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[MARSEILLE, FRANCE] — [June 2, 2026]
Local News International announced today that 'Dave Jorgenson Goes Independent,' a series of videos marking Dave's departure from The Washington Post and the creation of LNI Media, won the 2026 WAN-IFRA award for Best in Social Media Engagement.
LNI's Lauren Saks and Micah Gelman accepted the award on Dave's behalf because he was stuck in the Munich airport due to delayed flights.
"I was sorry to miss the ceremony, but I did was enjoying a liter of beer and wiener schnitzel at the Munich airport when we won, so it was the next best thing. I'm grateful to WAN-IFRA for the recognition and hope to be there in person next year, but still drinking a beer and eating a schnitzel."
— Dave Jorgenson
In addition to the accepting an award, Dave and Lauren also participated in a panel discussion on the creator economy titled, 'News Creators: The Audiences You Need Are Already Out There.' Dave and Lauren talked about building their audience at The Post, the decision to go independent and the lessons they've learned along the way.
Founded by award-winning journalists Dave Jorgenson, Lauren Saks, and Micah Gelman, Local News International (LNI) is a social-first video company that uses humor to engage young and diverse audiences. LNI provides news and information to people who are underserved by traditional media and hyper-partisan creators. We are committed to delivering factual content and reaching men under 35 who lack reliable sources of truth on the internet. Find our channels at linktr.ee/lni.media
The World Association of News Publishers, or WAN-IFRA, is the world's largest international press organisation representing 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and 40 member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. Our mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers worldwide to operate independent media. We provide our members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society.
