

They discuss how six states have begun treating journalism as public infrastructure — and why that’s only part of the solution and introduces new challenges. The conversation highlights how community investment keeps watchdog reporting alive, trains new journalists, and ensures free, accessible coverage for everyone in Bucks County.

Ultimately, Dara and Emily remind us that sustaining local news isn’t just about dollars. It’s about supporting civic life. When readers step up, they help preserve the connective tissue that holds communities together and ensure that truth, not algorithms, shapes the stories that matter most. To learn more, read Can Treating Journalism Like Public Infrastructure Fix Our Broken Media?

And to support the Beacon, visit Support the Beacon - Bucks County Beacon or email daralyse@buckscountybeacon.com.

In this episode of Behind the Beacon, Chief Revenue Officer Daralyse Lyons and Owner & Publisher Emily Smith reflect on The Power of Participation, the June 2 community conversation co-hosted with the Doylestown Action League and moderated by Connor O’Hanlon. They unpack the themes and questions that surfaced during the event, including barriers, accessibility, civic engagement, and personal empowerment.

From technology gaps to language access, from paywalls to social‑media echo chambers, Daralyse and Emily explore the structural challenges that shape how people get information. They also speak candidly about the Beacon’s commitment to accessibility, the financial realities of keeping news free to read, and the evolution of the Beacon’s identity beyond its early “progressive” label.

This episode offers practical ways for community members to get involved, support local journalism, and help strengthen civic engagement across Bucks County.

Resources mentioned:

The Signal Podcast

The Beacon’s Voter Guide featuring the Committee of 70’s ballot‑builder widget

The Beacon x Technically collaborative series on digital voting accessibility

In this episode of Behind the Beacon, Daralyse Lyons and Emily Smith explore what it takes to run a newsroom when everyone’s working remotely. From Slack threads to late‑night strategy sessions, they share how the Bucks County Beacon builds culture, cohesion, and community even when its team is scattered across Pennsylvania.

Emily explains that remote work has been part of the Beacon’s DNA from the start. What began as a two‑person virtual startup has grown into a mission‑driven organization with full‑time staff, part‑time contributors, freelancers, and operations support.

She reflects on the Beacon’s evolution — and her decision to “jump off a cliff” by hiring Daralyse and others to strengthen revenue and sustainability. Daralyse expands on how the Beacon’s readers and supporters are not just an audience but an essential part of the newsroom’s extended team.

Together, they preview the Beacon’s upcoming five‑year anniversary celebration on Thursday, September 24 — a $5 community event inviting readers, donors, and reporters to gather in person to celebrate what’s been built and imagine what’s next.

If you’ve ever wondered how a small, remote newsroom can feel like a family, this episode reveals how connection, communication, and community make it possible.

Support independent journalism at buckscountybeacon.com/support‑the‑beacon

In this episode of Behind the Beacon, Daralyse Lyons and Emily Smith get real about something most newsrooms never talk about out loud: how local journalism actually pays its bills. As they explain in this episode, the difference between a thriving newsroom and a disappearing one is reader revenue.

They break down the collapse of the old newspaper model (funded by ads, subscriptions, and circulation) and explain why independent outlets like the Bucks County Beacon rely on reader revenue to stay alive.

Emily shares the behind-the-scenes math: The Beacon reaches 30,000 readers a month, but only a tiny fraction give monthly. And she talks about the emotional side of reader support: older residents on fixed incomes who write heartfelt notes when they have to cancel, community members who proudly give $10 a month because they believe in accountability journalism, and freelancers who deserve to be paid fairly.

Daralyse points out that readers who give even $5 or $10 a month (the price of a cup of coffee) are making a tangible difference in the Beacon’s bottom line.

They speak candidly about why recurring contributions matter more than one-time gifts: Grants are restricted. Ads fluctuate. But monthly support is steady, flexible, and allows the Beacon to plan, hire, investigate, and grow.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your contribution matters, this episode answers that question clearly: yes!

After listening to this episode, support the Beacon at https://buckscountybeacon.com/contribute/

In this episode of “Behind the Beacon,” hosts Daralyse Lyons and Emily Smith unpack what it really means to be creative problem solvers in local journalism. From designing ads to managing a newsroom, they reveal how curiosity, flexibility, and collaboration power the Bucks County Beacon’s vision and mission. Emily shares how her journey from a graphic designer/web developer to owner and publisher have shaped the Beacon’s visual identity and startup spirit. Her knack for turning design challenges into business solutions helped transform the Beacon from an experimental idea into a newsroom that reaches nearly 40,000 readers every month. Daralyse reflects on how her own creativity—rooted in curiosity and a childhood steeped in storytelling—fuels her approach to community engagement and revenue diversification. They revisit the Beacon’s “fail fast and learn” culture, sharing lessons from Beacon Fest, a bold experiment that became their “best failure.” And they share about the Beacon’s next event, which you will not want to miss! On June 2, the Beacon is spearheading a FREE community event, “The Power of Participation.” Co‑hosted with the Doylestown Action League and moderated by Connor O’Hanlon, this dynamic panel discussion will bring together local leaders Lauren Cristella, Amy Widestrom, Ariel Virk, and Nick Emeigh for an empowering conversation about civic engagement, mental health, and inclusive policy. Because creative problem solving doesn’t just happen in the newsroom. It happens when people come together! Be sure to listen to this episode, check out the June 2nd event, and support the Beacon at buckscountybeacon.com/support-the-beacon.

In our inaugural episode of Behind the Beacon, we take listeners inside the Bucks County Beacon: how we began, why our work matters, and what it takes to keep rigorous local journalism alive. Released on April 9th, Local News Day, this conversation is our chance to pull back the curtain on the mission, the mechanics, and the momentum behind the Beacon. Hosts Emily Smith and Daralyse Lyons revisit the Beacon’s unlikely origins and its expansion from a simple idea to a newsroom reaching more than 35,000 readers each month. The Bucks County Beacon may be local, but our reporting has illuminated patterns unfolding across the country. Running a newsroom isn’t cheap or easy. Our operating costs sit between $25,000 and $30,000 a month, yet we remain free to readers because we believe access to trustworthy information shouldn’t depend on ability to pay. We share stories from community members who’ve told us that our reporting helped them understand issues shaping their lives and we talk about how we’re partnering with other organizations to expand our reach and dig deeper into stories that matter. As we say in the episode, “We are building the plane while we’re flying it.” Because at the end of the day, local news needs to be local, we’re committed to transparency and accountability, so join us in this episode of Behind the Beacon, where we take you behind the scenes and share about our internal operations, reader feedback, and exciting updates. If you value independent, community‑rooted journalism, you can support the Beacon at buckscountybeacon.com. Your contributions, your feedback, and your engagement keep our work alive.

Welcome back to the Civic Circle. We hope that everyone has been enjoying this beautiful spring weather. As we know, February was Black History Month and March is Women’s History Month. As we wrap up March, we thought it would be important to reflect and talk about why these are so important.

In the second part of the show, we talk with Mayah Lubin, who is a Senior Higher Access Coordinator at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Mayah is an incredible leader and her identity helps her shape her equally powerful work.

Sarah Zhang is a CB East grad and sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill.

Mallorie Marsin is a Council Rock South grad and freshman at Temple University.

Alexandra Coffey is a senior at CB West.

The Civic Circle is produced by the Bucks County Beacon and Raging Chicken Media’s Kevin Mahoney.

The music is “Bet On It” by Silent Partner, copyright and royalty-free.

Follow us on Twitter:

• @BucksCoBeacon
• @RCpress