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Vtdigger 2013 Annual Report

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Vtdigger 2013 Annual Report 2013 Annual Report 2,590 ARTICLES 23,637 READER COMMENTS 3,750,576 PAGEVIEWS 892,329 UNIQUE VISITORS 2013 ARTICLES BY CATEGORY Business & Economy=432 Courts & Corrections=149 Commentary=633 Education=90 Energy=132 Health Care=202 News Briefs=422 People & Places=114 Politics=273 Environment=143 From the Executive Director 2013 At a time when daily newspapers in HIGHLIGHTS Vermont continue to experience declines in revenue, forcing reductions in reporting staff and limiting coverage of public policy and politics, VTDigger saw its readership grow by 50 percent in 2013, to more than 80,000 unique visitors each month. Reporting Why? We’re filling a critical void in Our editorial staff has been Vermont journalism. Every day, our expanded to include a full-time website provides in-depth, accurate and editor and a fourth full-time original news reporting that is available free to the public, reporter, and we are now the without paywalls. only media outlet in Vermont with a full-time environmental In a fall 2013 readership survey, 90 percent of 800 respondents reporter. Our reporting beats said VTDigger publishes news they can’t get anywhere else. now include business, health care, energy, the environment, We have a lean online news operation because we don’t require criminal justice, state finance investments in newsprint or broadcast equipment. We apply and human services. our resources directly to our mission, which is to provide free and impartial news coverage of state government and major public policy issues that affect the lives of Vermonters. Readership Our reporting has contributed significantly to the quality and Our readership in 2013 grew scope of news coverage in Vermont, and provides an essential by 50% to over 80,000 unique public service. Our growth and our work is made possible thanks visitors — and 310,000 page to the generous support of foundations, underwriters, and the views — per month. individual contributions of thousands of readers. Thank you for your support of our mission and our work, Data While investing in data reporting and special reports, VTDigger launched the free User’s Guide to Vermont Health Connect. 2013 Staff Website Executive Director & Editor: Anne Galloway Our new website, launched in Co-Publishers: Rick Woods, Diane Zeigler September, is easier to navigate Assignment Editor: Tom Brown and reflects our commitment to Copy Editor: Cate Chant intensive coverage of politics Business Manager: Paul Berlejung and major public policy issues. Underwriting Director: Michael Knight Reporters: Alicia Freese, Viola Gad, John Herrick, Hilary Niles, Nat Rudarakanchana, Andrew Stein 97 State St. Montpelier, VT 05602 VTDigger.org 802.225.6224 WHO WE ARE 2013 VTDigger is a statewide news website that publishes daily reports on state BOARD OF DIRECTORS government, politics, consumer affairs, business and public policy. We are a project of the Vermont Journalism Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Anne Galloway (ex-officio), East Hardwick dedicated to supporting investigative journalism in Vermont. Maxwell King, Hyde Park Our goal is to help Vermonters understand complex public policy issues. Curtis Ingham Koren, Brookfield We publish four to 10 stories a day on subjects of statewide interest, David Mindich, Burlington including education, health care, energy, politics, human services, state Carin Pratt, Strafford finances and the environment. We also publish audio, video, photos, and Bill Porter, Adamant raw information in the form of press releases and government documents. Bill Schubart, Hinesburg Pat Sears, Burlington VTDigger does not promote or support any political ideology. Our news organization plays a watchdog role to support transparency in government, Ina Smith, Poultney provide greater access to public information, and expand the scope of civil Frances Stoddard, Williston discourse in Vermont. Our objective is to hold public officials accountable Stephen Terry, Middlebury and help readers understand what’s really going on in state government. Elaine Young, South Burlington Launched in 2009, we are a trusted source of news in Vermont and have built a reputation for fair and accurate reporting. From our office in Montpelier, we offer our news for free to the public, without internet paywalls or fees, and have a statewide readership that includes traffic from every county in the state. Our readership in 2013 grew to over 80,000 unique visitors per month. We are supported by foundation grants, business underwriting, and individual contributions through donations and major gifts. SUPPORTING SERVICES VTDigger offers the following supporting services: • In addition to publishing news on our website and social media channels, we also distribute a “Daily Digger” email to over 5,000 subscribers for free, which contains the day’s top stories, commentaries, and press releases. • We distribute our news to community news outlets in Vermont that republish or broadcast our original reporting. We maintain a news distribution service with Vermont Business Magazine, WDEV, Valley News, Addison Independent, St. Albans Messenger, Stowe Reporter, Waterbury Record, Essex Reporter, Colchester Sun, Mountain Times, Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal and Brattleboro Reformer. • We aggregate and display state government data in searchable databases. We also create information graphics to make data easier to understand visually, and to allow readers to see trends that affect the lives of Vermonters. • We host public events for Vermonters who want to learn more about public policy issues. • We give underwriters the opportunity to reach our growing readership through advertising on our website. VTDIGGER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 1, 2013-December 31, 2013 FY2013 ASSETS Current Assets 186,343 Fixed Assets 5,573 TOTAL ASSETS 191,916 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Current Liabilities 23,135 Net Assets 123,882 Net Income 44,899 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 191,916 INCOME Grants 186,770 Major Gifts 49,572 Membership & Donations 56,192 News Revenue 10,313 Underwriting 202,312 Miscellaneous Revenue 1,006 TOTAL INCOME 506,165 EXPENSES General Administration 24,914 Program 343,988 Fundraising 92,364 TOTAL EXPENSES 461,266 NET INCOME 44,899 97 State St. Montpelier, VT 05602 VTDigger.org 802.225.6224 VTDIGGER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS January 1, 2013-December 31, 2013 2013 Revenue Underwriting 40% Grants 36.9% Membership & Donations 11.1% Large Gifts 9.8% News Revenue 2% Miscellaneous 0.2% 2013 Expenses Program 75% Fundraising 20% General Administration 5% 97 State St. Montpelier, VT 05602 VTDigger.org 802.225.6224 2013 FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS 2013 Foundations $100 - Institute for Liberty & Community Jeffrey Temer $100 - Capital Connections John D. Shullenberger, Esq. $75,000 - Ethics & Excellence in $100 - Lakeshore Drive Shopping Center John Fitzhugh Journalism $100 - Google matching program Julia Geer $25,000 - Ben & Jerry’s Foundation $100 - Rural Vermont Kevin Ellis & Kimberly Hackett $25,000 - Knight Foundation Community $100 - State of VT Developmental Lawrence D. Copp & Patricia L. Weaver Information Challenge Grant Disabilities Council Mark Johnson $25,000 - Vermont Community $100 - Kingdom County Productions Maxwell King Foundation $80 - Vermont Auto Dealers Association Oliver Olsen $15,000 - J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation $15,000 - Johnson Family Foundation $10,251 - Gracie L. Bradley Trust $10,000 - Evslin Family Fund The role of truthful reporting is crucial to $10,000 - Maverick Lloyd Foundation our democracy, and the people who believe $5,000 - Tulgey Wood Foundation this are the folks funding VTDigger. I am $2,500 - Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children proud to be one of them. $2,000 - Keelan Family Foundation $2,000 - Morris & Bessie Altman Foundation Melinda Moulton $2,000 - Unnamed fund via VCF $1,500 - Norman J. & Doris Fisher Main Street Landing, Burlington Foundation $1,250 - Fund for Investigative Journalism $75 - Meredith Corporation Pat Sears $1,000 - Hinda & Joel Miller Fund $75 - The Tiferet Center Peter Metz $500 - Deborah & Wayne Grandquist Fund $60 - Al-Lens Farm Robert Stannard $500 - Simon/Gannon Family Fund $50 - Clifford Lumber Steve Terry $500 - Unnamed fund via VCF $50 - Millyn Moore & Associates Stewart Skrill $200 - Elsie B. Eaton Fund for Animals $40 - Otis & Kennedy Warren B. King $150 - Klein Fox Family Fund $35 - Vermont Land Trust William K. & Ruth K. Porter $25 - Jan Cannon Films $200-$499 2013 Business Donors $25 - Vermonters for Sustainable US Population Alan Woodbury $15 - Caledonian-Record Publishing Co. Alexander Aldrich $3,500 - Union Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Anne E. Cramer, Esq. $3,000 - Cabot Creamery Cooperative of 2013 Contributing Readers Anthony J. & Jacqueline C. Marro Vermont Barbara Heilman $500 - Sirotkin & Necrason Barry M. & Susan M. Feinberg $500 - Vermont State Employees $5,000 Betsy M. & Daniel E. Chodorkoff Association John Kern & Valerie Hurley Bill Mares & Christine Hadsel $300 - Oracle Corporation Matching Gifts Bob Zeliff Program $500-$1500 Carol Durett $250 - Butternut Mountain Farm Catherine C. & Edward B. Koren $250 - Vermont Business Roundtable Anonymous Charles Beaudette $250 - Concept 2 Carin F. Pratt Christopher & Constance Brown $250 - MacNeil Building Charlotte S. Metcalf David Beatty $240 - Associated General Contractors Cheryl Galloway David M. Stoll & Elizabeth R. Sutton $150 - 99 Enterprises, Inc David & Margaret Coates Dorigen Keeney $150 - David Deen & Associates Ellen Oxfeld Dr. Carol Anne Vassar $150 - Vermont Assembly of Home Health Frances Stoddard
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