Member-supported journalism. Informing and engaging Vermont.
VTDigger is a nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news organization covering issues of statewide importance in Vermont. It is a project of the Vermont Journalism Trust, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
News in pursuit of truth
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. Our values are excellence, integrity, inclusion, experimentation and collaboration. Visit our values page to read more.
Why transparency matters
VTDigger is a nonpartisan, mission-driven news organization that serves Vermont. It is owned and governed by its nonprofit owner, the Vermont Journalism Trust. We share how we operate and how we’re funded because trust in journalism begins with transparency.
Who owns VTDigger?
VTDigger is owned by the nonprofit Vermont Journalism Trust, which is governed by a board of 16 volunteer board members, plus the CEO, who serves as an ex-officio member. It was founded by Anne Galloway in 2009 as a one-woman newsroom. Today, around 30 people are employed by VTDigger (this fluctuates from time to time), about two dozen journalists and eight operations, fundraising, and technology staff members. We also partner with freelance writers and other news organizations to bring you the most comprehensive statewide coverage possible.
Meet the team
VTDigger is led by Chief Executive Officer Sky Barsch and Editor-in-Chief, Geeta Anand. Check out our team page for a full staff list and bios.
VTDigger’s leadership and structure
The CEO (Sky Barsch) is in charge of the operations of VTDigger, consistent with the organization’s values and strategic plan. The CEO’s role includes fundraising, financial management, policy development and compliance with nonprofit laws and high standards of journalistic ethics. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO works closely with the Editor-in-Chief to determine staffing, budget decisions, and broad editorial policies. She serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.
The Editor-in-Chief (Geeta Anand) oversees the day-to-day operations of VTDigger’s newsroom. Reporting to the CEO, the Editor-in-Chief sets the editorial vision and determines how best to cover the most important stories across Vermont each day, while also planning for in-depth, long-term investigations. Working closely with editors, reporters, and photographers, the Editor-in-Chief guides decisions about which tips to pursue, which sources to approach, and how to ensure accuracy, fairness and ethical reporting at every step.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall strategic plan and the long-term financial health of VTDigger. The Board does not influence or review news stories before publication, and it does not determine what VTDigger covers or how stories are reported. Board members volunteer their time and voluntarily make financial contributions to fund VTDigger’s operations. Vermont Journalism Trust bylaws do not require Board financial contributions, however, we are proud that 100% of our board members give to support VTDigger. Meet our full board.
Our journalists make decisions independently. Donors, sponsors, and board members have no say in what we cover, how we cover it, or when stories are published.
How we’re funded
Editorial independence and nonpartisanship is of the utmost importance to VTDigger. To preserve our independence, we rely on a variety of funding sources — because the more diverse our funding, the less risk we face of being beholden to any single entity.
Roughly two-thirds of VTDigger’s funding comes from voluntary reader donations. About one-sixth comes from advertising and corporate sponsorships, and another one-sixth from grants (grants vary from year to year). The remaining portion comes from merchandise sales, republishing revenue, and miscellaneous sources such as interest income. In other words, if readers didn’t donate, VTDigger would not exist — so thank you to our readers who contribute.
Our donors, sponsors, and funders do not have any influence over editorial decisions and do not see stories before publication. We do not engage in “pay-to-play.”
As a nonprofit organization, every dollar we raise goes back into VTDigger’s sustainability. We do not send profits off to corporate headquarters. The amount of news we are able to produce is directly tied to how much our readers support us financially. The more readers contribute, the more and better quality journalism we are able to produce.
Why does VTDigger have staff members who aren’t journalists?
Producing high-quality journalism that reliably reaches readers requires much more than just reporters and editors. Like any newsroom, VTDigger relies on skilled professionals behind the scenes who make our journalism possible, sustainable, and accessible to readers across Vermont.
As a nonprofit organization, VTDigger depends on reader donations, grants, and sponsorships — not paywalls or corporate owners. That means we must raise our operating funds every single year. This work requires a dedicated fundraising, membership, and advertising team to ensure we can continue serving readers without compromising our independence.
VTDigger publishes new stories every day on multiple platforms and reaches more than 600,000 readers each month. Our technology and product staff maintain our website and newsletter systems, ensure accessibility and reliability for readers statewide, and build tools that help journalists report, visualize data, and expand our reach.
As a registered 501(c)(3), VTDigger must comply with nonprofit and employment laws. In addition, most members of our newsroom belong to the Providence News Guild, a union that represents journalists and other staff. These structures bring significant compliance and reporting responsibilities that require dedicated staff capacity.
Our human resources and operations team handles accounting, payroll, billing, and audits; oversees benefits, hiring, and the physical workplace (including hardware such as computers and phones); and ensures compliance with IRS, grant, and union reporting requirements.
Powered by you
As a nonprofit newsroom with over 9,500 donating members who give $1 to $100,000+ per year, we report without fear or favor. If you read VTDigger, please consider making this work possible through financial support.
Greatest statewide reach
More than 500,000 readers rely on VTDigger each month, and more than 43,000 people subscribe to our free newsletters. Businesses seeking to reach Vermont residents and out-of-state residents who visit, own second homes, or do work in Vermont support VTDigger through advertising. Learn more about our advertising options.
Ethics, viewpoint & policies
VTDigger is nonpartisan and produces journalism in line with industry standards, practices and ethics. Read more on our FAQs page.
Awards and recognition
Online News Association
The Online News Association named VTDigger the 2024 winner of the breaking news award for small and medium newsrooms for our extensive coverage of the July 2023 floods.
LION Publishers
VTDigger was tied for first place in the Public Service category, large tier, for the 2023 project “Full Disclosure.” We built a searchable, sortable database of ethics disclosure forms filed by Vermont legislators and candidates. Judges in the contest called the work “bold and brave.”
NENPA
NENPA awarded VTDigger more than a dozen awards in 2024, including top honors for our energy and environmental reporting, photography, newsletters and graphics.
Founded as a digital news pioneer
Founded in 2009 by Anne Galloway, VTDigger began as a scrappy, volunteer effort focused on investigative journalism. Since then, it has grown into Vermont’s most essential news organization, powered by close to two-dozen journalists and boasting one of the state’s largest newsrooms.
In 2011, VTDigger became a project of the nonprofit Vermont Journalism Trust, which has become a pioneer in finding new ways to support and sustain local newsgathering at the local and state level.
