Granite State News Collaborative: Local news lives here. We’re listening.

If you’re reading this, chances are you already believe in local news.

You follow what’s happening in your community. You understand the value of having reporters at school board meetings, city halls, and in neighborhoods where stories often go untold. You know that local journalism helps hold power accountable, keeps people informed, and strengthens the places we call home.

In many ways, you are the choir we’re preaching to.

And we’re grateful you’re here.

But we also know something else: too many people in our communities don’t feel that local news is for them. They may feel disconnected from it, underserved by it, or unsure how it fits into their lives. At a time when misinformation and disinformation spread easily, and when divisions can feel sharper than ever, that disconnect matters.

Because local news — real, verified, community-rooted journalism — is one of the most powerful antidotes we have.

It helps reduce polarization by grounding us in shared facts.

It helps us understand one another by telling stories that reflect the full range of our communities.

It helps us feel connected — not just to headlines, but to each other.

But for local news to do that, it has to reach people where they are.

And that means we need to listen.

This spring, publishers, editors, and journalists from across New Hampshire — many of whom were once competitors — are coming together to do something different. Together, we’re stepping outside our newsrooms and into communities across the state for a series of conversations we’re calling the Publisher’s Crawl.

These conversations begin this spring and will continue throughout the year, with events planned in communities across New Hampshire.

We’re not coming to present.

We’re not coming to defend.

We’re coming to listen.

We want to hear from people who don’t usually engage with local news.

We want to understand what’s missing, what’s not working, and where we’re falling short.

We want to learn what would make local news more relevant, more accessible, and more reflective of the communities we serve.

And yes — we know that means being open to critique.

That’s not something we shy away from. It’s something we’re actively inviting.

Because this work — this shared effort to inform, connect, and strengthen our communities — is bigger than any one newsroom. It always has been. And increasingly, it’s something we’re doing together.

Across New Hampshire, local news organizations are collaborating in ways that would have been unthinkable not long ago. We’re sharing stories, resources, and ideas. We’re working across outlets, formats, and regions because we recognize that the health of local news anywhere strengthens local news everywhere.

The Publisher’s Crawl is an extension of that spirit.

It’s a chance for us to show up — not as competitors, but as collaborators. Not just as storytellers, but as listeners.

And we need your help.

If you’re already someone who reads, watches, or listens to local news, we ask you to do one simple but powerful thing:

Share this with someone who doesn’t.

Invite them. Bring them. Encourage them to come talk to us.

Their perspective is exactly what we need to hear.

We’re aiming to host conversations in every region of the state. If you don’t see your community listed yet, don’t worry — we’re not leaving you out.

We’ll keep it informal, welcoming — and yes, there will be snacks and a few small prizes. Just as important, we’ll be sharing what we hear after each event so communities across New Hampshire can learn from one another and help shape what comes next.

The events scheduled so far are as follows:

• April 15 — Hosted by Manchester Ink Link at To Share Brewing Company, Manchester, 6–7:30 p.m. 
• May 21 — Hosted by Nashua Ink Link at Spyglass Brewing Company, Nashua, 6–7:30 p.m. 
• June 9 — Hosted by Concord Monitor at  Lithermans Limited Brewing, time TBD, 
• Aug. 20 — Hosted by NHPR, Place and Time TBD 
• Sept. 17 — Hosted by Keene Sentinel, Place and Time TBD
• Oct. 15 — Hosted by The Laconia Daily Sun, Place and Time TBD

We’ll be adding dates and details regularly, so check in with us often at collaborativenh.org/pubcrawl. 

Local news lives here.

And if we want it to serve everyone, we have to hear from everyone.

We’re listening.

•••

These articles are being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. Don’t just read this. Share it with one person who doesn’t usually follow local news — that’s how we make an impact. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org.