New nonprofit looks to raise $1 million to preserve Down East newspapers
Acadia Newspaper Trust Aims to Preserve Three Down East Maine Papers with $1 Million Fundraise
A new nonprofit group, the Acadia Newspaper Trust, announced a plan to raise one million dollars to buy and convert three long‑standing local newspapers in Maine’s Down East region into nonprofit entities. The trust intends to purchase The Ellsworth American, the Mount Desert Islander and the Bangor Historian by next summer, using the funds to cover acquisition costs and initial operating expenses.
The Ellsworth American, first published in 1851, has served the city of Ellsworth for over 170 years. The Mount Desert Islander, launched in 2001, covers life on Maine’s flagship island of Mount Desert. The Bangor Historian, a weekly that focuses on the region’s past, was created by The Ellsworth American earlier this year. All three publications have traditionally been privately owned.
“Local journalism is facing enormous economic pressures,” said Chris Crockett, the publisher of the three papers. “This effort is about building a sustainable future while preserving what has always defined our newspapers: local ownership, local voices and a commitment to the communities we serve.” He added that the trust’s goal is “to make sure these newspapers remain firmly rooted in the communities they serve for generations to come.”
Alan Baker, former publisher and owner of both The Ellsworth American and the Mount Desert Islander, echoed this sentiment. “A community newspaper is one of a town’s most important institutions,” he said. “Its responsibility is to inform, to hold government accountable, and to tell the stories that define who we are.” Baker described the trust’s creation as an investment in that mission, ensuring the papers will continue to operate with independence and integrity.
The Acadia Newspaper Trust plans to raise the $1 million through donations, grants and other fundraising efforts. Once the money is secured, the nonprofit will purchase the publications and manage them as community‑focused, nonprofit outlets. The goal is to complete the transition by next summer, securing a stable future for the three papers amid a challenging media landscape.
The trust’s announcement was issued on Wednesday, and it has called on readers and supporters in Down East Maine to contribute to the effort. The move follows a national trend of local newspapers converting to nonprofit structures to preserve journalism that serves small communities.
