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Our vision
The New Lebanon Independent intends to provide the accurate, impartial, and consistent local reporting the town deserves. The town can’t set state taxes, control gas prices, or single‑handedly fix the housing market, yet these forces shape our lives. As a town, we navigate these challenging conditions by identifying opportunities and taking action. Budgets are set, contracts awarded, and plans are approved, often accompanied by rumors and innuendos that too often divide the town.
The Independent will report verifiable facts by talking to all the parties involved and explaining decisions in plain language and follow up by documenting their real-world impacts. The paper won’t advocate for a single party or particular outcome, but work to ensure residents have reliable information on which to base their judgments.
The New Lebanon Independent’s mission is to:
report accurately on town government, public institutions, and civic life;
explain decisions, finances, and policies in context, using primary sources and documentation; and
maintain a clear separation between factual reporting and opinion, so readers can trust what they read.
Who we are
I am Jim Dawson, editor-in-chief, and will serve as the primary reporter while the paper establishes editorial standards and a consistent voice by covering:
Town Board, School Board, and Planning Board meeting
Major town projects, contracts, and budget decisions
Other significant civic meetings, developments, and events
As the paper grows, additional contributors will be invited, and all content will be subject to editorial review for accuracy, sourcing, and clarity.
Why support is needed
There is no quick path to financial success for a local paper. A few papers have revived classified and local advertising, but that revenue is unlikely to cover operating costs. To get off the ground, The Independent needs a core group of founding members to underwrite time to attend meetings, interview sources, write, edit, design layouts, and print physical editions.
Your commitment will provide a runway: time to establish credibility, build habits of readership, invite additional voices, and test sustainable models that combine memberships, limited advertising, grants, and volunteer contributors.
Why this matters
When everyone has access to the same set of facts, disagreements do not disappear, but we can debate solutions rather than fight over causes. With more constructive conversations, decisions become clearer and include more people, which should build trust.
My first obligation is to publish news that people rely on. As confidence in the reporting rises, the community, along with the future board, can decide how The New Lebanon Independent should grow into a lasting civic institution.
If you are able, I invite you to become a member and help make good local news a reality.
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