The Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) recognized VTDigger and its founder, Anne Galloway, with its “Chair’s Award” last month.
Executive director Jamie Stewart said the award celebrates VTDigger as an “independent news source covering stories vital to the community and the region.”
VTDigger provides a “reliable, independent, quality source of news,” Stewart said, describing such a news source as “one of the linchpins of a strong community. “
Candice White, a Waitsfield-based communications consultant and outgoing chair of the CVEDC, said she has followed VTDigger from its beginning 10 years ago. “Anne [Galloway] is super smart, super tenacious, and this award recognizes her for creating VTDigger and growing it into a fundamental news source,” White said.
“In these times it is vitally important to appreciate and recognize news sources that value fact-based reporting,” she said.
Stewart said the CVEDC sometimes has a different take on aspects of the publication’s coverage. “But that’s not the point at all,” he said. “It’s just so important for us all to have that independent source of news that we can agree or disagree with.”
The award, announced on Oct. 24, is one of several given annually by the CVEDC, which is one of 12 nonprofit economic development corporations in the state dedicated to attracting and retaining good paying jobs.
“We celebrate entrepreneurs who recognize opportunity and need and go out and build a better mousetrap,” Stewart said. During a time when many traditional newspapers have suffered “diminished staffing and content,” he said, the online publication “embraced a model in tune with where things are going.”
“From a small office in Montpelier, VTDigger has a big impact on a broad section of Vermont,” he said.
The award highlights VTDigger’s importance to the community during a vital fundraising campaign, during which the nonprofit news organization is raising $350,000 to support its operations.