Community Meeting, Wallingford, VermontPhoto Credit: Caleb Kenna Vermont has long been a place where people show up for their neighbors, their towns, and their communities. From Town Meeting Day to paper pull-tab signs on library bulletin boards to volunteer fire departments, life here is rooted in participation and trust. Local news is part of that fabric. A new statewide report reveals that while Vermonters deeply value local news, and while the state has a strong foundation of locally owned outlets, the news ecosystem is more fragile than it appears. The Vermont News Information Ecosystem Report, commissioned by the Vermont Community Foundation as part of its Press Forward Vermont initiative, surveyed 441 Vermont residents, convened community listening sessions across the state, and included interviews with community, civic, and journalism leaders to understand the current state of local news. “For most of my lifetime, local news has simply been there,” said Dan Smith, President and CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation. “It’s easy to take for granted, but it quietly shapes how we understand what’s happening around us and how we stay connected as communities.” But Smith noted that the system faces serious challenges. “Our state is home to many locally owned, community-rooted outlets, but many operate with limited staff and resources. And the hard truth is, our newsrooms, from statewide outlets to hyperlocal publications, are struggling. Coverage continues, often through extraordinary personal commitment, making the system more vulnerable than it appears.” Vermonters Value Local News The report’s findings demonstrate strong support for local journalism across the state. 94% percent of surveyed Vermonters agree that local news is as essential as other public services like libraries or the postal service. 92% percent say local news should be available to all, regardless of ability to pay. 70% percent of respondents strongly agree that a well-informed community benefits everyone, even those who don’t consume local news. The survey found that 81% of Vermonters say local news has helped them learn new information about a topic, while 69% say it has connected them to local arts or cultural events and resources. “In a world full of information, local news offers something different: trusted, shared reporting that helps communities stay grounded in facts and connected to one another,” Smith said. “At the most basic level, local news helps neighbors look out for one another. It’s how we know what’s happening at town meetings, up at the school, or during an emergency.” A Strong Foundation Facing Serious Headwinds The research identified 61 news and information providers statewide, with 80% independently owned and locally operated. 79% percent of survey respondents report they have a trustworthy and accessible local news source. However, the report also uncovered significant challenges. Many newsrooms operate with limited staff, often relying on one or two people, aging leadership, less experienced journalists, or volunteer labor. The loss of federal funding for public media and limited state funding exacerbates financial pressures, while reduced advertising revenue and shifting audience expectations about paying for news have made traditional business models unsustainable. Some communities, especially youth, immigrant and refugee communities, LGBTQ+ Vermonters, and others historically underrepresented, do not consistently see their experiences reflected in coverage. Access barriers persist, including cost, format mismatches, language access, broadband gaps, and information overload. “When local news fades, communities don’t just lose coverage; they lose a shared understanding of what’s happening around them,” Smith said. “We don’t all have to agree, but we do need reliable, local information so we can have real conversations and make decisions together.” Why VCF Launched Press Forward Vermont The Vermont Community Foundation elevated the conditions of civic life as a core focus of its community philanthropy in response to challenges communities faced following the pandemic. “In the years following the pandemic, communities across Vermont have worked to stay connected amid significant shifts in civic life,” Smith explained. “Declining trust in institutions, along with increased mobility within and beyond the state, has made it harder for people to share common experiences and sustain the relationships that hold communities together.” He noted that shared trust in democracy and strong community leadership emerged as essential to community vitality, and both depend on a strong, independent local media ecosystem. “No single newsroom or funder can solve this alone,” Smith said. “That’s why philanthropy plays a unique role in moments like this. It provides patient, flexible support that allows local news to adapt, collaborate, and remain accountable to the communities it serves.” In 2024, the Vermont Community Foundation was selected as a partner in the national Press Forward initiative and established Press Forward Vermont. Press Forward is a national initiative building a philanthropic network with chapters throughout the country, with a mission to mobilize funders in collaboration with communities and the local news sector to strengthen local news so people stay informed, connected, and engaged. “Press Forward Vermont is a statewide effort, connected to the national coalition, bringing local funders, news sector leaders and communities together to envision how we strengthen the sector while meeting the information needs of Vermonters,” said Jessie Schmidt, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Vermont Community Foundation. “We’re partnering with key stakeholders including VTDigger, the Vermont Journalism Coalition, and the UVM Center for Community News, conducting foundational research on what Vermonters need from their local news outlets, supporting statewide efforts, and raising philanthropic support. And we are bringing the resources and support from the national coalition to Vermont.” “The VCF exists to help strengthen Vermont’s communities, and this is central to that,” Schmidt said. “When people are informed, they’re more engaged, more connected, and better able to care for their communities. Press Forward Vermont is part of VCF’s mission to build social connection and trust within communities and across the state. Trusted local news and information is central to a civically engaged and collaborative Vermont.” The Vermont Journalism Conference at the University of Vermont Press Forward Vermont’s Work So Far Since launching in 2024, Press Forward Vermont has already made significant progress in supporting the state’s local news ecosystem. “We’ve been convening partners and establishing a Funders Circle, bringing together donors who understand that supporting local news is an investment in Vermont’s future,” Schmidt said. “Our work is possible because of the fundholders and donors who choose to give through the VCF and see the value of pooling their funds to take on big challenges and support statewide solutions.” The initiative has provided seed funding and support for the new Vermont Journalism Coalition, which worked with legislators to create the Local Civic Journalism Awards, a new funding source for regional newsrooms. With these awards, the state acknowledges that local news is vital to Vermont’s civic health. Local Civic Journalism Award Presentation at the Vermont State HousePhoto Credit: Gordon Miller, Waterbury Roundabout Press Forward Vermont has also made notable grants to support innovation and sustainability in the news sector, and is working to deepen collaboration among news providers across the state. “This ecosystem report is a critical piece of our work,” Schmidt explained. “It’s a starting point that helps us see Vermont’s local news landscape as a whole, so we can learn together and make thoughtful, community-informed decisions about what comes next.” Opportunities Ahead The report points to clear opportunities for strengthening Vermont’s news ecosystem:  Strengthen shared infrastructure by cultivating backbone institutions that provide services (beyond content sharing) to strengthen and grow financially sustainable local news outlets.  Empower community journalism by engaging Vermonters in telling the stories of their communities and developing partnerships with community organizations already providing information to underserved populations. Mobilize funding by continuing to build the philanthropic network of donors supporting local news, like Press Forward Vermont, and providing more avenues for public funding, earned revenue, and community-based support. Deepen collaboration by building on efforts among news providers to develop a sustainable vision and strategy for local news in Vermont.  Address “last mile” content issues by seeking to better understand community and audience engagement challenges and providing solutions-oriented reporting on key issues for Vermonters like housing, healthcare, and schools. Schmidt described local news as essential community infrastructure. “It’s woven into everyday life,” she said. “Like roads, libraries, or fire departments, local news supports our communities quietly and consistently, whether we’re thinking about it or not.” What Comes Next In early February, the Vermont Community Foundation shared the findings of the Vermont News Information Ecosystem Report at a press conference at the State House, hosted by Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, and joined by Sen. Andrew Perchlik, and Kristen Fountain of the Vermont Journalism Coalition. Schmidt noted that Press Forward Vermont is planning additional community engagement following the report’s release. “We want to bring these findings back to communities across Vermont, to have conversations about what this means locally and how we can work together to strengthen local news where people live,” she said. The initiative will continue to convene stakeholders, support collaborative efforts, and mobilize philanthropic resources to address the challenges and opportunities identified in the report. Smith emphasized that addressing these challenges aligns with Vermont values. “The question before us is not whether local news matters here. The question is how we sustain it. Thankfully, this is the kind of work Vermonters do best. We don’t wait for someone else to fix what matters. We show up, we pitch in, and we take care of the things that hold our communities together.” He invited Vermonters to engage with the findings. “We invite you to read this report, talk about it within your communities, and consider how together we can strengthen the connections that make Vermont home.” Both a summary and the full Vermont News Information Ecosystem Report are available at vermontcf.org/press-forward, where you can learn more about Press Forward Vermont’s work and how to support local news in your community. Acknowledgements The Vermont Community Foundation is deeply grateful to the many organizations that partnered to host listening sessions, and the organizational partners and local newsrooms who helped spread the word about the local news survey and participated in stakeholder interviews. VCF also thanks the Press Forward Vermont advisors, including the UVM Center for Community News, VTDigger, VT Journalism Coalition founder Paul Heinz, and the Press Forward Vermont Funders Circle, whose thoughtful feedback strengthened this work throughout the process. About Press Forward Vermont Press Forward Vermont is a statewide effort led by the Vermont Community Foundation to strengthen local, trusted news as a public good—now and for generations to come. As part of the national Press Forward network, the initiative invests in Vermont’s local news ecosystem by supporting independent journalism, fostering collaboration among newsrooms, and advancing sustainable models for local reporting. Press Forward Vermont also convenes news leaders and funders, grounds its work in statewide research and listening sessions, and helps ensure Vermonters have access to reliable, relevant information that reflects their communities. By stabilizing and growing local newspapers, radio, TV, and digital outlets, Press Forward Vermont supports informed civic engagement by ensuring access to trusted, local reporting—and helps communities stay connected, resilient, and engaged. About the Vermont Community Foundation The Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) was established in 1986 as an enduring source of philanthropic support for Vermont communities. A family of more than 1,000 funds, foundations, and supporting organizations, the Foundation makes it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund the causes they love. The Community Foundation and its partners put nearly $80 million annually to work in Vermont communities and beyond. The heart of its work is closing the opportunity gap — the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. VCF also plays a leadership role beyond grantmaking by stepping in when Vermont faces crises, mobilizing partners and resources quickly, and investing for the long haul in issues that shape the state’s future, from health and housing to climate resilience, civic trust, and local leadership. Through efforts like Press Forward Vermont and leadership investments made possible by the Philanthropic Leadership Fund, VCF helps strengthen the civic infrastructure that communities rely on.  Read the story on VTDigger here: Showing up for what matters: Vermont’s path to strengthening local news. ...read more read less