Dear Friend,
Today, the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism was named a Press Forward grant recipient. We join this inaugural, historic cohort of more than 200 local newsrooms across the country that are filling critical information gaps and working in service of our communities and the only one in New Hampshire.
Since 2015, we have been on the frontlines of reporting important news that matters in New Hampshire that holds the powerful accountable, and gives voice to marginalized people, places and ideas. The Press Forward grant will be paid out over two years, $50,000 each year.
A review panel of national foundation and journalism leaders read about how our reporting is making a difference, right here in New Hampshire. You can imagine how excited we are after nine years of working to save local news here. We have many honors and awards, but this is a big national deal!
Over the years we reported many stories that likely would have gone untold without us at InDepthNH.org, published by the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism, and fine reporters like Garry Rayno, Paula Tracy, Nancy West and Damien Fisher. And we couldn’t have done it without our terrific columnists and awesome board of directors.
We reported that people were being incarcerated in the state prison Secure Psychiatric Unit because they were mentally ill and too dangerous to themselves or others to be housed in the state psychiatric hospital even though they hadn’t been convicted of a crime. At first prison officials insisted that was OK even as advocates argued it was unconstitutional and inhumane, but now, finally the state is building a more secure building on the grounds of the state psychiatric hospital so it can end this practice. Here is one of our early stories, with many more after, that shined a light on this practice.
A state of contradictions, especially if you are mentally ill
We also reported how an elected state Representative managed to bury information that he left a local police department with a clean slate even after threatening to kill the police chief and rape the chief’s wife and children, uncovering information about the officials who knew what had happened and did nothing except keep it confidential.
Documents: Rep. Jon Stone Threatened Mass Shooting and Rape After Investigation
One of the many other important stories we reported was about how a new owner of the state’s largest tract of forested land had plans to dramatically cut logging in favor of selling carbon credits for not cutting down trees, a practice that could change the lives of many in the North Country. It’s an ongoing story, best told by an experienced reporter, our reporter who cares about the lives of the people here.
From a NC Working Forest to a 146,000 Acre Carbon Credit Farm? NH Seeks Plans From New Owner
Packed Pittsburg Meeting Concerned About Replacing Logging With Carbon Credits
The $100,000 that we are receiving from Press Forward is more than just a grant. It’s a symbolic gesture that national funders are investing in the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism and ultimately, in New Hampshire and its residents.
This grant is wonderful news, but we need local support to sustain this work for the long term — for all of us. Will you help us celebrate this moment and prepare for what’s ahead by making a gift to the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism during NewsMatch which will double what you give up to $1,000 beginning Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
If you can donate more than $1,000, that would be considered a Local Match, which would encourage donors to give more knowing their donation will be doubled from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. Email me at nancywestnews@gmail.com for more information on Local Matches.
Please remember NewsMatch will double your donation up to $1,000 ONLY from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 up to $15,000. That’s why we need Local Matches over $1,000. We have already raised $20,000 from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and hope to raise another $80,000 in Local Matches. Now is the critical time to make sure we will be sustainable in the future.
You can donate here: https://indepthnh.org/donate/ or by sending check to New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism, 38 Edgewater Drive, Barrington, NH 03825. From Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 your donation will be doubled by NewsMatch.
Thank you for believing in the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism. We look forward to serving New Hampshire for years to come. And you know we love working for you.
Find out about becoming a Friend of InDepthNH.org at an online session Oct. 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. here. It’s free and we plan on having some fun.
As it says on Press Forward’s website: “Democracy flourishes when people have access to reliable information.” More about this amazing national initiative here: https://www.pressforward.news/
Our newsroom is one of 205 small, local news outlets – including one in every U.S. state – that are receiving a share of $20 million to close persistent coverage gaps, thanks to funding from Press Forward, the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news.
Motivated by the extraordinary quality and number proposals, Press Forward is funding twice as many news organizations as it originally anticipated through its first open call. More than 900 proposals were received!
We are proud to be part of a bright mosaic of independent, non-partisan sources that are reimagining what local news looks like across America.
Our peers include newer nonprofits – some launched as information needs became evident during the pandemic – and enduring for-profits continuing to adapt and innovate after a century in business. Some newsrooms are reporting on the vast American countryside – where they are often the only news source for hundreds of miles – while other outlets are covering people of color and linguistically diverse communities that traditional news sources have overlooked.
Each produces the stories people need to make decisions about their daily lives. I hope you are proud of what we have done with our bootstrapped nonprofit in the last nine years. I am certainly proud of all of us who work for peanuts to make sure we keep you informed. Those include so many people.
Today I am most grateful to the people who dreamed up Press Forward and made it a reality to save local news.
With gratitude,
Nancy West, founder, executive editor
