2022-2023 Bangor Daily News Impact Report

2022-2023

Annual Impact Report

Maine: The way news should be.

Whether you live in Maine or love our state from afar, you know what it is to be a Mainer. We’re tough and kind, resourceful, independent by nature, respectful of the natural environment, and we take care of our communities. How could we not be all of those things? Our beautiful state requires it – and inspires it.

The Bangor Daily News is no different. We’ve been independently owned and operated for more than 130 years. We aim to be fair and tough on those in power while also being respectful of the interconnected web of our community, creating public accountability through transparency and the fact-finding work of local journalism. We are resourceful, pursuing that mission on tight budgets. We celebrate the natural environment through reporting and commentary on living a good life outdoors through recreation, hunting and fishing. We serve our community by providing the news and information Mainers need to make informed decisions about important issues – and helping folks find opportunities to make their own voices heard before decisions are made.

That’s what local journalism does, and that’s why we’re talking about impact. That’s also why Bangor Savings Bank has made it possible for us to print this report you’re holding in your hands. We are grateful to them for supporting Maine communities by investing in journalism that serves those communities.

Corporate chain ownership of local journalism has harmed so many communities. When newspapers shrink or close, communities suffer. Fewer people volunteer or vote, taxes increase, corruption flourishes. Fortunately, that’s not been our story: Maine is the only state in the U.S. with no out-of-state owners of daily newspapers.

As the BDN has adapted in the challenging financial environment of the last two decades, we have fought to keep our independence and community focus, and done so.

Whether you’re reading this as a subscriber, a donor, an advertiser, or a funder, your support helps keep this service strong. Whether you experience our journalism through print, newsletters, our website, our mobile app, the e-edition, or events, you are a part of the BDN community and we are honored to serve you.

Jo Easton Sr. Audience Director

Why we do what we do

Erin Rhoda, Investigative Editor

The work of investigative journalism is rarely clear cut. We may have a question to answer or receive a tip, and then comes the brainstorming. How do we confirm it? There are dead ends, revelations and complications. There are rarely two sides to a story but rather five or nine or more. It’s our job to remain open to new information and committed to the pursuit of truth. But even after working in journalism for more than a decade, I feel grateful every day to fulfill this mission, to listen to people from all parts of Maine and all stations of life, to give voice to the powerless, and to examine the actions of our governments and leaders. Our work has changed laws, prompted grassroots organizing and propelled entire organizations to rethink their practices.

Larry Mahoney – Sports Reporter, 50 years on the job

I simply enjoy what I do and the fact that every story is a challenge, even after 50 years, because I’m not naturally gifted. (In my high school yearbook I was chosen most likely to become a crossing guard.) I just like the feeling of putting in a good day’s work. It makes my Molson XXX taste better. I know some of my stories are going to wind up in scrapbooks and others will be under the litter box. For me, every game I cover is like a one-act play: You never know what you are going to see. From my not-so-stellar athletic career, I learned how to compete, and I want our paper to be the best it can be.

Susan Young, Opinion Editor

I’ve been part of the BDN Opinion pages for 20 years. It is the best job at the paper. Not only do I get to learn about myriad issues and innovative projects, and share this knowledge with our readers, I have an opportunity to shape the policies and laws that impact our community, state and nation. I am most proud of BDN editorials that have made Maine a more welcoming and compassionate place to live and work. My weekly column is a more personal extension of this work. Best of all, we engage daily with people who disagree with us, furthering a discussion that challenges and broadens our perspectives.

Emily Burnham, Senior Reporter

At the end of the day, we’re just people that live in Maine, the same as anyone else, with love for our communities, stories to be told and questions that need answers. As journalists, our duty and privilege is to be the people that help tell those stories and answer those questions, whether they’re about important news items or about Maine’s unique and varied culture. I feel really lucky to be one of the people entrusted to hear your thoughts and tell your stories.

Building understanding on complex topics

Environment reporting is supported by Report for America, the Unity Foundation, and contributions from readers. The questions we are asking are informed by the questions readers ask us about what they need to know to better understand how topics like community solar, electricity costs, PFAS contamination, and climate change affect their lives.

Our reporting on PFAS is inspiring water bottlers to test for those chemicals in their water and publicize those results, uncovering the role of lobbying groups in granting blanket disclosure exemptions to businesses, and driving discussions among lawmakers exploring policy solutions to Maine’s widespread water and soil contamination.

“I’ve been reading the Bangor Daily News out here in Idaho due to the good and early reporting you have had on PFAS… We did after much effort convince Boise to test for PFAS in landfill effluent… and to their credit they dropped a plan [to discharge that effluent into a drinking water supply].

- Richard, Idaho

Dairy farmer Fred Stone talks to a cow named Blue in his milking parlor in Arundel on Friday, April 15, 2022. Stone was forced to slaughter most of his herd after finding high levels of PFAS “forever” chemicals on his land in 2016.

Photo by Troy R. Bennett

Getting to the root of Maine’s housing crisis

Those questions focused the team on barriers to affordability, and BDN reporting drove municipal and state-level discussions as policymakers shaped legislation designed to encourage immediate construction of new housing units.

City Desk coverage on housing affordability and homelessness drove the Bangor conversation in 2022, prompting high public engagement at city hall meetings and a new resolve from the Bangor City Council on the issue. In 2023, BDN reporters are diving deeper into this critical issue.

When we assigned a team to cover housing in 2022, we started by asking readers what questions they have.

Local reporting + public action = change

Less than a month before the November election, our reporting revealed that a candidate running for a third term as district attorney for Hancock and Washington counties had been criminally investigated in 2017 and 2018 for allegedly sexually abusing a child, and then he lied about the investigation during a debate.

The incumbent ultimately lost the DA seat. Our reporting was made possible by a tip from a reader, taking that tip seriously, and having the protected resources to pursue that work.

Photo by Sawyer Loftus

Following the money

Reporter Sawyer Loftus, winner of this year’s Maine Press Association’s top honor for young reporters, unraveled the business empire of Nathan Reardon, which includes dozens of companies, a trail of debt to nearly 100 former employees and $100,000 in fines for labor violations.

Reardon pleaded guilty in July to defrauding the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Loftus’ reporting also exposed that Reardon sought federal rent relief funds as a landlord when his bail conditions prohibited him from doing so. Reardon was arrested on a bail violation the day after that report.

Photo by Linda Coan O’Kresik

Holding the powerful accountable

Our investigation into sexual assault and harassment in the Maine Army National Guard inspired soldiers to support each other and to press for accountability and solutions, inspired Guard leadership to rise to the occasion, and inspired lawmakers to act.

Here’s how it unfolded over more than a year.

Read more at bangordailynews.com/ unguarded/

2021

BDN publishes Unguarded, a threepart investigation into sexual assault and harassment in the Maine Army National Guard

Nov. 15-18

After lawmakers punt on calling for an independent investigation, soldiers insist on a stronger response from policymakers

March 11

2022

May

After a tip, our Maine Focus team begins reporting on the state’s Army National Guard

Dec. 11

A support group forms for soldiers who have experienced sexual assault

March 14

In response to survivors, lawmakers call for an outside investigation and other reforms

The real world impact of reporting can take time to develop.

Top military official calls for an outside probe by the National Guard Bureau

March 18

Governor Mills appoints members to a new permanent Advisory Council on Military Sexual Trauma.

July 8

Advisory Council on Military Sexual Trauma releases recommendations to improve how the guard responds to sexual assault and harassment.

Dec. 1

A bill to enact the recommendations of the Advisory Council advances in the Legislature

April 25

2023

April 19

Maine Governor Janet Mills signs a bill to launch a state investigation and increase oversight

Aug. 18

Former guardsman featured in Unguarded accepts a plea deal, to serve time for assaulting another soldier

Feb. 15

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey submits a report evaluating and recommending improvements on coordination between the Maine National Guard and local police on sexual assault cases.

Showing us who we are

Pete Warner’s exhilarating profile of longtime hunter Chad Thompson of Brewer goes straight to the scene of a hunting accident 30 years ago, introducing the reader to quick-thinking friends and fellow hunters, breakneck driving on dirt roads, emergency surgery, prosthetic innovation and passionate mentorship.

Thompson overcame physical and emotional challenges following the accident to become an advocate for amputees who want to enjoy outdoor recreation.

Photo by Linda Coan O’Kresik

After Judy Harrison reported about the housing dilemma of two teen sisters after their parents’ deaths, a community member raising funds to provide new housing for the sisters was inundated with offers of help for the Robinsons.

Every day, longtime BDN editorial cartoonist George Danby reminds us of our common experiences.

Photo by Sawyer Loftus

Supporting community

2022 BDN scholarship fund winners

Since 1964, the Bangor Daily News has provided scholarship support to deserving University of Maine students.

The funding goes to students who demonstrate a need and live in our traditional print market: Aroostook, Hancock, Knox, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo and Washington counties. The 2022 recipient was Jacob Steeves from Skowhegan, who is studying Civil Engineering.

The Bangor Daily News Christopher A. Cousins Scholarship through the University of Maine Foundation honors late BDN political reporter Chris Cousins.

Paige McHatten , a junior majoring in English at the University from Maine is the 2022 recipient. Paige is from Mapleton and graduated from Presque Isle High School.

Subscribers supporting humanitarian relief

More than 100 BDN readers participated in a subscription drive to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

We donated 100% of these initial purchase dollars to Direct Relief, an aid organization working with the Ukraine Ministry of Health to meet the humanitarian needs of Ukrainian civilians. An anonymous reader stepped forward to match this effort, bringing the total amount donated to more than $9,500.

“I love the BDN, particularly the editor/editorial board opinions, news of local government and doings, and the excellent reporting. Local journalism is vital. I lived in Bangor for almost twenty years, relocating to California fifteen years ago. The BDN’s offer of a subscription in support of Ukraine was the impetus to give myself the gift of a subscription.”

- Cate, California

Bringing mindfulness, mission, and purpose to marketing

Pulse Marketing Agency, a BDN sister company, is a full-service marketing agency dedicated to providing marketing services grounded in mindfulness, mission and purpose. We believe we are only as strong as our community, and we are dedicated to doing our part to contribute to it.

Giving a voice to healthcare’s unsung heroes

Over the last year, Pulse has worked with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine Department of Labor to launch Caring For ME: Compassionate Careers that Make a Difference, a targeted marketing campaign to recruit employees for entry-level direct care and behavioral health positions.

The campaign shone a spotlight on a critical segment of Maine’s workforce with its “Real Stories.” These stories highlighted the diversity of this workforce featuring new Maine residents, communities of color, men in this predominantly female-occupied field, young people, retirees, and people with disabilities. Through “Real Stories,” workers in the field shared what it was like to be in their shoes.

“I think for older people it’s a perfect part-time job, especially if you’re ready to retire, but still want something meaningful to do with your time. This group of people is so rewarding. I go home every day with a smile on my face because something during my day has tickled me. Every single day.”

Carmen was a breakout personality, not only representing a crossover population of being 55+ and a retiree, but her story and infectious way of expressing empathy for her clients resonated with job seekers. Her straightforward way of articulating the challenges and rewards of the job peeled back the curtain on an industry rarely lauded in the media. During the pandemic, while frontline workers were receiving due praise for their role in healthcare, behind-thescenes workers such as Carmen were still doing their jobs every day and making significant contributions to the lives of others without much recognition or fanfare.

The strategic choice to develop “Real Stories” gave direct care and behavioral health workers a voice as they shared what it was like to be in this profession and make a real difference in the lives of others. The interviewees became the cornerstone of the campaign messaging. This particular feature of the Caring For ME campaign underscored Pulse’s commitment to Maine communities and ability to go beyond a project’s original goals in order to give a segment of our society the recognition it has long deserved.

Partnering to give students a professional boost

Bridge Academy Maine is a career mentorship program for participating Maine schools where high school students gain real-world professional experience, college credits and the soft skills needed to succeed after graduation. When the opportunity arose to support this program, Pulse was excited to step in.

“It’s a big part of our mission to offer our services to community groups whenever we can. We were pleased to give students the groundwork to start their careers and the tools to network when they graduate.”

– Amanda Millay, Senior Account Manager

with Pulse.

Pulse and fellow marketing agency Sutherland Weston partnered to provide students participating in Bridge Academy with a personal branding seminar to understand how to manage their online presence on social media and LinkedIn, and receive professional headshots. The goal was to give them the tools and skills needed to create a positive digital presence.

“The personal branding presentation the marketing professionals at Pulse Marketing and Sutherland Weston delivered to career and technical students from across the state was timely, relevant and powerful,” said Bridge Academy Maine Executive Director Brian Langley. “Creating a network that will open doors for the rest of your professional life is a person’s most valuable asset in today’s world. These students now have the skills to navigate the digital marketplace and position themselves for the jobs of the future.”

Thank you to our supporters

We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our subscribers, donors, advertisers and funders.

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For a full list of 2022 donors, visit bangordailynews.com/support/

Our guidelines for working with funders and donors

· · ·

Funders and donors do not have any input into the reporting and writing of stories or into any specific content that will emerge from initiatives funded directly by businesses, organizations or individual contributors (community funders).

Funders and donors are not aware of specific stories the Bangor Daily News is working on and do not review them before publication.

Funders and donors do not have special access to reporters, editors or any newsroom staff.

We commit to uphold high reporting standards, and we will follow the story wherever it may lead, regardless of who helped to fund our journalism.

Join us

If you’ve read this far, you might be thinking about local reporting that has mattered to you, wondering about the real world effects of news in other ways, or thinking it’s unusual to see this kind of a report from a news organization. No matter what you’re mulling, we’re so glad you’re here.

We are telling our story because too often, what local reporting does for a community goes unnoticed or is misunderstood.

Local journalism helps members of a community understand the stakes on issues that affect them, and have a voice in how decisions are made. That public service is under threat, and we don’t want what has happened to newspapers and communities across the country to happen here in Maine. The Bangor Daily News is committed to maintaining our region’s long history of local, independent newspaper ownership.

To do that, we have to innovate. That includes innovating how we fund our news operation. Mainers in every county in the state, and sponsors and funders both from Maine and beyond have joined us by contributing to sustain our public service mission.

While we are acutely focused on sustaining our independent newsroom, we also want you to know how we govern relationships with donors and funders. The list on the left guides our conduct.

If, like us, you believe all Mainers deserve high quality local journalism, we invite you to contribute to sustain BDN reporting. Your gift, no matter how small, helps us follow the facts where they lead us, ask hard questions on your behalf, sustain our commitment to accountability journalism, and contribute insight and understanding to discussions on complex topics affecting Maine.

Dan Dinsmore Vice President of News and Audience

The Bangor Daily News is not a 501(c)(3) organization, and so your donation is not tax deductible. No services or products will be rendered to you in exchange for your donation. You may, however, contribute to environmental coverage through our fiscal sponsor. More information is available at bangordailynews.com/support/#donate-faq