VTDigger

VTDigger is an investigative online newspaper that reports on the state of Vermont in the United States.[1] Founded in September 2009 by Anne Galloway, the newspaper has grown to have an average monthly audience of 730,000.[2]

VTDigger
FormatDigital
Owner(s)Vermont Journalism Trust, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
Founder(s)Anne Galloway
Editor-in-chiefPaul Heintz
FoundedSeptember 2009 (2009-09)
Headquarters26 State Street, Suite 8
Montpelier, VT 05602
 United States
Circulation730,000 (as of 2023)
Websitevtdigger.org

The newspaper has received substantial public support from government agencies and other sources, including over $1.73 million in 2016, $1.37 million in 2017, and $941,243 in 2018 (representing 75.85% of total revenue in 2018).

History

The VTDigger was founded in September 2009 by Anne Galloway, with a focus on the politics, economy, environment, education, culture, and public policy of Vermont.

In 2010, VTDigger merged with the nonprofit Vermont Journalism Trust. As part of the Trust, a substantial portion of support comes from the government and the general public, including sponsors, gifts, and organization membership.[3] VTDigger made only $21,816 from advertising revenue in 2018.

During her tenure as executive director, Anne Galloway was nominated for the "Vermonter of the Year Award" by The Burlington Free Press in 2016.[4] In 2018, she reported total compensation of $64,519 from VTDigger.[5] In May 2022, Galloway stepped down and assumed the role of editor-at-large.[6]

The newspaper receives support from the American Journalism Project.[7]

Mentions

The Institute for Nonprofit News and the Single Subject News Project at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy published a case study about VTDigger titled "VTDigger: A Rising Star in Nonprofit News," which details the birth and rise of VTDigger and the role of Anne Galloway in this effort. In May 2018, according to the Institute for Nonprofit News, the VTDigger was averaging 300,000 monthly users with "a staff of 19 full-time employees, and an annual budget over $1.5 million".[3]

VTDigger is often referenced in the Burlington Free Press for breaking stories, such as the report of the testimony of a former Burlington College trustee before a federal grand jury about the involvement of Senator Bernie Sanders' wife, Dr. Jane Sanders, in the sale of property while she was president of Burlington College. The Burlington Free Press credited VTDigger for breaking the news of the testimony.[8] VTDigger's coverage was also picked up in newspapers across the country.[9]

A 2010 Burlington Free Press article about the ACLU's attempt to get information from a Vermont town about an alleged racial profiling incident suggests that accepting the help of the ACLU to investigate the incident may have placed the VTDigger in a conflict of interest with journalistic objectivity.[10] The relationship between the VTDigger and ACLU on this case is mentioned again in a Burlington Free Press article about the ACLU's request to the VT Supreme Court to release the documents related to the incident.[11]

References
  1. "VTDigger.org - MondoTimes.com". Mondo Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  2. "About". VTDigger. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  3. "VTDigger: A Rising Star In Nonprofit News". Shorenstein Center. May 21, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  4. "Opinion". The Burlington Free Press. December 18, 2016. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  5. "VERMONT JOURNALISM TRUST". ProPublica. August 15, 2019. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  6. Brouwer, Derek. "VTDigger Founder Anne Galloway Steps Down". Seven Days. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  7. "VTDigger". American Journalism Project. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  8. Murray, Elizabeth (January 8, 2018). "Burlington College investigation active in fall". The Burlington Free Press. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  9. "Feds looking into Bernie Sanders' wife over land deal - Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  10. "ACLU: Group pursues alleged racial profiling". The Burlington Free Press. August 3, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  11. "Supreme Court hears plea for release of police records". The Burlington Free Press. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
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