Jane Mayer, the chief Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, has joined the Vermont Journalism Trust’s board of directors. The nonprofit organization, which operates VTDigger, elected her to its board on Dec. 3.
Mayer has worked as a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1995, cultivating a reputation as one of Washington’s finest investigative reporters. In recent years she has authored groundbreaking work on campaign finance, sexual misconduct, drone policy and torture. Mayer previously covered business and international affairs for the Wall Street Journal and, in 1984, became its first female White House correspondent.
She has written four best-selling books, including, most recently, “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right.” Two other books she authored were finalists for the National Book Award: “The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals” and, with Jill Abramson, “Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas.”
Mayer has deep ties to Vermont. Her family has for generations owned property and, at times, lived in southern Vermont. Mayer’s first job was as a cub reporter for the Weathersfield Weekly. She later worked for the Ludlow-based Black River Tribune, which had been founded by college friends, and then for the Rutland Herald. In 2019, Middlebury College awarded Mayer an honorary doctorate.
“I’m joining the board of VTDigger because it combines two things I care hugely about: Vermont and journalism,” Mayer said. “I believe the state’s uniquely enlightened political environment is dependent on its well-informed public, and with the traditional sources of news under growing financial strain, there’s an urgent need to keep supplying accurate, timely and ambitious local and state news coverage. I’d like to do whatever I can to help VTDigger provide that essential public service. So I am honored and excited to join its distinguished board.”
John Reilly, president of the Vermont Journalism Trust’s board, said he was pleased to welcome Mayer to the organization.
“Jane Mayer is considered by many to be the preeminent political investigative reporter of our time. She also cares deeply about Vermont, the state where she began her reporting career,” Reilly said. “The board and organization will benefit greatly from her knowledge, wisdom, insight and reputation as we seek to fulfill our mission, not only to keep readers informed, provide them a voice and hold leaders to account, but also to participate in the growing national conversation about the decline of newspapers, the threat that represents to democracy, and what we collectively can do about it.”
