The Case for Local News in Our U.S. Democracy

Journalism is an integral part of democracy. Yet, newspapers across the U.S. have closed, including in Maine, which has lost more than 60% of newspaper jobs. Studies show that communities with no newspapers see lower voter participation and increased corruption.

The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, celebrating its 15th year, was among the first nonprofit news organizations to buck this trend. The Center publishes The Maine Monitor and delivers high-quality, nonpartisan journalism to inform people in Maine. It makes that reporting free for anyone to access.

Learn how nonprofit news works and why it is the future of local news.

NOTE: This class, co-sponsored with the Belfast Free Library, is FREE and open to the public. Registration is optional (but encouraged).

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Instructor: Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm

Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, which publishes The Maine Monitor. She came to MCPIR after serving as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer representing the United States around the world for 26 years.

Photo credit: Garrick Hoffman