The parent organization of VTDigger has a new leader — and several journalists at the nonprofit news outlet have new assignments.
At a meeting last week in Montpelier, the board of trustees of the Vermont Journalism Trust, which operates VTDigger, unanimously elected Gaye Symington as its next president. She succeeds John Reilly, who stepped down as president but remains a member of the board.
Symington represented Jericho, Underhill and Bolton in the Vermont House for 12 years, four of them as speaker — making her the second woman to lead the chamber. A seasoned nonprofit executive, she served as president of the High Meadows Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation and as development coordinator for the Intervale Center.
“As a reliable source of trusted news, VTDigger is essential to addressing critical issues and opportunities,” Symington said. “Digger’s reporters uncover facts, along with nuance. The team elevates individual voices and shares compelling stories so we can listen to each other, make decisions about what matters, and hold our leaders accountable. The work takes time and skill and, oh yes, it requires financial support!”
The journalism trust’s board also reelected two vice presidents: Rob Woolmington, a Manchester attorney and former Bennington Banner journalist; and Kathryn Stearns of Hanover, New Hampshire, a former editorial page editor of the Valley News and editorial page staffer for the Washington Post. Stearns has also agreed to serve as board secretary.
“VTDigger — and Vermont — is wildly fortunate to have Gaye leading our board,” said Sky Barsch, VTDigger’s CEO. “To keep local and statewide news alive is going to take innovation, dedication, and an unfailing commitment to fundraising. In her year on the board, Gaye has proven there’s no one better suited for this important role.”
Barsch said she was grateful that Reilly, who termed out as president, will remain on the board. “John has been VTDigger’s biggest cheerleader,” she said. “Through his board leadership, he’s helped inform the public why it’s absolutely essential to support journalism organizations such as VTDigger at a time in which local and statewide news organizations around the country are ceasing publication.”
VTDigger last week also promoted several members of its newsroom in a reorganization intended to better align its financial resources with coverage needs around the state. The reassignments will add to core beats, such as housing and criminal justice, by focusing more reporting firepower on flood recovery, equity, substance use disorder, broadband deployment and the social safety net, among other topics.
The news outlet also plans to revamp its opinion section to better reflect the diversity of voices in Vermont — demographically, geographically and politically — and further improve the quality of discourse. It has tapped digital editor Sam Gale Rosen to lead that process and oversee the section with a goal of implementing changes early next year. To accommodate this work, VTDigger will pause production of the Deeper Dig, the podcast Gale Rosen has hosted since joining the organization in March. (VTDigger will continue to produce the Vermont Conversation, hosted by David Goodman.)
Kristen Fountain, who joined VTDigger as its health care reporter last year, has been promoted to senior editor. In that role, she will oversee the news organization’s political and policy reporting, including its legislative and election coverage. Fountain joins a newsroom leadership team that includes editor-in-chief Paul Heintz, managing editor Maggie Cassidy, deputy managing editor Alicia Freese, and senior editors Diane Derby and Natalie Williams.
After more than two years covering Vermont politics, Sarah Mearhoff has been named VTDigger’s first Statehouse bureau chief. She’ll be joined in Montpelier by Report for America corps member Shaun Robinson, who takes on the role of state government and economy reporter, a beat that also includes broadband and transportation.
Peter D’Auria will serve as VTDigger’s human services and health care reporter, a position that will focus on the institutions intended to keep Vermonters healthy and safe — and support the most vulnerable. Southern Vermont reporter Ethan Weinstein will tackle statewide education issues and continue to cover the state’s corrections system alongside veteran criminal justice reporter Alan Keays.
VTDigger’s state policy team is rounded out by energy, environment and climate reporter Emma Cotton and housing and infrastructure reporter Carly Berlin — a Report for America corps member who also works for Vermont Public.
VTDigger continues to invest in regional reporting throughout the state. That team includes southern Vermont reporters Tiffany Tan, Kevin O’Connor and Weinstein; northwest reporters Auditi Guha and Patrick Crowley; and Northeast Kingdom reporter K. Fiegenbaum. In the wake of this summer’s devastating flooding, data reporter Erin Petenko is now also covering Washington County, with a focus on flood recovery.
Members of the regional reporting team have also been tasked with new areas of emphasis: Tan and Crowley will take a closer look at substance use disorder in Vermont; Guha will cover equity issues; and O’Connor will deliver the feature stories Vermonters have enjoyed for decades.
“We’re extraordinarily lucky to have such talented and experienced journalists at VTDigger,” said Heintz, the editor-in-chief. “With these new assignments, we’re positioned to bring greater depth to topics we know are important to Vermonters.”
