Introduction to Vermont News Media
Vermont is a state in the Northeastern United States, which shares its borders with Massachusetts, New York and New Hampshire. In the north, Vermont shares its border with the Canadian province of Quebec. The human population in Vermont is second-least among all the states of the US.
History of Vermont Newspapers
Vermont Gazette, which is popularly known as the Green Mountain Post Boy, is the state’s first newspaper. “Pliant as Reeds, where Streams of Freedom glide; firm as the Hills, to stem Oppression’s Tide,” reads the motto of the Green Mountain Post Boy, which started publishing in 1781.
Vermont Gazette couldn’t survive for more than two years and had to close its operations in 1783. However, the state’s first paper paved the way for The Vermont Journal, which was published until 1965 despite many lengthy interruptions. “Knowledge from distant climes,” read the masthead of The Vermont Journal.
As many as 150 weekly newspapers had been started in Vermont by 1850.
Current State of Newspapers in Vermont
Burlington Free Press is the highest circulated newspaper in Vermont. Owned by American media giant Gannett, Burlington Free Press was started as a weekly newspaper on June 15, 1827. In 1848 the newspaper started publishing daily. Today, the newspaper is available in hard copy as well as online for the convenience of the readers.
Besides local and national news, Burlington Free Press produces videos, hosts live streams and offers a digital-only subscription of the paper.
Seven Days, The Rutland Herald, Vermont News Guide, The World, Mountain Times, The Caledonian-Record, Lakes Region Free Press, The Vermont Eagle and Addison County Independent are among other popular Vermont newspapers currently in circulation.
If you are looking for exclusive information on US newspapers, we suggest you visit the articles written by our US media experts.
VTDigger
VTDigger is an online news portal that was established in 2009 by Anne Galloway. Based out of Vermont, VTDigger is an investigative journalism platform covering news & updates on politics, businesses, events, and public policy of Vermont. The paper keeps a close eye on governmental activities through rigorous journalism to keep the government accountable to the public.
The online portal is currently published by a non-profit organization and a major share of its support comes from governmental units, public contributions, advertisements, gifts, & membership.
What do they publish?
- An online news portal with dedicated sections for business, criminal justice, education, energy & environment, health care, politics, people & places, obituaries, data projects, headlines, and more.
As os 2018, VTDigger had around 300,000 unique visitors on their webpages per month.
Apart from the online news portal, VTDigger also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. Their social media handles are regularly updated with the latest news & updates.
WCAX.com
WCAX.com is an online news website and the official website of the WCAX TV, a CBS-affiliated television station licensed in Vermont serving Northern Vermont’s Champlain Valley and Upstate New York’s North Country, including Plattsburgh.
History of WCAX
The channel was established by Charles P. Hasbrook (a former publisher) and it first went on air on September 26, 1954. WCAX TV grew from a local newspaper & when they first began airing newscasts in 1997, they were primarily focused on reporting local news from Vermont.
They began the news operations with 1 hour of newscasts on weekdays which was over the years increased to a full two-hour broadcast in 1997. Over the years the channel has undergone a series of mergers & acquisitions until it was acquired by grey television in 2017.
What do they publish?
Apart from the daily 2-hour newscast, WCAX also publishes an online news portal. There are dedicated sections on the website for weather updates, news, TV Livestream, sports, community calendar, live events, political updates, top headlines, and more.
Other than a strong presence on the web, WCAX also has an active presence on Facebook & Twitter. These social media handles are frequently updated with the latest news & updates.
Burlington Free Press
Burlington Free Press is a daily newspaper in Vermont owned by Gannet. The paper was established in the year 1827 and has over the years grown to become the largest daily newspaper in Vermont. It first hit the newsstands as a weekly newspaper and was converted to a daily newspaper in 1848.
Apart from the daily printed edition, Burlington Free Press also publishes an online news website. The website covers all local news & updates from Vermont and has dedicated sections for news, sports, Biz, VT life, opinion, obituaries, and more.
Burlington Free Press also publishes an e-edition of the paper, that can only be accessed by paid subscribers from the website.
Burlington Free Press Android App
Seven Days
Seven Days is an alternative weekly newspaper in Vermont published by Da Capo Publishing, Inc. Established in the year 1955 the paper currently caters to the residents in Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, and Plattsburgh, New York.
Both the printed edition of the paper and its online edition is primarily focused on covering news & updates on state and local politics, Vermont organizations and more.
The Caledonian Record
The Caledonian Record is a daily newspaper in Vermont catering to the residents in Caledonia County and the western portion of Coos County, New Hampshire. Established in the year 1837, the paper mainly covers local news & updates from the communities in three counties in Vermont & two in New Hampshire.
Other than the printed edition of the paper, The Caledonian Record also publishes an e-edition of the paper which can only be accessed by paid subscribers.
Northfield News
Northfield News is a weekly newspaper serving the residents of Northfield, Roxbury and Williamstown, Vermont. Established in 1878, the paper is primarily focussed on reporting local news & updates. Northfield News also publishes an online news website.
Barre Montpelier Times Argus
Barre Montpelier Times Argus is a daily newspaper in Vermont owned by the Sample News Group. Established in 1987, the paper currently covers local news, state government, sports news, more. Other than the printed edition of the paper, Barre Montpelier Times Argus also publishes an online news website.
Barre Montpelier Times Argus Online
Brattleboro Reformer
Brattleboro Reformer is a daily newspaper in Vermont owned by the New England Newspapers Inc. Established in 1876 as a weekly newspaper, Brattleboro Reformer has over the years grown to become the third-largest newspaper in Vermont in terms of circulation. The paper is mainly circulated in Windham County and the surrounding areas.
Brattleboro Reformer Android App
The Sun
The Sun is a community newspaper in Vermont owned by Denton Publications. Established in the year 1948 by William Denton, it is a prominent community newspaper in Vermont. Apart from the printed edition of the paper, they also publish an online news website with sections for community news, business & tourism, opinion, sports, briefs, and more.
Morrisville News and Citizen
Morrisville News and Citizen is a weekly newspaper in Vermont. Established in 1881, the paper is currently owned by Vermont Community Newspaper Group and serves the residents of Lamoille County — the towns and villages of Morristown and Morrisville, Cambridge, Jeffersonville, Belvidere, Waterville, Johnson, Eden, Elmore, Hyde Park and Wolcott, plus Greensboro, Craftsbury and Hardwick.
Other than Morrisville News and Citizen, Vermont Community Newspaper Group also publishes four other newspapers viz;
- The Other Paper
- Shelburne News
- Stowe Reporter
- The Citizen
Morrisville News and Citizen Online
Bennington Banner
Bennington Banner is a daily newspaper in Vermont owned by the New England Newspapers Inc. Established in the year 1842, the paper is distributed throughout Southwestern Vermont and eastern New York. Both the printed & online edition of the paper covers all facets of news & updates from Bennington and surroundings.
The Bennington Banner Android App
Rutland Herald
Rutland Herald is a daily newspaper in Vermont serving its southern regions. Established in 1794, today the paper is the second-largest daily newspaper in the state. Both the printed edition & online edition of the paper covers local news, sports, opinion, and more.
The Mountain Times
The Mountain Times is a free weekly newspaper in Vermont serving the Rutland and Windsor counties. Other than the printed edition of the paper The Mountain Times also hosts an online news website and has an active social media presence.
Middlebury Campus
Middlebury Campus is a student-run weekly newspaper published by Middlebury college in Vermont. The paper was established in 1905 and has since been covering news & updates from inside the campus. Middlebury Campus also has an active presence on the web & social media.
Eagle Times
Eagle Times is a daily newspaper in New Hampshire, serving the resident of Connecticut River Valley in New Hampshire and Vermont. Established in 1970, the paper is currently owned by Sample News Group and focuses on reporting local news & updates, and news on local governmental activities.
St. Albans Messenger
St. Albans Messenger is a daily newspaper in Vermont owned by O’Rourke Media Group. The paper was established in 1833 and it is currently circulated among the residents of Franklin County and Northwestern Vermont. Apart from the printed edition of the newspaper, the paper also publishes an online news website and has an active presence on social media.
Marlboro College News
Marlboro College News is a newspaper published by the students of Marlboro College in Marlboro, Vermont.
Herald of Randolph
Herald of Randolph is a daily newspaper in Vermont serving the sixteen communities in Vermont’s Upper Valley region. Apart from the daily printed edition of the paper, they also publish an online news website and has an active social media presence.
Manchester Newspaper
Manchester Newspapers, known today as the Manchester Media is a prominent publisher of community newspapers in Washington County, New York and Rutland County, Vermont. They publish the following community newspapers
- The Whitehall Times
- The Granville Sentinel
- The North Country Free Press
- Lakes Region Free Press
Vermont Sports
As the name suggests, Vermont Sports is a monthly sports magazine established in 1990 covering news & updates about the sporting events in Northern New England. Other than the monthly printed edition of the magazine, Vermont Sports also publishes an e-edition of the magazine which the readers can access for free.
Addison County Independent
Addison County Independent is a biweekly newspaper published in Vermont. The paper was established in 1946 as the Addison Independent and was later renamed to Addison County Independent. Other than the printed edition of the paper, Addison County Independent also publishes an online news website.
While most contents on the website are available to the users for free, there are some contents exclusive to paid subscribers.
Addison County Independent Online
Bradford Journal-Opinion
Bradford Journal-Opinion is a weekly newspaper published in Vermont. Established in 1978, the paper currently serves the residents of Orange County in Vermont.
Bradford Journal Opinion Online
Conclusion
The list of Vermont newspapers and news websites mentioned in the article are not everything. Rather, they are the top among the 110 newspapers and news websites that are published in Vermont.
Among the list of Vermont newspapers, Burlington Free Press with a circulation of 20,166 daily and 27,830 on Sundays (as of 2016) is the largest newspaper in Vermont. Similarly, Addison County Independent, a paper serving the 23 towns of Addison County is the smallest newspaper in circulation.
Like the other states in the US, the newspaper industry in Vermont is struggling with dwindling circulation and declining revenue from advertisements. While some newspapers were forced to merge with their competitors for survival, the lesser were forced to either wind up their operations or cut down their print schedule.
For instance, the community newspaper Waterbury Record ceased to print its community newspaper in March 2020, the newspaper Seven Days which was mainly dependent on revenue from advertisements had to lay-off 15% of its employees to stay afloat.
The condition of other newspapers in Vermont is no different from Waterbury Record and Seven Days as they are all struggling to keep their business afloat.
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