Telegraph among 16 Vermont news outlets honored with inaugural Civic Journalism grant

©2025 Telegraph Publishing LLC 

MONTPELIER

The Chester Telegraph is among 16 Vermont news organizations to be 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 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.

“In order 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,” Secretary Copeland Hanzas said. “An investment in Vermont’s local and regional news is an investment in an informed, connected and engaged citizenry.”

The awards were envisioned by Sen. Andrew Perchlik, who secured $50,000 in funding for the program in the state’s fiscal 2026 budget. The Vermont Community Foundation, through its Press Forward Vermont chapter, then matched the state funding with another $50,000.

“I am so excited to see these civic journalism awards help to strengthen our civic fabric,” Perchlik said. “The growing attention paid to the critical value of local, fact-based journalism gives me hope for our democracy.”

“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 could be employed by award nominees. Paul Heintz, a senior adviser to the Center for Community News, convened the selection panel.

Cynthia Prairie, editor and publisher of The Chester Telegraph, said she is grateful to Sen. Perchlik, Secretary Copeland Hanzas, the state of Vermont, the Vermont Community Foundation and Press Forward and Paul Heintz of the Center for Community News  for the award.

“This funding — coupled with the generous gifts from our readers this past summer and our loyal advertisers year-round — will help us maintain the level of reporting that our communities have been relying on for the past 13 years,” Prairie said.  “I also thank those who wrote letters to the panel in support of our work. Your support is much appreciated.”

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 and Deerfield Valley News, Brattleboro
• Waterbury Roundabout, Waterbury
• 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, N.H.
• Valley Reporter, Waitsfield
• Vermont Community Newspaper Group, (Stowe Reporter, News & Citizen, The Other Paper, The Citizen, Shelburne News), Stowe
• 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.

“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.