I retired from a newspaper career in 2009, just as journalism was starting to go down the toilet. Year after year, big-city dailies went bankrupt, losing advertisers that had sustained the same business model for 200 years and losing readers who were looking elsewhere for their news.
So I nearly had a heart attack when a recent Maine Press Association (MPA) newsletter announced that Janice Thompson is the new executive director. She’s the amazing lady who found a way to take a struggling small-town newspaper in my town of Harpswell and rework it into a monthly newspaper chock-full of well-written, objective, accurate stories that has met with phenomenal success.
With the help of public-spirited Harpswell residents who jumped on board to fund the enterprise, this nonprofit publication has been recognized regionally and nationally as a refreshing, appealing and critically acclaimed alternative to the old business model.
Then, as I read further, I realized Janice is taking on this new responsibility with MPA as a part-time project, and will continue in her role at the Harpswell Anchor. Many thanks to Janice. As a former MPA president, I know how vital it is to support responsible news-gathering organizations.
Second, to Harpswell residents, how fortunate that Janice decided to found the “new” Harpswell Anchor as director of development and operations. Any town would love to have this kind of in-depth coverage — free, and mailed to their homes.
Paula Gibbs McKenney
Woolwich