Jo Easton is senior director of journalism sustainability and partnerships at the Bangor Daily News.
On the surface, an impact report is a rather self-congratulatory exercise. We see it as something more meaningful — a story about a relationship between local reporters and the public.
We’re proud of everything you’ll read in this year’s report, and we’re inspired by the good that comes when we place our journalism in your hands.
Over the last few years, we’ve become more intentional about recognizing the effects of our work in the world, and to celebrate when we see it, too. When legislators draw on our reporting while debating policy the impact is hard to miss. We’ve also learned how to notice more subtle examples — like when we hear from a resident that our reporting inspired them to come to a city council meeting and speak up on an issue, ask their doctor about a blood test they hadn’t known about, or help a neighbor facing a challenging time.
All of those stories add up to something real. Forgive the metaphor — I’m known to stretch them — but my mind goes to how journalists get to be the eyes and ears by reporting, community members and leaders get to be the hands by taking action, and donors and subscribers get to be the heart by caring enough to support and strengthen that pairing.
A gift this season celebrates how essential local journalism is to communities across Maine. The report highlights how local reporting empowers Mainers to advocate for safety, hold officials accountable, help their neighbors in times of need (such as families affected by last week’s fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont), and find solutions to regional challenges. We also share some of the tools of journalism, such as how you can also help hold public officials accountable with public records requests, explore how we connect readers to resources, and highlight the donors and funders who stand with us in our mission.
Help us raise $60,000 this spring with a tax-deductible gift that will sustain the work of BDN journalists.
All contributions from BDN readers go into a fund managed by our fiscal sponsor, Eastern Maine Development Corporation. The Fund for BDN Reporting helps cover the costs of our journalism, like reporter salaries, public records fees, and travel to report stories — so we can keep bringing you the reporting that matters to Maine.
When you invest in the mission of local journalism, you show up for your community. You protect the public’s right to know. You help public servants draw on facts as they build policy – not provided by lobbyists, but by journalists working for the people of Maine. Every year this movement grows, and we cannot do it without you.
Ways to give
- At donate.bangordailynews.com
- Directly to EMDC via a donor-advised fund or charitable account
- By making a check out to: Eastern Maine Development Corporation, with memo: “Fund for BDN Reporting” and mailing it to Bangor Daily News – Community donations at 1 Merchants Plaza, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402.
To learn more, visit bangordailynews.com/support or email us at [email protected].
