Local Civic Journalism Awards presented to Vermont newsrooms

VERMONT—Local Civic Journalism Awards have been presented to 16 Vermont news organization, 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 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. Many of the recipients are based in regions of the state that are otherwise underserved, including the Northeast Kingdom, southern Vermont and the Upper Valley. 
Each Local Civic Journalism Award winner will receive $5,000 or $10,000 to further their existing mission. 
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, whose office administers the awards, noted that a robust press corps is vital to civic engagement. 
The awards were envisioned by 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, provided $50,000 to match the state funding. 
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 could be 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 The Bridge, Montpelier; Vermont Independent Media (The Commons, The Deerfield Valley News), Brattleboro and Wilmington; Waterbury Roundabout, Waterbury; and White River Valley Herald, Randolph.
The panel also chose to award $5,000 to a dozen news organizations that provide essential coverage to their communities. They include Addison County Independent, Middlebury; Barton Chronicle, Barton; Caledonian-Record, St. Johnsbury; Chester Telegraph, Chester; Hardwick Gazette, Hardwick; Hinesburg Record, Hinesburg; Journal-Opinion, Bradford; North Star Monthly, Danville; Valley News, West Lebanon, NH ; Valley Reporter, Waitsfield; Vermont Community Newspaper Group (Stowe Reporter, News & Citizen, The Other Paper, The Citizen, Shelburne News), Stowe; and Radio Vermont Group (WDEV), 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. 
Award recipients will be honored at the Statehouse this winter.