Vermont Journalism Coalition

What Vermont Journalism Coalition does

The Vermont Journalism Coalition is an independent, state-registered nonprofit founded in June 2025 to represent the shared interests of professional news organizations operating in Vermont. Headquartered nominally in Montpelier with day-to-day operations currently embedded within the University of Vermont's Center for Community News, the coalition represents more than 40 member news outlets spanning broadcast television (ABC22/FOX44, WCAX), daily and weekly print (Burlington Free Press, Seven Days, Valley News, Hardwick Gazette, Addison County Independent, Waterbury Roundabout), statewide public media (Vermont Public), and nonprofit digital publications (VTDigger, The Bridge, Community News Service). Membership criteria require organizations to produce significant original reporting on Vermont, maintain a physical presence in the state or an adjacent jurisdiction, employ at least one professional journalist, and adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics.

The coalition's core offerings consist of advocacy and member-support services rather than technology products: legislative representation at the Vermont Statehouse focused on First Amendment and Vermont Article 13 press protections, public policy development, education and training, business and legal support, and the Local Civic Journalism Awards—a $100,000 grant-distribution program (in its inaugural 2025 cycle) that channels state appropriations and philanthropic dollars from the Vermont Community Foundation's Press Forward Vermont initiative to sixteen member newsrooms. A jobs and internships board and a news aggregation section on its website (vermontjournalism.com) round out member-facing utilities. Governance is provided by an elected nine-member board of directors drawn from across the membership's broadcast, print, public, and digital segments.

The business model is grant-funded and nonprofit in structure. During an initial two-year period covered by founding partners UVM's Center for Community News and the Vermont Community Foundation's Press Forward Vermont, membership is free; thereafter, dues-based membership may be introduced. The coalition does not generate its own revenue and currently operates with a part-time coordinator (Kristen Fountain, appointed February 2026) while it recruits a part-time executive director (20 hours/week, $40,000-$45,000 annual salary band) and pursues federal nonprofit status. Distribution is direct: qualified Vermont news organizations apply via [email protected] and are admitted by meeting the published membership criteria.

Name

Vermont Journalism Coalition

Legal name

Vermont Journalism Coalition

Website

https://vermontjournalism.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Vermont Journalism Coalition is an independent nonprofit founded in June 2025 that represents more than 40 professional news organizations across Vermont, providing legislative advocacy, policy development, business and legal support, and grant-distribution services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Journalism Advocacy Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

Keywords

• Journalism advocacy
• Press freedom support
• Local news funding
• Nonprofit journalism coalition
• News industry representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpelier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and State Funding: The coalition receives financial support from the Vermont Community Foundation's Press Forward Vermont initiative and UVM's Center for Community News. Initial funding was announced to support operations for two years, making membership free to news outlets. State funding was secured through Senator Andrew Perchlik ($50,000) matched by the Vermont Community Foundation for the Local Civic Journalism Awards.
2. Membership Dues: Following initial two-year funding period, membership may become paid. Currently, membership is free due to foundation support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Vermont Journalism Coalition is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 40 professional news organizations across Vermont. It provides member services including legislative advocacy at the Vermont Statehouse, business and legal support, education and training, public policy development, and access to grant funding through the Local Civic Journalism Awards program. The coalition also maintains a jobs and internships board and news aggregation section on its website to support member outlets.

Product overview

The Vermont Journalism Coalition is a nonprofit advocacy organization (not a technology product company) that represents and supports more than 40 news organizations across Vermont. The coalition provides member services including advocacy, business and legal support, education, and public policy development. Its core offerings consist of membership representation, the Local Civic Journalism Awards program for distributing funding to news outlets, a jobs and internships board for member organizations, and a news aggregation section on its website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coalition Membership Services Membership-based representation and support services for Vermont professional news organizations, providing advocacy at the Vermont Statehouse, business and legal support, education and training, and public policy development. Members must provide original news reporting on Vermont, have a physical presence in the state or adjacent area, employ at least one professional journalist, and adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.
• Local Civic Journalism Awards Financial awards program administered with the Vermont Secretary of State's Office and UVM Center for Community News that distributes state and philanthropic funding to news outlets that inform Vermonters and foster civic engagement. Awards range from $5,000 to $10,000 per recipient organization.
• Jobs and Internships Board Website section listing open employment positions and internships at coalition member news organizations, including roles such as deputy news editor, reporter, assistant editor, and news photographer. Available to job seekers and member organizations free of charge.
• News Aggregation Section Website news section aggregating press releases, announcements, and updates from member organizations and the Vermont Journalism Coalition itself. Functions as a centralized communication hub for coalition news and member updates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured $100,000 in awards for Vermont news outlets through Local Civic Journalism Awards program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rebuild Local NewsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit advocacy group that supports the coalition's legislative agenda, particularly work at the Vermont Statehouse for expanded online public access to criminal records and directing state advertising dollars to local media.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• America's Press Institute (Press Institute): A nonprofit that provides training, research, and resources to local news organizations. Comparable as a capacity-building and education provider that supports the same local news ecosystem VJC represents.
• Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press: A nonprofit legal and advocacy organization that provides free legal resources to journalists and litigates for press freedom. Highly comparable in VJC's stated mission to defend First Amendment and Vermont Article 13 protections.
• LION Publishers: A membership-based trade association for local independent online news publishers offering advocacy, training, and member support services. Highly comparable to VJC's membership model serving digital-first and small news outlets.
• Local Media Association: A membership trade association serving local newspapers, broadcast, and digital media with advocacy, education, and business support. Directly analogous to VJC's role in providing education, business/legal support, and policy development to member outlets.
• Institute for Nonprofit News: A national membership network of nonprofit newsrooms providing capacity-building, advocacy, and peer support. Comparable as a membership-driven nonprofit serving journalism organizations and representing their collective interests.
• Society of Professional Journalists: The nation's most broad-based journalism membership organization advocating for press freedom and journalistic ethics. VJC members must adhere to SPJ's Code of Ethics, and VJC's advocacy and education mission directly parallels SPJ's chapter-based support model.
• Rebuild Local News: A nonprofit advocacy coalition that lobbies at state and federal levels for policies that support local news sustainability. Directly comparable to VJC as an advocacy-focused ally working on the same Vermont Statehouse agenda around public records access and state advertising allocations.

Emerging players

• Report for America: A national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to address coverage gaps. Comparable in its mission to sustain local journalism capacity, though it focuses on newsroom staffing rather than advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Press Forward: A national coalition of philanthropic funders that has committed significant capital to strengthen local news. The Vermont Community Foundation's Press Forward Vermont chapter is one of VJC's core funders, making Press Forward the macro funding vehicle whose state chapters VJC's coalition model supports.
• News/Media Alliance: A national trade organization representing hundreds of news media outlets in policy advocacy around press freedom, copyright, and platform regulation. Comparable advocacy function but operates at the national scale and primarily for larger publishers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/vermontjournalism.com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Journalism Coalition