Dear Reader,

Today we’re launching our Fall Member Drive to raise $150,000 for independent reporting that helps Vermonters make decisions about their lives and their communities.

A gift of $14 a month — less than 50 cents a day — keeps this service strong and free for every neighbor.

If you believe in the power of independent, trustworthy Vermont news, please become a monthly sustaining member today. If monthly isn’t right, a one-time gift in any amount still helps us reach our Fall Member Drive goal.

Across the country, local journalism is disappearing. Since I began reporting for Vermont newspapers in the early 2000s, the number of journalists in the United States has fallen by more than 75%. Today, one in three counties has no full-time local reporter.

But Vermont is an exception because of you.

A new report from Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News reveals that Vermont maintains the highest number of local journalists per capita in the nation, thanks in large part to VTDigger and the readers who support us. While we still have a long way to go to restore our press corps, this is an achievement worth celebrating.

I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. But keeping Vermonters informed takes ongoing commitment. When we say we can’t do it without you, we truly mean it: The only way to keep VTDigger strong is with continued support from readers like you.

If you value independent, in-depth reporting that explains complex issues, connects neighbors and holds power to account, I invite you to become a sustaining member today.

Locally owned newsrooms like ours prioritize accuracy, depth and community focus. That work requires time, editors, document requests, travel and follow-up. It’s only possible through reader support. 

Monthly support gives us the resources to stay on top of the issues that matter to you like housing, the environment, immigration, education and rural healthcare. It means we can have reporters in the Statehouse, attend court hearings and knock on doors to include the voices of everyday Vermonters.

Together, we can keep our community informed, connected and strong.

Sincerely,

Sky Barsch
CEO, VTDigger

P.S. Make a gift during our Fall Member Drive and you’ll be entered to win one of two $250 gift cards to Johnson Woolen Mills. New monthly sustainers will also receive a VTDigger sustainer decal.

Read the story on VTDigger here: VTDigger’s fall membership drive aims to raise $150,000.

Dear Readers,

Want to see more VTDigger stories when you search the news? Google now lets you choose Preferred Sources, a new feature that highlights your favorite outlets in the Top Stories section and a dedicated “From your sources” feed. If you’re signed in to Google in the United States, it only takes a few clicks to add VTDigger and make sure our reporting rises to the top when news breaks.

Quick add (desktop or phone)

• If you’re signed into Google in the U.S., you can click this link to open the preferred sources pop-up with VTDigger prefilled.
• In the pop-up, check “VTDigger.” That’s it! You can continue to search or close the window/tab.
• If you don’t see the pop-up, try a news-related search and follow the steps below.

How to add VTDigger (desktop)

1. Go to google.com and make sure you’re signed in.
2. Search for a newsy topic (for example: “Vermont news”). If the Top stories box appears, look for the small star icon to the right of the “Top stories” heading.
3. Click the star. In the “Preferred sources” window, search for “VTDigger.”
4. Check the box next to VTDigger, then select “Reload results” or close the window.
5. You should now see VTDigger appear more often in Top stories and From your sources when we have fresh reporting related to your search.

How to add VTDigger (phone)

You can follow the same steps in the Google app or your mobile browser:

1. Open Google and sign in.
2. Search for a timely topic. In the top stories carousel, tap the star icon next to the heading.
3. Search for “VTDigger,” check the box, and reload results or close the tab.

Tips & troubleshooting

• Quick add link: If you’re already signed in, try https://google.com/preferences/source?q=vtdigger.org to jump straight to the “Preferred sources” pop-up with VTDigger prefilled.
• Don’t see the star? Try a different query that’s clearly news-related. The option only appears when a “Top stories” box shows up. It’s gradually rolling out, so it may not appear for every user or every search.
• Being signed in matters. Your preference travels with you when you’re signed in to your Google account on that device.
• You can pick more than one outlet. Add other trusted sources anytime. You can also uncheck or edit your list later.

Why it helps

Choosing VTDigger as a preferred source keeps reliable, local reporting close at hand in your everyday searches, especially during breaking news and fast-moving statewide issues. It’s a small step that helps you find updates quickly while keeping your feed focused on sources you trust.

Questions? We’re happy to help: contact@vtdigger.org

Share this guide with a friend who relies on local news.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Keep trusted news at the top of your Google Search.

Because of 361 generous readers, we’re celebrating two big wins: VTDigger members helped send 441 children’s books to Vermont kids via the Children’s Literacy Foundation and raised $22,792 to keep fearless, independent journalism thriving in our state.

During the drive, your comments reminded us why this work is so important:

• “I want to support this incredible Vermont organization and support young people in Vermont with books.” – Jane
• “I appreciate what you folks do. Books and knowledge are the key to everything!” – Paula
• “I love VTDigger and getting books to children is very important.” – Holly
• “We need local journalists to be truth tellers.” – Rosanne
• “I am a new resident to Vermont and it’s important to support truth and reading!” – Laurie

Every gift made during the CLiF membership drive means more Vermont children will experience the magic of reading and more Vermonters will continue to have access to the rigorous reporting they rely on. 

We’re grateful to everyone who stepped up for both public service journalism and young readers. We are especially grateful to The Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury for sponsoring the book donation to CLiF, allowing every dollar from our readers to go directly to support independent reporting.

Your support is helping build a stronger, better-informed, and more connected Vermont. Thank you for believing in the power of local news, literacy and community.

With thanks,

Libbie Sparadeo
Director of Membership and Engagement, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: We did it — Thank you for supporting young readers and local journalism.

Dear Reader,

At VTDigger, we believe the future of our state depends on more than public service journalism — it also requires investing in the next generation of news readers. That’s why your donation to VTDigger will do double duty today: supporting independent journalism and delivering a new children’s book to a Vermont child.

This week, we’re partnering with the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), a Vermont-based nonprofit that has brought books, author visits and interactive literacy programs to more than 350,000 children in local communities with the fewest resources. Often a book from CLiF is the first new book a child has ever owned.

Every donation we receive by Saturday will send a book directly to a Vermont child through CLiF. Our goal is to send 350 books from 350 community-minded VTDigger readers.

Reading is the foundation of community participation and civic engagement. Every child deserves access to stories, facts and ideas that expand their world. But in many Vermont homes, new children’s books are a luxury. Your gift today helps close that gap.

We’re so grateful to the 76 readers who have already stepped up and we only have a few days to inspire 274 more donors to help us reach our goal. Every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to delivering both trusted news and the gift of reading to Vermont families.

As a thank you, if you become a monthly sustaining member at $20/month, you’ll receive your choice of a hat or a tote bag from our summer merch drop while helping us invest in a more curious, informed and equitable Vermont.

Your support powers journalism that holds leaders accountable and gives voice to Vermont’s communities. And right now, it also opens doors for children, sparking curiosity and hope with every book delivered.

Join us in building Vermont’s civic future.

Sincerely,

Neal Goswami
Managing Editor, VTDigger

Each donation of a brand-new children’s book via the Children’s Literacy Foundation has been generously underwritten by the Vermont Book Shop. 100% of your gift to VTDigger will directly support our journalism.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Give by Saturday: One donation powers local news and early childhood literacy.

Dear Reader,

As you know, VTDigger is your valuable, independent source of information on what’s happening in Vermont. I am honored to return to Vermont as VTDigger’s new editor-in-chief and to lead this talented team of journalists, who are deeply committed to truth, accountability and community.

Today we are announcing a special partnership that connects two pillars of a healthy community: fact-based journalism and childhood literacy. 

This week, your gift will support local journalism as well as the news readers of tomorrow by sending a brand-new book to a Vermont child through the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF).

Will you help us send 350 books from 350 members by Saturday, July 19?

Just as journalism opens up the minds and hearts of our audiences, children’s books invite young people to learn about new things and feel what it’s like to make different journeys.

In a time when housing, groceries and healthcare dominate family budgets, children’s books shouldn’t be a luxury. But for many families, they are. 

Make a gift today and you will be keeping our community strong by supporting VTDigger’s capacity to provide you with local news and sending a new book to a Vermont child.

Sincerely,

Geeta Anand
Editor-in-chief, VTDigger

Each donation of a brand-new children’s book via the Children’s Literacy Foundation has been generously underwritten by the Vermont Book Shop. 100% of your gift to VTDigger will directly support our journalism.

Read the story on VTDigger here: VTDigger Partners with CLiF and the Vermont Book Shop to deliver books to Vermont children.

On Thursday, July 17, you’re invited to a special event with VTDigger’s editorial team. Join us in Brookfield for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how we report the facts and hold ourselves accountable to you.

What: In Facts We Trust: Local Journalism in the ‘Fake News’ Era
When: Thursday, July 17 | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Brookfield Old Town Hall | 93 Stone Rd, Brookfield, VT
RSVP: Free and open to all — but seating is limited, so please reserve your spot.

Whether you’re a longtime reader or just curious how journalism works behind the curtain, this event is for you. You’ll hear directly from our editors about what it takes to produce independent, trustworthy reporting in Vermont and how you can sharpen your own news literacy in the process.

We’d love to see you there.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Join VTDigger for a special event on July 17.

We just launched three fresh designs for summer, and every purchase helps fund the independent journalism you rely on.

Whether you’re heading to the farmers market, planning a hike or just enjoying your morning coffee, these styles are designed with love and say what we all believe: Local news is worth supporting.

Happy place

Vermont is our happy place and we’re showing it with a smile and a state that says it all.

Field notes

Our illustrated ode to summer in Vermont, drawn from a few of our favorite things.

Reader supported

Wear what you believe in: Local news should be free, trusted and powered by the people it serves.

Our summer collection includes T-shirts, tote bags, hats and mugs in warm hues designed by our resident artist, Taylor Haynes (aka our audience & product director). Don’t forget, you can always shop our staff favorites and best sellers too.

Read the story on VTDigger here: New merch: Our love letter to a Vermont summer.

Dear Reader,

Affording a life in Vermont is becoming harder for more people and the consequences are real. From housing and child care to health care and food, many Vermonters are navigating rising costs with fewer options and more stress.

Too often, public conversations rely on averages that mask the realities many Vermonters face. At VTDigger, we believe journalism has a responsibility to go deeper and reflect lived experiences, expose systemic gaps and ask tough questions about what’s working and what’s not.

That’s why we’re launching a new reporting beat focused on wealth, poverty and economic inequality in Vermont.

Report for America is helping fund this new beat. But to fully sustain it, we need our readers to chip in for the remainder. Our goal is to raise $50,000 this year.

Thanks to a generous local donor, all gifts made by Saturday, June 14 at 11:59 p.m. will be matched dollar for dollar. Will you double your impact and help us launch this new beat?

A familiar name. A critical new role.

We’re proud to share that Theo Wells-Spackman will join VTDigger in July as our newest Report for America corps member.

Theo, who grew up in Weybridge and interned in our newsroom last summer, recently graduated from Princeton University. As part of the national Report for America service program — which places talented journalists in local newsrooms across the country to report on undercovered topics — Theo will investigate the economic policies and systems that shape life for Vermonters across income levels, regions and backgrounds.

During his previous stint at VTDigger, Theo covered a range of topics including flood recovery and the Vermont state college system with empathy, insight and rigor. We’re thrilled to welcome him back and excited to see what he uncovers next.

But we can’t do this without you.

Every donation through Saturday will be matched and bring us closer to launching a beat that delivers real answers. Any gift up to $500 will be doubled and help us launch this beat with care, accuracy and a community mandate.

Theo’s reporting will focus on the root causes of Vermont’s affordability crisis, follow the flow of public funding and elevate the experiences of those most affected by economic hardship. He’ll look closely at proposed solutions and report back on what’s actually making a difference.

If you believe Vermont needs deeper, clearer, more consistent reporting on the rising cost of living, now is the time to act. Help us build a beat that delivers answers.

Your donation today will go twice as far to support hard-hitting, solutions-focused journalism.

Sincerely,

Neal Goswami
Manaing Editor, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: Introducing VTDigger’s new Report for America corps member: Theo Wells-Spackman.

Dear Reader,

Vermonters are facing a growing affordability crisis. From housing and health care to child care and groceries, many people are struggling to keep up. 

These pressures affect communities in every corner of the state. 

That’s why VTDigger is launching a new reporting beat focused on wealth, poverty and economic opportunity in Vermont. This beat will dig into the root causes of economic hardship, examine the systems meant to offer support and elevate the stories of Vermonters navigating these challenges every day.

Thanks to our partnership with Report for America, we have secured partial funding for the role. Now, we’re asking our readers to help us close the gap and bring this position to life.

In order to launch this beat, we need to raise $50,000 this year. Will you be one of the readers who makes this new beat possible?

Why this work matters now

Vermont has long depended on imported wealth to sustain its economy, but is this model still working?

This new reporter will explore the challenges and opportunities facing different communities. From rural poverty and housing insecurity to the impacts of demographic shifts sparked by the pandemic, this beat will cover a broad range of topics including:

• Root causes of Vermont’s affordability crisis
• The experiences of Vermonters most affected by economic challenges
• Regional disparities and areas for change
• Gaps in state services and nonprofit safety nets
• How economic policy affects Vermonters differently depending on geography, age and background

This beat will help ensure that policy conversations are grounded in reality, informed by evidence and inclusive of the full range of Vermonters’ experiences.

Backed by Report for America and readers like you

VTDigger is honored to be selected as a host newsroom by Report for America, a nonprofit journalism service program that places talented reporters in local newsrooms to cover underreported topics. The program covers a portion of the reporter’s salary, but requires that the remainder come from community support.

Unlike some chain-owned commercial media, VTDigger is a nonprofit news organization that does not charge subscriptions to read our work — so readers from all economic backgrounds have access to the information they need. But, we can only hire and sustain our team with our readers’ support. We don’t receive federal funding, and every dollar we raise, we put into fulfilling our mission. 

You can help us close the gap and launch this vital work. If you value fact-based reporting that explains complex issues, amplifies unheard voices and holds power to account, please consider making a donation.

Your support whether $15 or $500 will help us launch this beat with care, accuracy and a community mandate.

Thank you for your readership and support.

Sincerely,

Lesli Blount
Chief Revenue Officer, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: Help VTDigger investigate Vermont’s affordability crisis.

During our Spring Member Drive, 1,940 readers took action to support VTDigger — including 211 new sustaining monthly members! Together, our members are powering the kind of in-depth, public service journalism Vermonters rely on.

We’re especially grateful to welcome 338 first-time donors. Whether you’ve been reading VTDigger for years or recently found your way to our reporting, your support ensures we can continue to provide rigorous journalism grounded in the facts.

As a contributing member shared, “I think your reporting can bond Vermonters in helping and supporting each other, especially during these chaotic times. I can’t really afford to donate, but I feel strongly that we need to know what’s really going on in Vermont and how to help each other.”

An extra special thanks goes out to the 106 sustaining members who chose to give an additional one-time gift during the campaign. Monthly sustaining support helps fund long-term projects and strengthens our ability to respond to emerging stories.

During the final two weeks of the campaign, VTDigger members also raised $5,460 for the scholarship fund at Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports. This donation will help ensure people of all abilities have access to outdoor recreation, regardless of financial circumstances.

One member reflected on the impact of this opportunity, “I very much appreciate all of what VTDigger does for local journalism. Additionally, a lovely young person I know greatly benefits from Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports. The joy of being on mountain bikes and skis again is palpable. Thank you for the opportunity to give to both.”

If you love the outdoors and want to help, Vermont Adaptive is always looking for volunteers to get involved. 

We recognize that these are challenging times for many Vermonters, which makes your support even more meaningful. Together, we’re keeping Vermonters connected and informed — two things that are essential to our communities and our democracy.

Thank you for being part of this work.

With gratitude, 

The VTDigger Team

Read the story on VTDigger here: Thank you for supporting local news and Vermont communities this spring.

Dear Reader,

Our Spring Member Drive ends Friday at midnight. In the spirit of transparency, we’re still facing a significant gap of $72,361 to reach our goal. But right now, every single donation will be TRIPLED — thanks to a generous match from two Vermont donors.

That means your gift of $10 becomes $30. $50 becomes $150. $100 becomes $300.

When powerful interests try to obscure the facts, VTDigger pushes back. Our reporters are in the field every day, asking tough questions, following the money, and uncovering stories that affect real people — from the Statehouse to our small towns.

Your support makes this possible.

If you value journalism that puts the public interest first — that’s independent, nonpartisan and deeply local — now is the time to act.

Give before midnight on Friday, April 18 and your donation will be tripled. Will you help us close the gap?

Thank you for believing in the power of public service journalism.

With gratitude,

Sky Barsch,
CEO, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: Until midnight Friday: Your gift to VTDigger goes 3X further.

Dear Reader,

We’re getting close — but we’re not there yet. Thanks to hundreds of Vermonters who’ve already stepped up, we’re 68% of the way to our Spring Member Drive goal. That’s an incredible show of support for independent, local journalism — but we still have a ways to go, and time is running out.

To help us close the gap, a generous donor has agreed to match your gift today up to $1,000. That means your support right now will go twice as far — powering VTDigger’s reporting, keeping Vermonters informed, and helping expand access to outdoor recreation for people with disabilities through our partnership with Vermont Adaptive.

We are within striking distance. Can you help us get there?

Now more than ever, Vermonters need access to trusted, independent journalism — and VTDigger needs your support to deliver it. We’re up against a deadline of Friday night to reach our Spring Drive goal, and we’re counting on readers like you to help us finish strong.

Every gift made today will be doubled, and thanks to a special matching challenge from another generous donor, you’ll also send $5 to Vermont Adaptive.

Don’t wait. Make your gift for Vermont news now.

Sincerely,

Dustin Byerly,
Director of Major Gifts

Read the story on VTDigger here: Spring Member Drive: All gifts matched during final countdown.

Dear Reader,

Your support powers journalism that holds decision makers to account — and brings Vermonters’ stories to light. Will you make a gift now during our Spring Member Drive?

Last fall, over 1,500 unhoused people exhausted their stays through Vermont’s motel voucher program – including 378 kids.

The evictions were the result of new restrictions placed on the state’s politically contentious emergency housing program. I was in the room when lawmakers agreed to them, and over the course of months, I tracked their impacts. 

That meant putting in countless calls to state officials and service providers to get a handle on the scale of the situation, and their response to it. But mostly, it meant spending hours with the people directly affected by the change in policy – including many who got in touch with me after reading my initial reporting. The grandmother in Barre trying to find a safe place to stay with her six-year-old granddaughter. The Burlington family of four contemplating where to pitch a tent. 

I am always deeply humbled when people allow me into their lives during times of remarkable hardship, and are willing to stay in touch over the long term. Bringing their stories to you, our readers, takes time and care to get right. 

Your support helps us reveal the everyday impacts of decisions made in Montpelier. And we know the decision-makers are reading, too. After my reporting this fall, dozens of lawmakers spoke out against the motel evictions – including some who helped craft the law — and state officials opened new family shelters after we reported on the state’s lack of them.

We can’t do this work without you. When you donate to VTDigger, you’re helping shine a light on how government decisions play out in real people’s lives — and you’re helping hold leaders accountable to the communities they serve.

There is just one week left in our Spring Member Drive. If you value this kind of deep, unflinching reporting, please make a gift today. Every dollar helps sustain our independent journalism.

Thank you for your readership and support.

Sincerely,

Carly Berlin,
Housing and infrastructure reporter

Carly Berlin is a Report For America corps member shared by VTDigger and Vermont Public.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Less than one week left: Stand up for local reporting.

Dear Reader,

Although you may have seen a few snow flurries recently, spring in Vermont always brings a sense of renewal and possibility. This year, our Spring Membership Drive is fully embracing that spirit.

I’m thrilled that VTDigger is partnering with Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, a nonprofit that empowers people of all abilities through inclusive sports and recreation. 

When you donate today, your gift will do double the good: it fuels independent journalism and sends $5 to Vermont Adaptive. Will you join us?

This collaboration is close to my heart — because I’ve seen firsthand what adaptive sports can mean to a person and their family.

My brother Shane is an athlete with disabilities. Growing up, I watched him navigate a world that often wasn’t built with him in mind. That’s why it meant so much when our family found places where he could truly participate and thrive. Whether he was in the saddle through a therapeutic horseback riding program or aiming for a strike in Special Olympics bowling, I loved seeing his confidence, spiritedness and joy shine through.

Vermont Adaptive promotes independence and furthers equality through opportunities including alpine skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing, cycling, hiking, rock climbing, veterans’ programs and more.

And just as Vermont Adaptive helps people access the outdoors, VTDigger helps Vermonters access the truth.

During our Spring Drive, when you support VTDigger, you’re also supporting Vermont Adaptive. Together, we’re advancing connection — through sport, through journalism and through the power of an informed community.

If this resonates with you, I hope you’ll consider making a donation today. Your gift fuels investigative reporting, holds power to account, and helps ensure Vermonters of all abilities and backgrounds are reflected in our coverage — and in our future.

Sincerely,

Sky Barsch
CEO, VTDigger

P.S. Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is always looking for passionate and caring volunteers with a love for the outdoors. If you’re interested, visit their website to learn more.

Read the story on VTDigger here: A note from our CEO: Your gift will do double the good.

Dear Reader,

At VTDigger, we are committed to telling the stories that matter — including stories of resilience, determination and strength in our communities.

This spring, we’re partnering with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports to expand access to outdoor recreation — while supporting local, independent journalism that keeps Vermont informed.

For the last two weeks of our Spring Drive, every donation VTDigger receives will also send $5 to Vermont Adaptive’s scholarship fund, ensuring more people can access life-changing outdoor recreation.

Today your donation does double duty. Will you join us?

Bonus: Become a $15 monthly sustaining member and get a free VTDigger hat!

Breaking down barriers with Vermont Adaptive

VTDigger is partnering with Vermont Adaptive because we believe in independence and access to the outdoors, regardless of ability to pay.

For many, getting outside is an easy, everyday experience. But for individuals with disabilities, there can be insurmountable barriers without access to the right resources. For more than 37 years, Vermont Adaptive has helped thousands of participants explore what’s possible.

The nonprofit organization provides specialized equipment, instruction and support that fosters adventure, mental health and self-confidence. In 2024 alone, the organization provided more than 5,300 outings in 2024 to children and adults with disabilities and nearly 1,500 outings for veterans.

Van Wart understands that impact firsthand.

After losing his vision in his late 20s, he assumed his days on the slopes were over. But this February, more than 15 years after his last ride, Vermont Adaptive helped him get back on a snowboard at the VI/Blind Athletes Winter Festival at Pico Mountain.

With the support of skilled volunteer guides, Van quickly found his rhythm. “The feeling I had more than anything else was just a smile glued onto my face,” he said. “It was exhilarating. It was a sense of life.”

By the end of the weekend, he was riding independently.

“I left that weekend thinking, ‘I can do this again.’ What Vermont Adaptive does is just incredible… from the moment you walk in, the attention to detail, the equipment ready and waiting, the way they support every participant — they go the extra step. You showed me what I could do.”

For Van, getting back on a board wasn’t just about rekindling an old hobby. It was about remembering what he was capable of.

Why your support matters

Being independent doesn’t have to mean going solo.

Vermont Adaptive helps people of all abilities gain independence through the support of a passionate community — just as VTDigger delivers rigorous, independent journalism made possible by its readers.

When you give today, you strengthen both local journalism and outdoor access for all. Will you join us?

Stories like Van’s are the reason VTDigger exists — to connect, inspire and inform us all. And reader support is the reason VTDigger can maintain its independence.

Thank you for reading and being a part of what makes Vermont a special place. And thank you for considering a donation during our Spring Member Drive.

Sincerely,

Libbie Sparadeo
Director of Membership and Engagement

P.S. Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is looking for passionate and caring volunteers with a love of the outdoors. If you’re interested, visit their website to learn more.

Read the story on VTDigger here: VTDigger partners with Vermont Adaptive for Spring Member Drive.

Dear Reader,

A group of generous donors are matching all gifts to help us stay on track during our Spring Member Drive — but only for the next 48 hours. If you can, please help us make the most of this opportunity and double the impact of your contribution now.

In my work at VTDigger, I have the privilege of speaking with Vermonters who see their support for this newsroom as more than just a donation. They see it as an investment in their community.

Their generosity and belief in the power of nonpartisan, fact-checked reporting drive everything we do at VTDigger. Every story we publish is a service to the public, a way to hold institutions accountable and give Vermonters the information they need to make informed decisions — without spin, paywalls, or corporate or political influence.

Vermonters rely on us for trusted news, and we rely on the generosity of our members to make it possible.

We have momentum — but we need your help to keep it going. All gifts made before Friday, April 4 at 11:59 p.m. will be doubled, making your contribution go twice as far to support the kind of in-depth, independent journalism that Vermont needs.

If you believe that access to reliable news is essential to a healthy democracy, please make a gift today and stand with the members who power this newsroom.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Dustin Byerly
Director of Major Gifts

Read the story on VTDigger here: All gifts doubled until April 4 at midnight!.

Two months ago, a shooting in Coventry, Vermont, left a border patrol agent and a 28-year-old visitor dead. Any fatal shooting is alarming and tragic, but this story has taken a number of increasingly strange twists and turns.

VTDigger has been on the ground from the start, breaking news and connecting the dots in this unsettling case. This is why we don’t just chase headlines — we dig deeper. But investigative journalism isn’t easy, and it isn’t cheap.

If you can, please help support my work, and that of my newsroom colleagues, today during VTDigger’s Spring Member Drive.

In this case we’ve helped reveal that two people involved in the shooting had ties to an unusual ideology, a cast of mysterious figures and several other deaths in multiple U.S. states. This story continues to draw national attention. And VTDigger journalists have been at the forefront in reporting it.

VTDigger reporters have attended court hearings in Burlington and driven out on snowy roads into the remotest corners of the Northeast Kingdom. We’ve spent hours poring over pages and pages of court documents, impenetrable blog posts and public records. And we’ve spoken to dozens of people in at least five states — real estate agents, firearms dealers, court officials, attorneys, law enforcement agents, neighbors and more — many of whom are afraid for their lives and reluctant to speak to journalists.

We’ve repeatedly broken news about the people involved and the law enforcement response, and we’ve gone toe-to-toe with bigger, better-resourced media outlets as we piece together this bizarre tale.

If you value the kind of rigorous, on-the-ground reporting that brings crucial stories to light, I hope you’ll consider making a donation today. Your support ensures that we can continue asking the tough questions, driving the dirt roads, and uncovering the full story—no matter how complex it gets.

Thank you for considering a donation to power investigative journalism for Vermont.

Sincerely,

Peter D’Auria
Government Accountability & Health Care Reporter

P.S. You can read all our coverage of this developing story here.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Unraveling a national story — right here in Vermont.

Behind every breaking story, every investigative deep dive and every carefully crafted newsletter is a team of VTDigger journalists who make it happen.

I have the privilege of seeing that work up close every day. And I can tell you: it’s not easy. It takes relentless curiosity, an unshakable commitment to truth and long hours spent digging — sometimes through documents, sometimes through floodwaters, sometimes through political spin.

If you can, please contribute today during VTDigger’s Spring Member Drive. Your gift in any size will help our nonprofit newsroom bring you news you can’t find anywhere else.

Local journalism doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because dedicated reporters ask tough questions, follow leads, and show up when it matters. It happens because an editor pushes for accuracy, a photographer captures the essence of a moment and a data journalist turns numbers into stories that hold the powerful accountable.

At VTDigger, everything we publish is made possible by a newsroom that works tirelessly to inform Vermont. And that newsroom is powered by readers like you.

VTDigger is not backed by corporate owners or investors. The vast majority of our budget comes from donations and goes directly to paying our journalists — because they are the reason we exist. 

The only way we can continue this work is with the support of our readers. Will you join us?

If you value journalists who hold power to account and ask the tough questions, I hope you’ll make a gift today. Your support ensures that this work continues—this year, next year, and for years to come.

Sincerely,

Neal Goswami
Acting editor-in-chief, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: The journalists who keep Vermont informed — and why they need you.

Dear reader,

Across America, the free press — one of democracy’s foundations — is under attack. Journalists face threats, billionaires control newspapers, and misinformation is spreading faster than ever. Powerful interests are working to shape the narrative to serve themselves. But VTDigger won’t let that happen in Vermont.

This spring, we’re gearing up to dig like never before. With rapid changes in Washington and pressing challenges facing Vermonters, VTDigger needs your support to shine a light on the facts. 

Will you join our Spring Member Drive by donating in the amount that works best for you? 

Here, we’re committed to reporting the truth, even when it makes those in power uncomfortable. We believe in giving Vermonters the information they need to make daily decisions, hold their leaders accountable and shape the future of our state.

Issues facing Vermonters right now — economic hardship, housing access, education funding, substance misuse, climate change — need to be discussed in the public sphere in order to develop solutions. With your support this year, VTDigger will:

• Hire a reporter dedicated to covering wealth, poverty, and economic inequality.
• Track and explain how new federal policies will impact Vermonters.
• Deepen our commitment to investigative journalism to ensure transparency in government, business and public institutions.

We need your help to keep up the fight. Will you make a one-time donation, or better yet, become a monthly sustaining member?

Vermont needs VTDigger for fearless, fact-based journalism. And VTDigger needs you.

Sincerely,

Sky Barsch
CEO, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: Spring for truth: Support local news now.

At VTDigger, we know Town Meeting Day is more than a tradition — it’s democracy in action. Our team is committed to bringing you in-depth reporting so you have the information you need to participate in decisions that shape your community.

If you value this kind of news, please help support it by becoming a sustaining member or making a one-time donation.

Local democracy depends on an informed public — and that’s where VTDigger comes in. Our newsroom works tirelessly before, during and after March 4 to cover Town Meeting Day from every corner of Vermont. From tracking key votes to delivering results in real time (sometimes into the early morning hours), our journalists ensure Vermonters stay informed.

Imagine what Vermont would look like without a press dedicated to keeping democracy transparent — or if this reporting were locked behind a paywall.

If you value having a trusted, independent news source covering Town Meeting Day, I invite you to make a donation today — or better yet, become a monthly sustaining member.

Your gift helps us cover more towns, report on more critical decisions and keep this vital service available to all.

Join us in making sure local democracy has the coverage it deserves.

With gratitude,

Neal Goswami
Managing editor, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: Town Meeting Day: A win for local democracy.

Dear reader,

In the final days of 2024, we want to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come together — and how far we still need to go.

Give today and your gift in any amount up to $500 will be tripled to help VTDigger keep digging on your behalf in 2025.

Since 2009, VTDigger has grown from a one-woman operation to the state’s most robust newsroom. 

With 22 reporters, editors and photographers, we’ve published 2,605 stories this year, which were read 12 million times by Vermonters like you.

VTDigger is not only a place to find timely news, it’s also a place to connect and debate.

The 418 reader commentaries we published provided an opportunity to exchange opinions and hear differing points of view. 

And we’re always listening to you. Roughly one-third of VTDigger stories begin with a tip.

Thank you for sending us 1,599 tips in 2024 and helping us stay connected to the stories that matter most.

But there’s one more important number: 

We still need to raise $175,643 by December 31 to reach our goal, and we’re currently 69% of the way there.

Can we count on you to help us finish strong? Your gift today will go three times as far thanks to a group of generous Vermont donors.

With your help, we’ll continue growing and connecting Vermont with the essential journalism that informs, educates and holds the powerful accountable.

Thank you for your continued support. We couldn’t do it without you.

Sincerely,

Paul Heintz

Editor-in-chief, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: VTDigger member drive to end New Year’s Eve: Last chance to triple your donation.

Dear readers,

Last month, VTDigger published my investigation revealing how the federal government has quietly built surveillance towers along the Canadian border in Vermont and New York — with the possibility for more.

Government accountability reporting like this takes time and effort. If you value this type of journalism from me and my colleagues at VTDigger, please support it with a year-end donation and your gift will be tripled today. 

Time is running out for us to meet our goal. Can we count on you?

To report this story, I spent days scouring public records and satellite imagery, as well as calling local residents, town officials and experts on border surveillance technology. Then, I got in my car and drove up to the northern border myself, traveling from Derby Line to New York State to speak to more people and see where this technology has actually been deployed.

Since my story was published, the most rewarding part has been hearing directly from VTDigger readers about their experiences with border and immigration enforcement in their communities. To me, these messages show what VTDigger does best — not just informing, but also engaging, people across our state and beyond.

While VTDigger’s journalism is free to read — something I’ve always been proud of — it certainly isn’t free to produce. If you haven’t already, please consider supporting our local, nonprofit newsroom before the end of the year, in whatever way or amount you can.

Right now, all gifts up to $500 are being tripled, including monthly donations for the first year! We only have until Dec. 31 at midnight to reach our goal. Will you join us?

Thank you for reading and supporting local journalists.

Sincerely,

Shaun Robinson

State Government & Economy Reporter, VTDigger

If you can, please consider becoming a sustaining member at a level that works for you. Sustaining members make it possible for VTDigger’s journalists to dig deeper. Become a sustaining member at $15/month and you’ll receive a free VTDigger t-shirt.

Read the story on VTDigger here: All gifts tripled until Dec. 31: Who is watching the watchers?.

Dear reader,

During the final days of 2024, we want to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come together — and how far we still need to go.

But here’s the truth: only 2% of VTDigger readers support our work financially.

In the final stretch of our year-end membership drive, we need your help to raise the final funds to ensure VTDigger’s continued success. 

With only 5 days left to hit our goal, every dollar you give up to $500 will be tripled by a group of generous Vermont donors.

This year, we’ve achieved some major milestones that we couldn’t have done without support from people like you:

• Groundbreaking Investigations: We published an investigation into the sharp rise in migrants crossing the Canada-Vermont border, which became the most-read story in VTDigger’s history.
• Journalistic Excellence: We received nearly 20 journalism awards in 2024, including our first Online News Association award.
• Public Service: We hosted 11 interns, fostering the next generation of journalists, and provided timely 2024 election coverage and voting resources in 14 languages.

Now, we’re asking you to help us reach our goal. Your gift today will not only fuel our journalism but also support a sustainable future for our newsroom.

Will you join the 2% who support VTDigger? Every gift is tripled and will ensure that the vital work we’ve started continues in 2025 and beyond.

We’re incredibly grateful for your continued support. Together, we’ve achieved so much — but there’s more to do.

Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Libbie Sparadeo

Director of membership and engagement, VTDigger

If you can, please consider becoming a sustaining member at a level that works for you. Sustaining members make it possible for VTDigger’s journalists to dig deeper. Become a sustaining member at $15/month and you’ll receive a free VTDigger t-shirt.

Read the story on VTDigger here: VTDigger year-end member drive: All gifts tripled today.

As a historian, I am fascinated by Vermont’s past. As a Vermonter, I care deeply about its present and future. That’s why I consider VTDigger’s mission so important. 

Over the last two-plus decades, the rise of the Internet has devastated our state’s once-thriving newspapers, which for more than two centuries were the backbone of Vermont journalism. The economics of our high-tech era have starved newspapers of revenues and resulted in major newsroom staffing cuts. But journalism matters. Without it, we simply cannot be informed citizens. Community and statewide newspapers are having to be scrappy and wildly innovative in this challenging environment, and Digger has been a leader in this reinvented landscape.

While newspapers across the state have had to shrink their staffs, VTDigger has found an economic model that can support quality journalism that is notable for both its breadth and depth. With the financial help of readers, VTDigger has managed to hire an impressive team of journalists. Early in my career, I worked as an editor and reporter for several Vermont newspapers. I’ve been delighted to see many talented former colleagues become part of VTDigger’s staff, where they have joined other gifted journalists whose excellent work I deeply appreciate.

Journalism is crucial to my historical research for the “Then Again” columns that appear in VTDigger. I am always amazed by how transportive it is to read old newspapers, not only offering insights on the politics and wars of the day, but bringing us into the lives of everyday people. 

While browsing newspapers in an online archive, I stumbled upon the story of a massive manhunt in 1925 for a missing farmhand who was believed to have abducted a young girl. The newspapers of the day reported the frantic search for the pair in great detail, allowing me to piece together the gripping story. Journalists provided such telling facts as how selectmen from the girl’s hometown were initially in charge of the search until the county sheriff took over (there was no state police yet), how the Vermont attorney general called for the man to be captured “dead or alive,” how reports flowed in from Vermonters who claimed to have seen the missing pair, and how a revered police dog that had successfully tracked fugitives in Germany had joined the search. After the farmhand and girl were discovered and more information about the case was revealed, the papers documented the swift shift in public opinion in favor of the farmhand. These compelling and poignant details bring the past alive, and would have been lost to history if not for the journalists of the time.

Novelist L.P. Hartley once noted: “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” Old newspapers are an invaluable way to get the lay of this foreign land. They help explain what people knew and believed at the time.

Our world today can feel as foreign and disorienting as the past. To understand the present moment, and get a sense of what might happen in the near future, journalism is as important as ever. If you want to know what is happening in Vermont and what people think about it, there is no better place to turn than VTDigger. 

I want to thank the readers who rely on VTDigger for making this website the go-to place to stay up to date with what is happening in their communities and across the state. And I am grateful that Digger offers a place for writers to go deeper with their stories in order to offer context, strengthen our sense of place, and build community.

Please consider supporting VTDigger before the end of 2024 with a one-time or monthly donation today and it will be tripled.

If you can, please consider becoming a sustaining member at a level that works for you. Sustaining members make it possible for VTDigger’s journalists to dig deeper. Become a sustaining member at $15/month and you’ll receive a free VTDigger t-shirt.

Sincerely,

Mark Bushnell

Journalist and author

Read the story on VTDigger here: Why VTDigger deserves your support: A historian’s view.

“I am reading Digger sitting in my warm cozy house with my wood stove cranking out heat. I will be happy to imagine other readers doing the same.”

Member from Ludlow, VT

Dear reader,

We are in the final days of our joint news and firewood drive. We still believe we can send 15 cords of firewood by Dec. 25.

Help us shine a light on the facts and spread warmth this holiday season with a year-end gift that does double duty.

VTDigger’s reporters work around the clock to bring you public service reporting with impact, like our full disclosure series which spurred more robust financial disclosure requirements for legislators. 

We bring you deep, original investigations that make you ask more questions, like Shaun Robinson’s on how the federal government has quietly built three surveillance towers along the Canadian border. 

Our journalists get to the bottom of what’s really happening, like Housing Reporter Carly Berlin’s data dive into the pervasive myth that Vermont is a “magnet” state for unsheltered people. 

All of this reporting takes days — sometimes weeks or even months — of research, source interviews, fact checking and editing. VTDigger provides it free of charge, to ensure everyone has equal access to the truth. 

But it takes significant resources to produce. Your support ensures that we can keep telling these stories. Plus, for every 80 members who donate, Wood4Good can deliver one cord of wood — enough for 4 weeks of heat — to a family in need.

If you can, please consider becoming a sustaining member at a level that works for you. Sustaining members make it possible for us to dig deeper. Become a sustaining member at $15/month and  we’ll send you a free VTDigger t-shirt.

Thank you for considering a gift to fuel journalism and warmth across Vermont.

Sincerely,

Sky Barsch

CEO, VTDigger

P.S. Giving to the Vermont Journalism Trust/VTDigger is also possible via donor-advised funds. To learn more, visit this page.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Journalism and warmth: Join the final days of giving.

Dear reader,

Downtowns are bustling with holiday shoppers and here at VTDigger we’re busy getting ready for a new legislative session to begin on January 8. Why are we excited about this?

For four months of the year, the workings of state government that usually take place behind closed doors or on private video calls are drawn into the open. Representatives of the executive branch are put on the hot seat in legislative committees and questioned in Statehouse hallways. 

If you want to keep VTDigger asking questions on behalf of Vermonters, please join our year-end member drive with a gift today. When you do, you’ll also help send firewood to families in need of heat this winter via our partnership with Wood4Good.

With Vermont losing 75% of its newspaper jobs over the past quarter-century, VTDigger’s coverage of the Legislature is critical.

Among the many issues we plan to shine a light on this session are education funding and rising property taxes; whether new initiatives will help or hurt hospitals’ ability to affordably deliver the services Vermonters need; the role the state plays in addressing our housing and homelessness crises; and how Vermont can respond to and prepare for major flooding and other climate catastrophes.

We’re going to be covering developments on key legislation, explaining the impact on people, businesses and municipalities, keeping an eye on conflicts of interest and sharing hard-to-access testimony. We’re also taking note of what isn’t being discussed and asking why.

Today we’re asking you to help VTDigger keep telling the stories that no one else is and families stay warm this season. 

There less than a week left to send 15 cords of firewood to Vermont families in need. Every 80 donations sends one cord — or four weeks of warmth — to a family. 

Thank you for your readership and support as we look toward the holidays and a new year of public service journalism. 

Sincerely, 

Kristen Fountain

Senior Editor, VTDigger

If you can, please consider becoming a sustaining member at a level that works for you. Sustaining members make it possible for us to dig deeper. Become a sustaining member at $15/month and  we’ll send you a free VTDigger t-shirt.

P.S. Wood4Good is always looking for volunteers of all abilities. Sign up to volunteer here.

Read the story on VTDigger here: How VTDigger’s Statehouse coverage will serve Vermont in 2025.

Dear reader,

We have only eight days left to reach our goal of sending 15 cords of firewood to families in need this winter. Every 80 donations to VTDigger’s year-end drive sends one cord of firewood, the equivalent of four weeks of warmth, to a Vermont family in need through our partnership with Wood4Good.

Take a moment now to do your part for local news and send firewood with your donation.

As journalists, it’s our job to ask hard questions, represent the public interest and dig deep to uncover the truth. Right now, many of the issues we are covering have to do with affordability in Vermont. It’s something many of us are experiencing firsthand.

When you give during our year-end drive, you’ll fund our reporting, which helps advocates, policymakers and ordinary Vermonters understand the factors driving tax policy, housing costs and other key concerns. 

You’ll also help Wood4Good send firewood to Vermont families who need a little extra help this year. If you can, please chip in and support two worthy causes today.

If you can, please consider becoming a sustaining member at a level that works for you. Sustaining members make it possible for us to dig deeper. Become a sustaining member at $15/month and  we’ll send you a free VTDigger t-shirt.

Thank you for helping us warm hearts and homes this season.

Sincerely,

Paul Heintz

Editor-in-chief, VTDigger

P.S. Wood4Good is always looking for volunteers of all abilities. Sign up to volunteer here.

Read the story on VTDigger here: VTDigger member drive provides firewood for families, journalism for Vermont.

Dear reader,

Local news matters now more than ever. Research shows that when local news organizations disappear, communities become more divided, elections are less competitive, and financial waste and corruption increase. By investing in local journalism, VTDigger protects Vermont’s democracy and serves the public interest.

But we can’t do this work without your support.

Every donation made by Dec. 14 at 11:59 p.m. will be matched dollar for dollar by two generous board members up to $15,000. That means your gift will go twice as far to sustain the fearless, independent journalism Vermont needs.

Become a $15/month sustainer and your gift will be matched for the first year, plus we’ll send you a free 15th Anniversary t-shirt! 

In an era of AI and aggregation, there’s still no replacement for a reporter picking up the phone or hitting these dirt roads. VTDigger’s journalists do this work every day, making our stories freely accessible to all — including to more than a dozen community newspapers. But original journalism takes resources to produce.

Your donation powers the trusted, public-interest reporting that Vermonters rely on. Please help us meet the match before midnight on Saturday.

Thank you for standing with VTDigger and sustaining this essential public service.

Sincerely,

Paul Heintz

Editor-in-chief, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: Double your impact for Vermont news: Board match ends Saturday.

Dear reader,

With time ticking down toward the end of the year, two of our board members are stepping up to match all donations received – but only for a limited time. 

Give before midnight on Saturday, Dec. 14 to double your impact and help us rebuild Vermont’s press corps.

Your donation keeps VTDigger’s newsroom  independent — free from corporate interests or the whims of wealthy shareholders. Nearly two-thirds of our funding comes from individual readers like you, ensuring we remain accountable to our community and no one else.

Every gift sustains:

• Investigations that expose wrongdoing and hold power to account.
• Stories that foster understanding and strengthen Vermont communities.
• Free access to trusted news for all Vermonters.

Today, whether you can contribute $5 or $500, it will be matched dollar for dollar by two generous VTDigger board members. 

Thank you for your readership and for considering a gift that will go twice as far today.

Sincerely,

Florencio Terra

Membership Manager, VTDigger

Read the story on VTDigger here: VTDigger board members to match all gifts received before Dec. 15.

As veteran journalist David Moats reflects on Vermont’s changing press landscape, your support is crucial to VTDigger’s continued success. We rely on donations to provide rigorous, independent reporting that keeps our state informed. Help us reach our goal of $539,000 by December 31 to sustain fearless journalism through 2024 and into the new year. Your gift, of any amount, makes an immediate impact.

It wasn’t the hot lead era when I came into the news business, but it wasn’t long after that. We were still on typewriters, though we soon moved on to computers. Even then, type came out on long strips of paper, waxed on the back, that were cut and pasted onto the pages. A darkroom technician developed the photos. Paper boys and girls delivered the paper in the morning, or it came in the mail. 

If you weren’t listening to the ball game the night before, you had to wait ’til you saw the morning paper to find out who won. At the Rutland Herald, where I worked for more than 35 years, a large team gathered on the night of Town Meeting Day to get results by phone from town clerks throughout southern Vermont and Addison County, which appeared in the paper the next morning.

All that has changed. And it’s not just the news business that has changed. Amazon, Google and others have sucked billions of dollars out of local communities, advertising has dried up, and newspapers have cut back or disappeared altogether. You can get the baseball scores inning by inning on your phone. You can sell your boat on Craigslist instead of paying for a classified ad in the local paper.

VTDigger is among the pioneering news websites working to fill the gap caused by the digital revolution. In the last 25 years, 75% of newspaper jobs in Vermont have vanished. A number of the reporters and editors whose jobs disappeared have ended up at VTDigger.

It was this declining pattern in newspapers that inspired founder Anne Galloway to launch VTDigger in 2009.

For a time Anne was the one at the Sunday Times Argus and Rutland Herald who edited the editorials I wrote for the Sunday paper. Those editorials benefited from her close attention. 

When layoffs eliminated Anne’s job, it was not just a personal loss. It was becoming clear that coverage of Vermont news was going to suffer if staffing at the state’s major papers continued to decline. Thus, VTDigger got its start when Anne began her one-woman news operation, and now it has the most robust news staff in the state.

My time at the Herald coincided with what might be viewed as a Golden Age in Vermont journalism. The Herald and the Burlington Free Press occupied large buildings in their respective downtowns and served as nerve centers for their communities. They competed for the biggest stories and helped provide news coverage as thorough as coverage at any state capital in the country. 

But it wasn’t just the big stories that were important. The papers had reporters and stringers who followed the news in small towns throughout the state. Selectboard meetings and school boards didn’t escape attention. 

Now news comes out, not just in the morning, but whenever it’s ready to be posted. In order for it to be something other than a random posting of dubious credibility somewhere on social media, the news requires conscientious reporting and diligent editing. It’s true at newspapers, as it always was, and it’s true at any online source that can be counted on as reliable. That’s why news sites such as VTDigger work to establish and maintain credibility over time in their communities.

VTDigger can celebrate its 15th anniversary because it has established that credibility. One of its early big stories was the EB-5 scandal in the Northeast Kingdom, ultimately revealed as the largest financial fraud in the state’s history. Anne’s reporting was relentless, much to the discomfort of the perpetrators and those in state government whose failure of oversight proved so  costly.

Another story that VTDigger broke was the saga of Daniel Banyai, who ran an illegal gun range and training camp in Pawlet and who had intimidated nearby residents who objected to its presence. Fear in the community was real, but VTDigger dug into the story and eventually, after a tortuous legal process, the camp was closed down. This was a local story with larger implications.

The good stories have been many, and accuracy and clarity are still essential, which is why a professional staff to write and edit the news is also essential. No one gets it right all the time, and they never have, which is why VTDigger’s motto is both accurate and aspirational: “News in pursuit of truth.”

 As a veteran of the news business, it is rewarding for me to sense the dedication and excitement felt by the largely young staff gathering the news for VTDigger. It was exciting for us in the 1980s, as young news editors and reporters, to take the reins at the Rutland Herald and guide its news coverage. It helped bind Vermont together.

During those years, I sometimes asked myself whether I should go to work for a worthy cause — the environment, civil rights, human rights — or go to work in politics. Instead, I stayed with journalism and realized eventually that in doing so I was working on behalf of one of the worthiest causes of all — a free press. I was a practitioner of the First Amendment.

One can foresee the crises of the immediate future. For example, what are Vermont farmers going to do if the Trump administration’s mass deportation of foreign workers decimates the state’s farm labor force? 

That’s one question among many that readers will be asking and editors and reporters will be facing in the coming days. As VTDigger celebrates its 15th anniversary, dedicated practitioners of the First Amendment, at VTDigger and elsewhere, will be as important as ever. 

If you can, please join me in supporting VTDigger’s year-end drive with a donation today. 

Sincerely,

David Moats

Author, journalist and editorial page editor emeritus of the Rutland Herald

Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont journalism: then and now.