{"id":584018,"date":"2024-06-21T17:39:24","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T21:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/?page_id=584018"},"modified":"2024-12-19T10:57:47","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T15:57:47","slug":"2023-annual-report","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2023-annual-report\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Annual Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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2023 Annual Report<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Jump to:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A note from our CEO<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Coverage areas<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
By the numbers<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Following the floods<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Energy & Environment<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Housing<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Government & Politics<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Health Care<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Education<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Public Safety & Accountability<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Life & Culture<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Awards<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Community & Events<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Financials<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Workforce demographics<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Thank yous<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A Note From Our CEO<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Dear Readers and Supporters,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I reflect on my first year serving as CEO of VTDigger, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility. It has been a year of immense transition and resilience, characterized by challenges and successes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am honored to present our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 2023, a testament to the excellent journalism we are producing and its community impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our journey this year was marked by a significant event: the historic flooding of July 2023. This natural disaster tested not only our organization\u2019s capacity \u2014 we were in all corners of the state, working around the clock to keep Vermonters safe \u2014 but also our phyiscal structures. Our offices in Montpelier were unusable for months, ultimately forcing us to find new space and coordinate a move from offices we had occupied for many years. As an organization that heavily relies on mailed donations, we scrambled as the Montpelier Post Office shuttered and mail was delayed and difficult to retrieve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During those weeks of the flooding and its aftermath, I witnessed this organization in its element: Journalists doing what journalists were born to do, with a keen eye on how the flooding severely impacted some of our most vulnerable neighbors, all while contextualizing the factors that  led to the devastation, and what the future, living in a changing climate, will entail. During that period, our revenue and operations team kept the trains running on time \u2014 the stuff that\u2019s often overlooked, such as payroll processing and applying for emergency funding, that\u2019s absolutely essential to function. We quickly stood up a benefit merchandise fundraiser to contribute to the Vermont Community Foundation\u2019s Flood Response & Recovery Fund, and to help pay for the added costs it took to cover the flooding around the clock and across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We heard from many of you that we were the news organization that tied the state together, that reporting locally and sharing what we learned statewide (and nationally) helped those who were not affected understand the magnitude of the challenges facing those who were. Our reporting inspired compassion, helped make the case for federal recovery funding, and spurred people to make generous and impactful donations to recovery efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there was more to 2023 than flooding. We launched a new website and logo in June (most of you loved it, some of you hated it \u2014 we accept your opinions!), won a bunch of awards, threw a big shindig to honor our visionary founder, Anne Galloway, and were joined by two new employees: Sam Gale Rosen and Jimmy Nesbitt. We grew our Community News Sharing Project<\/a> partners to 13. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We welcomed a new president to lead the Vermont Journalism Trust Board of Trustees \u2014 Gaye Symington, a Jericho resident who formerly served as the speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives \u2014 and welcomed new board members Emily Bernard and Breana Lai Killeen. We\u2019re deeply grateful to John Reilly for serving as previous president. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite our success, it was a difficult year for independent media, and VTDigger was not immune from financial pressures. I see journalism organizations around the country struggling to make their businesses work at a time when misinformation and disinformation is on the rise. I’m confident, though, that the more we talk about what it takes to have a robust Vermont press \u2014 which largely has to do with financial support from our readers \u2014  the better chance we’ll have at maintaining and strengthening it. A shared set of facts, a \u201cpaper of record,\u201d a place to learn about your neighbors, and a service that holds public officials to account and follows the money \u2014 these are requirements to protect our democracy and prevent further societal fractures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, I\u2019m excited about the role that VTDigger will continue to play in strengthening our democracy and weaving together our civic fabric, especially during an election year. We\u2019re asking everyone to join in making this mission possible; we truly need everyone who relies on VTDigger to help us succeed. This year marks our 15th anniversary, and only with your help will we be here for 15 more years \u2014 and continue to cover the key issues facing Vermont today, such as housing insecurity, a warmer and wetter climate, economic disparities and changing demographics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I extend my deepest gratitude to our dedicated team who welcomed me this year, to our incredible board members who are the epitome of \u201ctime, treasure, and talent,\u201d our loyal and generous supporters, and our readers. Onward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sky Barsch<\/strong>
CEO, VTDigger<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A crew from Colchester Technical Rescue takes a boat down flooded Main Street in Montpelier on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Photo by Glenn Russell\/VTDigger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The mission of the Vermont Journalism Trust is to produce rigorous journalism that explains complex issues, promotes public accountability and fosters democratic and civic engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coverage Areas<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Topics and sections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n