National non-profit scoops up VT newspaper group

By Guy Page on September 4, 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

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By Alex Nuti-de Biasi, the Journal-Opinion

The National Trust for Local News will purchase the five weekly newspapers published by the Vermont Community Newspaper Group. The papers covered are: The Stowe Reporter and News & Citizen (covering greater Lamoille County), The Other Paper (covering South Burlington), The Citizen (covering Charlotte/Hinesburg), and Shelburne News. It’s the first presence in Vermont for the national organization which has a footprint in Colorado, Georgia, and Maine.

“Establishing a sustainable future for our community newspapers has been our priority for several years,” the VTCNG owners said in a statement. “By selling these publications to the National Trust, not only can they survive but there will be investment in expanding coverage to thrive in a climate where local news is so important and increasingly difficult to find.”

VTCNG previously published the Waterbury Record before it folded several years ago.

“The National Trust for Local News was founded in 2021 in an effort to prevent the creation of ‘news deserts’ that result from the closure of community newspapers,” reported Seven Days. “The organization has suffered its own growing pains. After rapid expansion of its operations, it sold off 21 Colorado newspapers and reduced print distribution and laid off staff at its Maine newspapers last year.”

But the organization told the Burlington weekly that its operations have since stabilized.