2020 Annual Report
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.
2020 Impact Highlights
Kiah Morris
How the Kiah Morris case gripped Vermont, but hasn’t changed anything
VTDigger and VPR have teamed up to tell the full story about what drove Vermont’s only black woman lawmaker out of office, and how those involved are reckoning with the harsh realities it exposed.
Report says Bennington Police display a ‘warrior mentality,’ hurting trust
The International Association of Chiefs of Police started its review of the policies and procedures of the department last summer, and presented its finding Monday night.
Human Rights Commission report finds Bennington police discriminated against Kiah Morris, James Lawton
The preliminary report concludes that the Police Department ‘violated Vermont’s Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act’ when officers discriminated against Morris on the basis of her race.
Covid-19 Coverage
When the pandemic hit Vermont, VTDigger’s newsroom worked around the clock to develop vital tools to help readers keep up with the rapidly changing situation. Our readership quadrupled in spring of 2020 as Vermonters sought accurate information to guide them during this unprecedented crisis.
Early on in Vermont’s Covid-19 outbreak, VTDigger pressured the state to release county by county and hospitalization data. In addition, we urged the Scott administration to hold more public briefings. The governor’s office went from a weekly presser to three times a week.
VTDigger investigated a University of Vermont basketball game in March 2020 that was a major Covid-19 spreading event resulting in at least 20 confirmed cases, 34 suspected cases and 3 deaths.
The investigation required surveys, rigorous fact checking and interviews with game attendees. Each time we published an update to the story, we’d reach more people who had attended the game and they would share more information. The state health commissioner initially said this basketball game wasn’t a spreading event, then later admitted it was.
VTDigger has received national recognition from the NYTimes, LION Publishers, NENPA and in the National Congressional Record for its role in publishing hundreds of factual reports that supported Vermont’s response to Covid-19.
Slate Ridge
Militia training site terrifies neighbors in West Pawlet
Slate Ridge training center devotees have harassed neighbors, posted photos of weapons stockpiles and in practice sessions have shot up vehicles.
Scott on Slate Ridge response: ‘What would you suppose we should do?’
The governor blamed a perceived lack of action on a lack of evidence of criminality, challenging reporters to provide additional information that could support…
State’s response to Slate Ridge frustrates locals who, for years, have asked for help
Neighbors say they feel unheard. Vermont officials say they’re following protocol. What is the state’s role?
VT All Payer Health Care System
State to reboot all-payer model in response to warning from feds
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says the state’s reform program hasn’t met targets two years in a row. The Scott administration says all-payer needs a course correction.
Auditor questions oversight of OneCare
State Auditor Doug Hoffer criticized the health care organization’s lack of transparency, lack of quality metrics and administrative costs in a 70-page report released Tuesday.
CityPlace Development
The Pits: CityPlace still trying to dig out of a hole
After years of delays, how will one of Burlington’s most ambitious development projects move forward? And why did things go so wrong? It depends on who you ask.
Abuse at Kurn Hattin School for Children
‘Culture of abuse’ alleged at Kurn Hattin over 80 years
More than 60 children from troubled homes were abused from the 1940s through 2019, according to victims and state records. The residential school covered up sexual, physical and psychological abuse perpetrated by adults and children, victims say.
Police Accountability
Tarnished Badge: Dishonesty and ethical issues dog dozens of Vermont police officers
Lists, letters and emails obtained through public records requests show gaps in a system for finding allegations against law enforcement members. The allegations have raised issues about lying, cheating and stealing. In some cases, officers were fired.
2020 Election Coverage
Our 2020 Voter Guide was used by roughly 164,000 people– more than three times the number that used the guide in 2018. The guide included bios for more than 400 House, Senate and statewide candidates in the primary and general races, a searchable campaign finance database, and a roll call vote database to help Vermonters educate themselves on how candidates voted in the past on important issues. VTDigger’s newsroom reported closely on Vermont’s primary and general elections despite the limitations of Covid-19. In addition to publishing more than 240 stories on the November election cycle, we also produced:
- A 24/7 liveblog with up-to-the-minute election updates
- Live debates with major party candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
- A how-to-vote guide and video focusing on how to make sure your vote is counted via mail-in ballots which were new to many voters this year
I value and trust VTDigger’s constant care and responsiveness to all that is happening in the state.”
Reader
Awards and Recognition in 2020
The New York Times
Commended for building strong social trust which has helped Vermont meet the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic with relative success. Read more
The New England Newspaper and Press Association
Eleven top honors in the annual New England Better Newspaper Competition, including first place for General Excellence, Digital Strategy Excellence, Local Election Coverage and Multimedia Coverage for News Services and Online News Sites. Read more
The Boston Globe
Mark Shanahan wrote a feature about VTDigger as a model news organization for the front page of the Boston Globe. Read more
LION Publishers
Four national journalism awards, including Best Coronavirus Coverage. Read more
United States Congressional Record
Vermont State Senator Patrick Leahy honored VTDigger in the nation’s Congressional Record for our outstanding Covid coverage. Read more
Vermont was not as hard-hit by COVID-19 as other New England states, and VT Digger could make a case that its journalism and reader-centric and solutions-oriented engagement work on the pandemic was part of the reason residents and public officials were better prepared.
NENPA judge’s comments on VTDigger’s second place award for Best Coverage of Coronavirus, New England Better Newspaper Competition
Community and Events
Typically, VTDigger seeks to build and foster community connections around issues of importance by hosting live public events. During Covid-19, large in-person gatherings were out of the question, so we pivoted to virtual events aimed at delivering lifesaving information and civic education during a critical election year.
Covid FAQ Live Event Series
In response to the immense volume of reader questions about ever-changing Covid-19 concerns, VTDigger launched Covid FAQ Live. The FAQ Live event series was a space for community members to get answers to their most pressing questions directly from experts. Readers submitted their questions using an online form or by phone. VTDigger hosted FAQ Live events on topics including Covid holiday planning, anticipating a Covid vaccine, food insecurity, ski season during the pandemic and the vaccine rollout.
Candidate Debates
VTDigger hosted two statewide debates for the top candidates running for Vermont’s highest elected offices: Governor and Lt. Governor. While the audience joined virtually, candidates were able to debate policy in-person in a socially distanced setting. In a campaign year like no other, the VTDigger debates were the first time some of these candidates met in person.
Member Drives
VTDigger members accomplished incredible acts of service for their communities as well as supporting our vital local reporting during Covid-19. Members sent 3,000 Vermont Glove cloth masks to twelve local hospitals in grave need as part of the Spring Member Drive in April, 2020. Hospitals used the masks to distribute to patients at a time when supplies were incredibly scarce.
At the end of the year, as federal funding for food aid programs charged toward a cliff and 1 in 4 Vermonters was experiencing food insecurity, VTDigger members sent 40,000 meals to the Vermont Foodbank.
Financials
VTDigger 2020 Revenue
Grants | $466,534
Underwriting | $369,456
Individual Contributions | $1,461,863
News Revenue | $135,311
Other | $5,790
Total Revenue | $2,438,954
VTDigger 2020 Expenses
Program | $1,558,328
General & Administrative | $142,584
Fundraising | $478,362
Total Expenses | $2,179,274
Thank you!
2020 Donor List | 2020 Underwriters
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