The non-profit news organization — including its team of 14 community volunteers –announces a campaign to build a scholarship fund and to fund the expansion of the growing Biddeford-focused media outlet
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By RANDY SEAVER | Editor
Yesterday, the Biddeford Gazette launched an initiative known as “Project Reciprocity,” a public engagement campaign designed to expand the professional organization’s news coverage efforts and its mission to keep its readers connected to Biddeford and the greater community.
The community’s response was almost immediate and overwhelmingly positive.
“This didn’t happen overnight,” wrote Andy Adams of Biddeford in a message of support he posted on the Gazette’s Facebook page. “This (Biddeford Gazette) is the product of decades of hard work, perseverance and a commitment to perfecting your craft as a writer and reporter. Your honesty and integrity have gained you the trust of an entire community.
“The Gazette is all about serving the people of Biddeford, and no matter how much you’ve received, you’ve always given back more.”
“Your honesty and integrity
— Andy Adams, Biddeford
have gained you the trust
of an entire community.”
Former Biddeford resident Jeanne Galle now lives in New Hampshire and said she enjoys being able to stay connected to her hometown of Biddeford via a professional news organization that is working to fill the gaps created with the closure of the Journal Tribune and Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier.
“I miss The Journal and The Courier, and I very much appreciate The Biddeford Gazette. You are doing us all a great service with your publication,” Galle wrote.
Richard Langevin of Biddeford didn’t mince words in a Facebook post that referenced Project Reciprocity. “Absolutely love what you are doing! Thank you so much.”
Guy Roy now lives out of state and recalled having a Journal Tribune paper route when he was growing up in Biddeford.
“I thoroughly enjoy reading the Gazette,” Roy wrote. “I was born in Biddeford, went to school there and even delivered the Journal in my youth. However, I now live out of state, but I still have many relatives there and appreciate all of the updates that the Gazette provides. Thanks, and keep it up.”
There have been dozens of similar messages received over the last few months. It is hard to describe what it’s like to read these messages.
To see how the community has embraced the Gazette is almost overwhelming, certainly rewarding.
In just the past few weeks, we have seen new volunteers step up to help build the only professional news outlet dedicated exclusively to covering Biddeford-related news and content.
Last week, students and officials from Biddeford High School gave the Gazette permission to use a piece of student art as our branding logo.
Learn more about that logo | BHS students leave mark on their community
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Keeping the community connected
The Gazette is fueled and run by a diverse team of 14 community volunteers, all of whom are willing to share their time, talents and passion with us because they believe in our mission to keep Biddeford connected via a reliable, experienced and trustworthy news organization.
In fact, I still have a hard time believing so many people have embraced the vision I had a little more than 18 months ago.
We have come so far since then, but we would not be here without the help and commitment of those volunteers, including writers, photographers, former journalists and business leaders.
I am proud of what our team has built, and now I’m excited to take things to the next level.
MEET OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM
Why are we asking for donations and sponsorships?
We want to continue growing and improving the Gazette, but we’re going to need your help to achieve those goals.
Every donation – large or small – enables us to continue offering in-depth reporting, community events, interviews, obituaries and local sports coverage.
Laura and I have been essentially funding the Gazette out of ow own pockets for the last 18 months.
There are no subscriptions or paywalls. No annoying pop-up ads. The Gazette will ALWAY be free to read for those who want to stay connected to Biddeford.
But running a professional organization – even a nonprofit – does require revenue.
Almost anyone can create a Facebook page or a blog and label themselves as a journalist, without any professional training, oversight or any accountability. That’s easy and doesn’t require funding.
But the Gazette is different.
We follow standard journalistic practices, including the use of bylines and ensuring that our reporting covers all angles. We accept and embrace constructive feedback.
Almost anyone can create
a Facebook page or a blog
and label themselves as a journalist,
without any professional training,
oversight or accountability.
That’s easy and doesn’t require funding.
We have published standards and rigorous professional guidelines. When you read the Gazette, you know who is standing behind it. We are always accountable and accessible to you and the greater community.
I have been covering Biddeford news — off and on — for nearly 30 years. That experience offers Gazette readers unique and unmatched context in all of our reporting, including our in-depth analysis.
We don’t just cut and paste press releases. We ask hard questions. We dig deep and remain committed to fairness.
What will we do with your donations?
Our first goal is to be able to offer stipend compensation for volunteers and increased reporting coverage that will allow us to provide more coverage of school committee meetings, high school sports and planning board meetings.
We cannot expect our team of volunteers to continually do quality work without any compensation. Our volunteers are amazing, but we’re ready to step up our game.
We have also secured a new domain for our website, and we’re working with a professional web designer to provide our readers with a smoother, more engaging reader experience.
We’re also working to create an annual scholarship for a graduating BHS student who is planning to study journalism or related field. The Gilman E. Seaver Memorial Scholarship will honor the memory of my grandfather who was a beloved English teacher at Biddeford High School.
There are also day-to-day expenses that add up, including our annual membership dues as part of the New England Newspaper and Press Association, our professional development training and mundane things such as filing fees for court records and property deed research; office supplies, legal expenses and insurance premiums.
We’re excited about the future, but we need YOUR help to get there.
If you enjoy the Gazette, please help us keep you connected to Biddeford.
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR PUBLISHER
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE
“Keeping You Connected to Biddeford”
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