MONTPELIER-Sixteen Vermont news organizations have been honored with the Local Civic Journalism Awards, a new program designed to steer state and philanthropic dollars to news outlets that inform Vermonters and foster civic engagement.
The recipients represent a broad cross-section of local and regional news organizations - including both newspapers that have served their communities for well over a century and digital-only enterprises that have sprung up in recent years to fill a void. They include nonprofit and for-profit entities and are mostly locally controlled.
Each Local Civic Journalism Award–winner will receive $5,000 or $10,000 to further their existing mission. Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, whose office administers the awards, noted that a robust press corps is vital to civic engagement.
"For Vermonters to be able to work together to shape and improve their communities, it's essential to have access to trustworthy, transparent local news outlets," Copeland Hanzas said in a news release. "An investment in Vermont's local and regional news is an investment in an informed, connected, and engaged citizenry."
The awards were envisioned by state Sen. Andrew Perchlik, who secured $50,000 in funding for the program in the state's fiscal year 2026 budget. The Vermont Community Foundation, through its Press Forward Vermont chapter, then matched the state funding with another $50,000.
"The growing attention paid to the critical value of local, fact-based journalism gives me hope for our democracy," Perchlik said.
"These awards recognize the incredible dedication and innovation found in our local newsrooms," said Holly Morehouse, vice president for community impact at the Vermont Community Foundation. "Local news is a public good that keeps our communities connected. Vibrant communities and robust local news go hand in hand."
The inaugural awards drew significant interest from around the state. More than 30 different news outlets were nominated, some by multiple people.
To ensure the selection process remained free of political interference, the statute authorizing the Local Civic Journalism Awards called for an independent panel to make all funding decisions. That panel, convened by the University of Vermont's Center for Community News, included current and former journalists, as well as academics - none of whom are employed by award nominees.
The panelists opted to award $10,000 to four news organizations that have particularly distinguished themselves in recent years by reimagining the way they foster civic engagement in their respective communities and sustain themselves for the future. They include Brattleboro-based Vermont Independent Media, publishers of The Commons and the Deerfield Valley News; The Bridge in Montpelier, the Waterbury Roundabout, and the White River Valley Herald in Randolph.
The panel also chose to award $5,000 to a dozen news organizations that provide essential coverage to their communities. They include the Addison County Independent, Middlebury; the Barton Chronicle; the Caledonian-Record in St. Johnsbury, the Chester Telegraph; the Hardwick Gazette; the Hinesburg Record (now the Weekly Record); the Journal-Opinion in Bradford; the North Star Monthly in Danville; the Valley News in West Lebanon, New Hampshire; the Valley Reporter in Waitsfield; the Stowe-based Vermont Community Newspaper Group; and the Radio Vermont Group (WDEV) of Waterbury.
In making its selections, the panel considered how nominees served their audiences; contributed to civic engagement; produced reliable, fact-checked journalism; adhered to ethical standards; and presented a vision for a sustainable future. The panel chose not to select any statewide news organizations this year, opting instead to support local and regional outlets.
Paul Heintz, a senior adviser to the Center for Community News, convened the selection panel.
"The quality and quantity of nominations we received reinforced to me how much excellent community journalism is taking place throughout Vermont," Heintz said. "But many of these nominees are struggling to stay afloat in an ever-changing news environment. I hope these awards inspire other Vermonters to subscribe to, advertise in and donate to the essential news outlets that keep us all informed."
Award recipients will be honored at the Statehouse this winter.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.