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Poll results

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce in late Sept. announced it is launching a nonprofit digital news outlet called the Worcester Guardian, an initiative the chamber says will bring more journalists to the city after a decline of independent local news in Central Massachusetts and nationwide.

Do you see a need in Central Massachusetts for more local news outlets?
Yes (86%, 173 VOTES)
No (14%, 29 VOTES)
Poll Description

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce in late Sept. announced it is launching a nonprofit digital news outlet called the Worcester Guardian, an initiative the chamber says will bring more journalists to the city after a decline of independent local news in Central Massachusetts and nationwide.

  • 202 Votes
  • 1 Comments
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1 Comments

  • September 26, 2023

    While we can hope the new Worcester Guardian publication complements and enhances existing local news coverage (MassLive, GBH News, The016, T&G, Spectrum News 1, Patch, WBJ, and several small but popular independent, crowd-funded outlets), the Guardian's rollout is concerning in terms of transparency, efficacy, and sustainability:
    - First, it plagiarized the New Bedford Light's "About Us" page (see Bill Shaner's "Worcester Sucks and I Love It" email)
    - Second, the opaque process of hiring Editor Charlene Arsenault (what's the job description? where was it posted? how long was it posted? who else was considered?)
    - Third, who's involved in nominating and appointing members of the "independent board of directors and community advisory board"?
    - Fourth, what's the Guardian's sustainability plan beyond the Chamber's initial seed money of $50K?
    Dave Nordman -- a consummate print journalism professional who is advising the Guardian -- is certainly right about one thing: The community is watching.