The future of journalism is increasingly digital, mobile, and in flux. It is unexplored territory. Like the explorers and navigators of the Renaissance, various organizations–governments, NGOs, journalism groups, and universities, among others–have been trying to map the most promising routes through the new media ecosystem that will lead to sustainable publications that provide news and information crucial to a democratic society. As traditional news media organizations have lost revenues, laid off employees, and reduced coverage, new digital media have emerged as important players in providing public-service journalism, especially on the local level. Researchers from a variety of organizations have created databases of thousands of new digital media to study best practices and find new models for sustainability. This paper focuses on research conducted mainly in Europe, North America, and Latin America. Although the countries studied have varied cultural, linguistic, legal, business, and political environments, many of the findings were similar: The vast majority of the new digital media were fragile and barely surviving. The recommendations were also similar: These fledgling publishers needed training in management, marketing, sales, and technology, and they needed more diverse funding sources, better audience measurement, and more collaboration with public and private institutions. These road maps will be crucial to helping new digital media achieve sustainability and restore the declining commitment to accountability journalism so important to a democracy.