The Highlands Current
The Highlands Current is a reader-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit local news organization that provides print and digital coverage for the Beacon and Philipstown communities in New York's Hudson Highlands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersCold Spring Harbor, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Highlands Current does
The Highlands Current is a reader-funded, 501(c)(3) nonprofit local news organization founded in 2010 and based in Cold Spring, New York. It provides comprehensive local news coverage for the communities of Beacon and Philipstown (Cold Spring, Nelsonville, Garrison, North Highlands, and Continental Village) in the Hudson Highlands region. Its core product is a unified digital and print publication offering local government reporting, community events, arts, sports, obituaries, real estate market reports, elections coverage, classifieds (Phil's List), a podcast, and a puzzle page, alongside community utility tools including an events calendar, business directory, storm updates, and meeting videos. Distribution spans a website (powered by Newspack, Automattic's WordPress-based CMS for publisher websites), print pickup locations, mail delivery, six distinct email newsletters, and social channels on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
The organization's business model combines reader memberships (four-tier program introduced in 2019: Friend at $24-$119, Partner at $120-$599, Patron at $600-$1,199, and Guardian at $1,200+, billed annually or monthly), display and classified advertising, and foundation support from more than a dozen funders including the Knight Foundation, Google News Initiative, Hearst Magazines, and several local community foundations. The membership program is the primary means of support, while advertising supplements revenue through a media kit and self-serve classified placements. The organization is a member of The Trust Project, INN (Institute for Nonprofit News), the New York Press Association, the National Newspaper Association, and LION Publishers, signaling adherence to journalistic standards and nonprofit-news sector norms.
The Highlands Current firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Highlands Current
- Legal name
- Highlands Current Inc.
- Website
- https://highlandscurrent.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Highlands Current is a reader-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit local news organization that provides print and digital coverage for the Beacon and Philipstown communities in New York's Hudson Highlands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Highlands Current industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local News & Community Journalism
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (513110), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)
Keywords
Where The Highlands Current is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cold Spring Harbor
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Highlands Current business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership and Donations: Reader-funded nonprofit model where individuals become members through annual or monthly donations. Membership program introduced in 2019, with four tiers ranging from $24 to $1,200+ annually. Donations are tax-deductible as Highlands Current Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- Advertising: The newspaper generates revenue through display advertising and classified ads (Phil's List). Advertisers can purchase display ads through a media kit and place classified ads through the website.
- Foundation Support: The organization receives support from foundations including DJ McManus Foundation, Fund for Nonprofit News at The Miami Foundation, Google News Initiative, Hearst Magazines, Knight Foundation, Leonore Foundation Inc., Lostand Foundation Inc., Putnam County Community Grants Fund, The PCLB Foundation, George W. Rentschler Foundation, and Topfield Foundation Inc.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Friend: $24-$119 annually or $2-$9 monthly - includes priority early digital delivery of Friday's print paper, CurrentPLUS newsletter, and annual member recognition |
| Subscription | Monthly | Partner: $120-$599 annually or $10-$50 monthly - Friend benefits plus Current Directory of community resources |
| Subscription | Monthly | Patron: $600-$1,199 annually or $51-$99 monthly - Friend and Partner benefits plus two Behind the Story newsletters |
| Subscription | Monthly | Guardian: $1,200+ annually or $100+ monthly - includes all benefits plus invitation to Living Room Conversation with the editor |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Highlands Current product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Highlands Current is a reader-funded nonprofit local news organization that publishes community news coverage for the Hudson Highlands of New York through a digital website, a weekly print edition distributed at pickup locations and via mail delivery, email newsletters, and a podcast. It also runs Phil's List, a classified advertising section, and a membership program with four donor tiers that fund its operations.
Product overview
The Highlands Current is a reader-funded nonprofit local news organization operating as a single unified digital and print publication. The core offering consists of the Highlands Current Website providing free access to local news coverage, complemented by a Print Edition for physical distribution. The publication generates revenue through a Membership Program with four donor tiers (Friend, Partner, Patron, Guardian) offering benefits such as early digital delivery, exclusive newsletters (Current*PLUS*, Behind the Story), and the Current DIRECTORY of community resources. Additional features include Phil's List classifieds, Podcast Episodes, a Puzzle Page with interactive games, an Events Calendar, a Business Directory, and a Student Journalists Program. All products and features are supported by reader donations and advertising revenue.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Highlands Current Website The primary digital news platform providing free local news coverage for Beacon and Philipstown (Cold Spring, Nelsonville, Garrison) in the Hudson Highlands of New York, offering articles, columns, obituaries, community resources, and special reports.
- Print Edition Physical weekly newspaper edition distributed through pickup locations and via mail delivery subscription, covering the same local news content as the digital platform for Hudson Highlands residents.
- Membership Program Reader-supported membership program with four tiers (Friend, Partner, Patron, Guardian) offering benefits such as priority early digital delivery, exclusive newsletters (Current*PLUS*, Behind the Story), the Current DIRECTORY of community resources, member recognition, and invitations to editor events, in exchange for tax-deductible donations.
- Podcast Episodes Audio podcast content covering local news, interviews, and community stories available for streaming or download via YouTube and the website for Hudson Highlands readers.
- Phil's List Classifieds Online classified advertising section allowing residents to place and view classified ads for jobs, housing, services, and community notices, and that the publication sells as paid display advertising.
Companies that use The Highlands Current
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Highlands Current technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Highlands Current partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Trust ProjectcoreThe Highlands Current is a member of The Trust Project, a consortium of news outlets that has adopted standards to allow readers to more easily assess the credibility of their journalism. The organization follows best practices including verification and correction policies.
- INN (Institute for Nonprofit News)minorINN Member - badges displayed on website indicating membership in the Institute for Nonprofit News network
- New York Press Association (NYPA)minorNYPA Member - badges displayed on website indicating membership in New York Press Association
- National Newspaper Association (NNA)minorNNA Member - badges displayed on website indicating membership in National Newspaper Association
- LION PublishersminorLion Member - badges displayed on website indicating membership in LION Publishers (Local Independent Online News)
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Highlands Current competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VTDigger: Nonprofit digital news outlet covering Vermont state and local government. Comparable as a member-supported nonprofit newsroom with foundation funding, multi-format newsletter strategy, and reputation for civic journalism in a small-state market.
- Honolulu Civil Beat: Nonprofit civic news organization serving Hawaii. Comparable as a member-supported nonprofit news outlet with foundation backing, focused on local government and community accountability reporting.
- Voice of San Diego: Nonprofit investigative and civic news outlet serving the San Diego region. Comparable as a member-supported local nonprofit news outlet with a foundation grant strategy and a focus on local investigative reporting.
- River Reporter: Independent community newspaper serving the upper Delaware River region in NY and PA. Comparable as a small, locally focused independent/reader-supported outlet serving a rural-suburban community in the Hudson Valley/Catskills region.
- The Connecticut Mirror: Nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news outlet covering Connecticut state policy and local issues. Comparable as a small-team nonprofit newsroom funded by member donations and foundation grants, INN and LION member.
- Block Club Chicago: Nonprofit, reader-funded local news outlet covering Chicago neighborhoods. Directly comparable in business model: 501(c)(3) nonprofit, member-supported, free to read, focused on hyperlocal civic news; differs in scale and urban density.
- Putnam County News & Recorder: Weekly local newspaper covering Putnam County including Garrison and parts of Philipstown. Direct overlap with the Current's coverage area and serves a similar role as a community news outlet, making it the closest geographic competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Times Herald-Record: Regional daily newspaper based in Middletown, NY covering the Hudson Valley and lower Catskills. Comparable because it overlaps geographically with the Current's coverage and competes for local advertisers and subscribers, though at significantly larger scale.
- Poughkeepsie Journal: Daily regional newspaper covering the Hudson Valley including Beacon and Philipstown. Comparable because it competes for the same local advertising and reader attention in the Current's coverage area, but operates at much larger scale as part of the Gannett/USA Today network.
Others
- LION Publishers: Industry association for local independent online news publishers. Comparable as a peer organization that the Current is explicitly a member of, providing shared infrastructure, training, and advocacy for small nonprofit newsrooms.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Highlands Current social profiles
Digital presenceThe Highlands Current financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Highlands Current leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Highlands Current funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Highlands Current M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Highlands Current
What does The Highlands Current do?
The Highlands Current is a reader-funded nonprofit local news organization that publishes community news coverage for the Hudson Highlands of New York through a digital website, a weekly print edition distributed at pickup locations and via mail delivery, email newsletters, and a podcast. It also runs Phil's List, a classified advertising section, and a membership program with four donor tiers that fund its operations.
Is The Highlands Current a public or private company?
The Highlands Current is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Highlands Current founded?
The Highlands Current was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Highlands Current based?
The Highlands Current is headquartered in Cold Spring Harbor, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Highlands Current make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership and Donations are the primary driver. The others are advertising and foundation Support.
Who are The Highlands Current's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VTDigger, Honolulu Civil Beat, Voice of San Diego, River Reporter, The Connecticut Mirror, Block Club Chicago and Putnam County News & Recorder. Broad incumbents are Times Herald-Record and Poughkeepsie Journal. LION Publishers is listed as an others.
Does The Highlands Current have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Highlands Current.
What industry is The Highlands Current in?
The Highlands Current's product category is Local News & Community Journalism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAB, Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital). Its NAICS code is 513110 and its SIC code is 2721.