Students at VTSU have been making waves in the world of news, especially locally, getting stories out into the open that may have otherwise gone under the radar. 

The Community News Service program started at the University of Vermont in 2019 and quickly gained traction as the program became incorporated into the curriculum in 2022 as a Community News course at VTSU.   

VTSU professor David Blow, who was named one of several national “Champions” of the Community News team, is working alongside students and local newspapers to get student articles into local papers.  

Blow believes that student writers are improving the quality of the news that gets out locally.  In a recent Community Journalism class on March 19, he described the relationship with the region’s top newspaper. 

“The Herald has certainly gotten thinner,” he said, noting that the paper now has only three full-time reporters.  “That’s why they love us right now.” 

He encouraged students by explaining that this program is helping local newspapers that do not have enough journalists to get to all the potential stories happening around us. 

“The Post Star (in Glens Falls, where Blow worked for years) is a perfect example of a paper that could use your help,” he said. 

Blow advises students working on The Castleton Spartan student newspaper also and said it too is helping get local news out and popular locally. 

“That freakin stack is always gone!” he said of papers he leaves in the Castleton Dollar General.   

VTSU student and Spartan contributor Jack Aicher said he has seen The Spartan making its way around, even outside the Castleton community. 

“The Spartan is getting into West Rutland too,” he said. 

Castleton resident Rich Byrne volunteers to deliver the paper as far as Rutland. 

Many students, even if they are not necessarily majoring in journalism, said they feel a great sense of accomplishment when they have their articles published in The Spartan and in local newspapers through the Community Journalism class. 

VTSU student and Spartan Editor Emily Ely has had multiple articles published in the Spartan and in the Herald.   

“The more published work I have, the better.  It’s an awesome feeling,” she said. 

VTSU student and film major Andrew Martell has also had articles published in local newspapers like the Herald and said, “It was definitely a good feeling.” 

Fellow student Gabby Blanchard, in a separate interview, described her experience as a student journalist. 

“I feel that my biggest accomplishment was during the NYC trip this year.  A fellow student, Maddie Lindgren, and I were asked up in front of a group of around 70 people to speak about Community Journalism,” she explained.  “Not only was this an amazing experience but it led to a shoutout on the speaker’s LinkedIn profile and a work opportunity by him as well!” she exclaimed. 

Spartan Managing Editor Maddie Lindgren, said during a recent class that she also appreciates the experience and claims that it has improved her writing skills.  

“My storytelling techniques have gotten better,” she said.  “It broke me out of my shell and into better storytelling techniques.” 

However, keeping the effort going when the class isn’t offered might be a challenge, students say. Some feel that more incentive is needed to keep students engaged in community news.   

“If this could be an internship credit, I’d probably do it,” Martell said. 

Blow too recognizes the need for incentive and hopes to keep students involved. 

“I’ve gotta keep this ball rolling,” he said, arguing that it would be nice if the students could be paid to produce content.   

Richard Watts, founder and Director of the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont, Zoomed into a recent class and said that the Castleton students were performing really well.  

“You guys are some of the best at this,” he said. 

He explained how the organization is still trying to branch out and become bigger. 

“We’re trying to grow it more and more around the country.  I wanna draw attention to this,” he said. 

Watts agrees that incentive is very important in keeping students engaged, especially if it helps in student’s academic success toward graduation. 

“The more of this you could put into the curriculum, the better.  It gives you this experience in your curriculum,” he explained. 

Blow hopes to keep the momentum going by keeping students enthusiastic and engaged.  He explained how even after years in the world of journalism, he still gets excited about reading student work and helping them. 

Blow praised the student journalists to Watts in the interview, further encouraging more great work to come. 

“They’re doing more work than your average class,” he said.  “And they’re doing amazing work in The Spartan too.”