Vermont Celebrates Local Journalism and Releases New Statewide Media Report
New ecosystem report and Civic Journalism Awards spotlight the people and partnerships sustaining community news.
Leaders from the newly formed Vermont Journalism Coalition (VJC) and the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF), as well as Senator Andrew Perchlik, and Vermont Secretary Copeland Hanzas held a press conference today, sharing a new report on the state of Vermont’s news media landscape and celebrating the local and regional media outlets who received this year’s inaugural Local Civic Journalism Awards.
VJC’s new leader Kristen Fountain and VCF’s President and CEO Dan Smith outlined key findings from the newly released Vermont News & Information Ecosystem Report. Commissioned by VCF’s Press Forward initiative, the report assesses the current state of local news in Vermont, identifying opportunities to strengthen news access, newsroom sustainability, and local media coordination statewide.
Key findings from the report include:
- With over 60 news and information providers statewide, and 80% of those locally owned and operated, Vermont has a strong foundation for local reporting that is serving the information needs of most communities.
- Newsrooms are operating with limited staff and capacity while adjusting to rapidly changing models for news distribution and consumption. This is challenging the long-term sustainability of local newsrooms and making their future uncertain.
- A strong majority (92%) of Vermonters who participated in surveys, interviews and focus groups agree that local news should be available to everyone and (70%) believe a well-informed community benefits everyone.
- Access barriers for many Vermonters persist, including cost, format and language access. And youth, LGBTQ+, immigrants and refugees, do not consistently see their experiences or the things that matter to them reflected in local coverage.
- The path to a strong local news ecosystem includes mobilizing public and private funding, deepening collaboration among news outlets and empowering communities to work with and support their local news providers.
“This report accurately reflects the vibrancy and precarity of Vermont’s local news producers, including the ones being honored for their work with a Local Civic Journalism Award today.” said VJC’s Kristen Fountain. “It’s remarkable that so many small local news outlets continue to operate in our state. That’s because the people who work there share a deep commitment to continue being part of the fabric of their communities. More than 40 organizations have joined the Vermont Journalism Coalition because we know that collaboration makes us stronger as we face the challenges ahead.”
"In Vermont, local news helps people stay connected to their communities and to one another” said VCF President & CEO Dan Smith. “We’re excited to share the findings of our Press Forward Vermont: News & Information Ecosystem Report, which highlights the strengths of our news ecosystem and the challenges it faces. Sharing these findings alongside public and private partners reflects a shared commitment to sustaining local journalism as a vital part of civic life across the state"
Senator Perchlik and Secretary Copeland Hanzas gave remarks about the recent Local Civic Journalism Awards, a program designed to steer public support and interest toward fact-based media outlets that focus primarily on local news. Senator Perchlik secured $50,000 in funding for the inaugural Local Civic Journalism Awards program in the state’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which was matched with an additional $50,000 by VCF’s Press Forward initiative. Secretary Copeland Hanzas’ office administered the awards.
Recipients of this inaugural round of awards, representing a broad cross-section of local and regional news organizations, were recognized.
Learn more about Press Forward Vermont
High-quality information is an essential ingredient for dialogue and decision-making.
Local journalism helps us engage in informed civil discourse. People who follow local news have increased rates of voting, and a greater sense of influence and attachment to their communities. Is this a topic you care deeply about?
