Press Forward Maine will increase access to trusted, local news

Without local news, there are no reporters covering school board meetings, no watchdogs keeping an eye on municipal government, no uplifting stories about achievements of youth sports teams or notices about winter weather
cancellations.

Many of Maine’s remaining local news outlets have reduced staff, coverage areas and frequency of publication. Two counties are considered news deserts — meaning they lack sources for local news — while three others are at risk of losing their only news outlet.

Press Forward Maine is a new statewide initiative, led by Maine Community Foundation and part of a larger national movement spearheaded by the MacArthur and Knight foundations to strengthen local news. Building on MaineCF’s long tradition of convening conversations and listening, Press Forward Maine will work with its advisory council and partners across the state to reimagine, reinvest and rebuild community news.

Lisa DeSisto, former CEO of MaineToday Media and the Maine Trust for Local News, is leading the effort, along with an advisory council comprised of volunteers with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The work to engage with Maine media and civic leaders to understand the challenges they face is underway.

Press Forward Maine will partner with the national chapter of Press Forward and MaineCF’s existing network of philanthropists to leverage collective resources and relationships to advance this important work.

For more information about Press Forward Maine, contact Lisa DeSisto, ldesisto@mainecf.org.