We are dedicated to helping build sustainable publishing organizations that are indispensable to the communities they serve. The Lede platform is purpose-built for editorially independent publishers and journalist-led publishing startups who want to serve the needs of their communities, rather than investors and advertisers.
Communities are at the core of modern media businesses, so we built our platform with community-building and engagement at its core. Lede is the most adaptable platform for journalists to launch new publications with multiple revenue stream options (subscriptions, memberships, ads, sponsorships, etc.), publish to multiple formats (web, newsletters, podcasts, etc.), and with best-practices for growing members and subscribers built in. Our publishing partners reap the benefits of shared technology and community, while the brand, design, content, and audience remain entirely theirs.
Lede isn’t just another self-serve internet platform. We act as an incubator for the upstart journalist-led publishers on our platform by helping them build their own uniquely branded digital home and adopt best practices for community engagement, without having to pay upfront for the design or cede editorial control to investors.
How We Got Here
The Lede platform was initially developed in 2020 by Alley Interactive, the go-to strategic partner and website creator for some of the largest and most influential news organizations in the world. In July 2021, Alley launched Alley Group as a holding company to pursue new opportunities in the future of work, organizations, media and communications that lie beyond Alley Interactive’s original mission. Lede is part of Alley Group, and operates as a separate company.