Community Listening
Dive into VTDigger’s summary of what we learned during the 2021 Northwestern Vermont Community Listening Project. The report details major themes, takeaways and next steps. To the hundreds of Vermonters who participated in this project, thank you for your participation– we heard you!
This project is closed.
What it is
A combination of surveying, focus groups, interviews and events aimed at better understanding the news needs of diverse communities in Northwestern Vermont.
Why it matters
Everyone needs relevant, reliable information to make important daily decisions and participate fully in our democracy. This is a project that will help influence the future of news coverage in Vermont with the goal of making public service journalism more accessible and reflective of community information needs.
Why we’re doing it
During Covid-19, more Vermont residents turned to VTDigger for critical news than ever before. We want to know how we can best serve our new audience moving forward. At the same time, VTDigger acknowledges the need to provide more meaningful coverage for Vermonters with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Community listening is a strategy to help us become more responsive to the readers we currently serve, and those whose trust we have yet to earn.
Surveys
Anyone is invited to take our online survey. Our goal is to gather as many responses as possible from people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences in Vermont.
Interviews
Our listening team will conduct one-on-one interviews with an array of stakeholders at the grasstops and grassroots levels.
Focus groups
Small focus groups with selected individuals recruited by community ambassadors will help us dig deeper into themes that emerge from interviews and surveys.
Gatherings
While not a keystone element of the project, some community events will engage a broader audience in a fun and inviting setting.
Community ambassadors
A small group of people who are deeply networked with communities in Northwestern Vermont (Franklin, Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties) will be engaged as community ambassadors. The goal of these paid, part-time positions is to deepen the reach of listening activities with an eye toward equity, using the expertise of trusted, knowledgeable community members.
Who we’re looking for
Chittenden, Grand Isle or Franklin County residents with deep ties to the local community.
Good listeners who are respectful, caring and curious.
English fluency; proficiency in other languages a plus.
Experience with neighborhood community building and/or community organizing is a plus.
We’re especially interested in people who are networked with Black/African American, Latinx/Spanish-speaking, Indigenous/Native American, and/or immigrant communities.
What you’ll do
Reach out to people you know in whatever way is best for them (phone call, text message, email, social media).
Take notes and share what you learn with our listening team
Make introductions, share surveys and recruit folks to participate in focus groups.
Share ideas and feedback about who we need to hear from and what we should ask.
Earn $20 per hour. Average commitment 5 hours per week or less for approximately 6 weeks during September-October, 2021.
Questions about this project? Please contact us.
