Bangor Daily News 2021 Impact Report

2021

Impact Report Maine stories you can’t find anywhere else

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Here’s something almost no one knows about Maine: We are a more heavily forested state today than we were 100 years ago. Why? Thousands of small farms have been sold or abandoned and reclaimed by the state’s native white pine, birch, red maple and sumac. Nothing is guaranteed to last, not even age-old enterprises such as farms. Not even newspapers.

Bangor Daily News is 132 years old. I’ve been here for 33 of them, beginning long before the challenges of the Internet, but not before the worst impulses of humankind, in analog form, spread through fake news, political quackery and fear of what lay beyond our borders and our understanding. Good newspapers -- and Bangor Daily News is one of them -- have been a constant salve for those afflictions, explaining what happened, why and to whom. So when we use our motto “We bring Maine together,” what we mean is that we can explain our small part of the world in a way that connects neighbors through a common understanding of current events.

Knowing can take the fear out of a thing.

That becomes even more important against the algorithms and speed of social media. The changing political climate and collapse of trust in institutions over the decades have created suspicion among neighbors where once there was an easy-going agree-to-disagree fellowship.

Keeping local journalism healthy is especially important here in the northern half of Maine, where small towns have more deaths than births, good jobs at the paper mills are largely gone and national media only show up in July for in-depth inspections of Maine’s tourist coast. Our coverage area begins at the Canadian border in Madawaska, Maine, and goes five and a half hours south to Portland. No other news organization connects Maine’s most rural communities to the state’s service centers as we do.

But this essential role depends on a web of support. For a long time for newspapers, this meant display ads, classifieds and print subscriptions. As habits have changed these have faded and will continue to fade. In their place, we have found revenue in digital subscriptions and digital marketing, though they have yet to meet the need for support.

Community funding is beginning to help close the gap between what print is losing and digital sources are gaining. But even more than that, those funds have been an expression of trust, that journalism is a public good that deserves support. Hundreds of readers have shown us that Maine residents are willing to invest in our work. That support is humbling, and it’s made us so thankful for our readers and even more determined to keep bringing Maine together.

Todd Benoit President and COO

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OUR CHARGE The Bangor Daily News and its family of papers seek to bring Maine together through factbased local journalism that reflects our communities and helps Mainers think through important local issues.

Every day, BDN journalists gather the facts and follow local stories wherever they lead. We chronicle the endurance and uniqueness of our communities, hold the powerful to account, and seek the answers that matter to Mainers. We take pride in telling local stories, uncovering hidden truths, and spurring action throughout Maine. Every day, BDN reporting supports changemakers, policymakers, and lifelong learners as they make important decisions for themselves and their communities.

For more than 130 years, our audience has hired us to ask important questions, cover the news and put it in context. We won’t waver from that mission.

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EXPOSING A SYSTEMIC LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY among Maine’s sheriffs

The Bangor Daily News investigation Lawmen Off Limits delved into the misconduct of county officers in Maine and has led to at least three legislative bills to institute more oversight and more stories as sources continued to come forward.

The BDN successfully pushed back against unwarranted record redactions in two counties and showed how a third sheriff’s office failed to keep discipline records at all, and discovered that county officers had kept their certifications despite repeatedly lying to their supervisors, belittling an inmate based on his disabilities and ethnicity, and sexually harassing colleagues and prisoners. Finally, this investigation revealed what can happen when no one has authority to place a sheriff on leave while under investigation.

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Winner of the New England First Amendment Coalition’s 2021 Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award

slation] “Part of my inspiration [for this legi was the series your newspaper ran… having be t no e er w at th s er fic of g in rd ga re at was properly. I don’t know of anyone th not incensed by that behavior.”

– Rep. David McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield

Read the full story on bangordailynews.com/lawmen-off-limits/ Key takeaways from our months-long investigations into county law enforcement A secret settlement hid an officer’s misconduct. Outside Maine, it would have been different.

How Maine lawmakers want to strengthen oversight of police Following outcry, recovery coaching program resumes at Hancock County Jail bangordailynews.com/2021/02/06/news/hancock/following-outcry-recoverycoaching-program-resumes-at-hancock-county-jail/ The series would not have been possible without funding support from the Pulitzer Center.

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PEELING BACK THE VEIL

on a culture permissive of sexual misconduct in the Maine Army National Guard

The BDN’s three-part series, “Unguarded,” tells the stories of soldiers sexually assaulted and harassed within the ranks of the Maine Army National Guard while lax enforcement of policies, little oversight, and retaliation against those who complained continued for more than a decade. Since the story published, a support group for sexual trauma survivors in the Guard formed and is already playing a role in supporting women with similar experiences. Multiple current and former soldiers wrote to us to say that seeing their experiences reflected in the public record made them feel profoundly less alone, including this former member of the guard: “It’s about time some light got shone on this issue! Thank you for saying what some of us can’t!”

e road to be “This story has given me th n the guard ee tw be s ge id br ild bu to le ab and the community.”

– First Lt. Rebecca Cornell Du

Houx

Read the full story on bangordailynews.com/unguarded/ Inside the Maine Army National Guard, soldiers say a predatory culture goes unchecked What Maine can do to fix how the Army National Guard handles sexual assaults Key takeaways from the BDN’s investigation of the Maine Army National Guard Maine female soldiers form support group for sexual trauma survivors 6

A NEW POLICY FOR OLD CRIME STORIES helps people move on with their lives

In 2021 the BDN adopted a new approach to old crime stories, and now accepts requests to remove outdated, minor crime stories from Google to help people move on with their lives after making mistakes.

This change began with a discussion among editors around how we navigate a digital world where print mores are increasingly becoming irrelevant -- and we shouldn’t stick to them just because that’s how it’s been for years. New tools available for managing how stories are presented on the internet now make it possible for us to de-list stories from Google while preserving the archive of local news on our own site. This makes stories approved for de-listing far less discoverable online.

Feedback from people whose requests we have been able to approve has confirmed this policy is needed, and makes a difference in their lives.

s since been “Even though my charge ha ne, all prospective ai M of e at St e th by d se is dism y name and m le og go is do to ed ne s employer ntinues to cause me co ] [It . le tic ar is th d fin ey th sment, and as rr ba em n, io at ili m hu e du un kforce.” difficulty re-entering the wor – an applicant

Requests made in

2021

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Stories approved for delisting in

2021

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“I cannot thank you enough. You do not understand how much this means to me. I’m in tears.” ​​

– an applicant whose request was approved

Learn more at bangordailynews.com/forgetme/ More on this emerging practice: cjr.org/special_report/right-to-be-forgotten.php

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BRINGING RACISM INTO THE OPEN

Moving forward as a school community

When BDN reporting uncovered racism experienced by students at Bangor High School, the school community began a cultural shift and extensive review of internal policies, curriculum, and the experiences of students of color. This examination led to new policies, staff, and diversity initiatives in the Bangor schools.

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“

Sometimes, people would rather at avoid tough conversations. Race is the forefront of things that people would rather not talk about.

“

es Tager

– Bangor schools Superintendent Jam

“As the parent of childre n of color, who both attend Bangor schools, it was very encouraging that this story was report ed on because it means the community is interest ed in highlighting issues that affect minorities. My family and I consider Bangor our home and an y positive changes that come out of this story m akes us feel that we mad e the right choice in choosi ng Bangor.”

– Cassandra Hassouna

Read the full story on bangordailynews.com Racism is my high school experience bangordailynews.com/2020/06/23/news/bangor/racism-is-my-high-school-experience/ How Bangor’s schools can address racism bangordailynews.com/2020/07/27/news/bangor/as-bangor-responds-to-racism-in-itsschools-these-are-some-steps-to-address-it/ Students who experienced racism at Bangor High feel validated, but underwhelmed, by probe bangordailynews.com/2021/01/07/news/bangor/students-who-experienced-at-racism-atbangor-high-feel-validated-but-underwhelmed-by-probe/ New Bangor schools superintendent says addressing racism is personal bangordailynews.com/2021/09/20/news/bangor/new-bangor-schools-superintendentsays-addressing-racism-is-personal/

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A DEEP LOOK AT ONE INCARCERATED MAN’S STRUGGLE with extreme mental health needs

This heartbreaking piece of reporting brought readers into the Maine State Prison to witness the painful personal story of Zachary Swain, a 25-year-old Maine prisoner who has spent years in solitary confinement. Swain has a documented history of serious mental health issues and struggles to follow rules. He has repeatedly harmed others and himself. So prison officials have kept him in isolation, where he only deteriorated further.

Over nine months, reporter Callie Ferguson pored through prison discipline records, medical records and emails with prison staff, and interviewed both Swain and his mother multiple times.

She also looked outside Maine, for examples of other states navigating mental health challenges in prisons differently.

The story struck a nerve, and public outcry led to a new deal with Knox County District Attorney Natasha Irving for early release so Swain can seek out mental health services. His latewinter release will likely coincide with lawmakers considering a bill to ban the use of solitary confinement in Maine.

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“Around 20 of Swain’s former teachers from the Cape Elizabeth school system wrote to officials at the Maine State Prison, Maine Department of Corrections, and to lawmakers asking that Zach receive better mental health services.

In addition, one teacher in the social studies department built Zach’s story into her curriculum for a unit on the American prison system. Students spent two days reading my articles, discussing his case, and then deciding whether his treatment constituted a violation of the 8th amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

(They decided ‘yes.’)”

– Reporter Callie Ferguson

the incarceration on ng ti or p re r fo u yo nk ha “T .” of people with mental illness – Tammy, Belfast

Read the full story on bangordailynews.com Bad things keep happening to Maine man desperate to escape solitary confinement bangordailynews.com/2021/10/01/mainefocus/bad-things-keephappening-to-zachary-swain/ Desperate to escape solitary confinement, a Maine man’s plight deepens bangordailynews.com/2021/08/17/mainefocus/desperate-toescape-solitary-confinement-a-maine-mans-plight-deepens/ Under new deal with DA, Maine man who suffered in solitary would leave prison bangordailynews.com/2021/10/22/mainefocus/maine-mandesperate-to-escape-solitary-confinement-would-leave-prisonunder-new-deal/

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NAVIGATING A SECOND PANDEMIC YEAR 2021 brought the inevitable realization that a pandemic we all thought would end with widespread vaccine availability could actually drag on much longer. What had been an all-hands-on-deck breaking news event became a dull roar of unrelenting anxiety felt across all sectors, that we needed to help our readers manage. This kind of reporting is less about a single investigation or beat than about understanding what readers care about, and need to know to live their lives.

ing is t r o p e r e in a tate of M S d n a l a c e work! lo ic r N . g “You in t r o p ovid re C r u o y is s a t rmed.” o f in excellen s u g in p r kee Thank you fo swell – Robert, Harp

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Explore the archive: bangordailynews.com/covid-19/ Maine therapists say people are stressed, but there are still reasons for optimism At-home COVID-19 tests get harder to find just as Mainers need them more Maine’s emergency helicopter fleet braces for COVID-19 to get worse What you need to know about Maine’s preparations for the new COVID-19 variant After struggling to find emergency staff, Belfast is trying something new Lewiston hospital’s staffing problems are the worst Maine has seen during the pandemic What Mainers should know about COVID-19 vaccines for younger kids Piscataquis commissioners cut off protest over Zoom as they sign COVID-19 resolution 13

READER TESTIMONIALS When our readers tell us that our reporting struck a chord, we take heart. When our readers share what matters, we listen.

When our readers say we can do better, we redouble our efforts.

“It is important to support quality, local, in depth journalism. For me that is the Bangor Daily News.

Evidence of that is their recent series on sexual harassment in the Maine National Guard, as well as coverage of the issues in the smaller communities in the northern half of the state.

If BDN wasn’t doing that, who would be?”

– Marshall, Deer Isle

at is h w t u o b a e elling m t r o f u o ies y r o k t n s e s o “Tha h t ll aine. A M in g in n e p ts and h g fi l o o really hap h c s l nd loca a s il c n u o the c s n ll e w t o t t a t h u t o e b a arrativ n a o t in e v a try. n u o c e h t f HS sports we o e but in a M f o t s ju this.” r o f e c r story not u o s he only t e r a u o Y . p Don’t sto scriber – a sub

“Thank you. Your reporting is vital to my quality of life. Keep up the great work!”

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– Maureen, Lubec

“Thanks for bein g caring members of our communit morning read ha y. My s confirmed it! Ta k in g the initiative to cover stories tha t make changes in people’s lives the recovery cou (such as nselors in the jail ) and acknowled need to see that ging the in this digital age , our mistakes ca us forever, (it’s n n follow ot buried somew h e re in a paper archiv and do somethin e), g to allow people to move on, now is caring and a ve that ry important thin g in th is world, when it seems many just care about ‘the b ottom line.’”

– Jennifer, Harpsw

ell

“I think the BDN is probably the most balanced newspaper in the state, as far as news. I’m not in the Bangor-metro area but in Brunswick, and the publications here tend to be very liberal and negative towards folks who hold conservative values. I think the BDN offers a fair representation to both ‘sides’, if you will.

Maybe it’s reflective of The Two Maines.”

– a subscriber

“We recently mo ved to the area, and we love gett ing the BDN thanks for helpin g us understand our local issues a nd to get to know this aweso me community!”

– Jessica, Veazie

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SHARED VALUES LOCAL JOURNALISM REMINDS US OF OUR

After two house fires in buildings without working smok e detectors in Lincoln, one of whi ch tragically killed a first grader, th e Lincoln fire department mobilize d to protect kids, raising $5500 to purchase 1,064 smoke detect ors and distribute them to students in Lincoln schools.

After child’s death in Lincoln fire, more th an 1,000 kids will get fre e smoke detectors

bangordailynews.co m/2021/07/16/news/h ancock/ driver-who-got-stuck-h auling-an-mri-to-barharborsurprised-by-kindne ss-of-mainers/

To adapt to changing fisheries, a father and son team rehabilitate an old fishing boat together in preparation for the June opening of monkfish season.

This father and son traveled through rough seas to keep a family fishing tradition alive bangordailynews.com/2021/06/14/ nnews/portland/this-father-and-so p-kee traveled-through-rough-seas-to a-family-fishing-tradition-alive/

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When a superload truck carrying a new MRI building destined for Mount Desert Isla nd Hospital got stuck on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in the middle of tourist season , Mainers surprised driver Mike Saxton with

patience, kindness, donuts and che

ers.

The pandemic workforce shortage is crunching businesses across the state, and schools are no exception. Until late October, RSU 26 Food Service Director Ben Jacobson did the work of three people, keeping 500 students fed, and modeling the values of

teamwork and service.

Driver who got stuck hauling an MRI to Bar Harbor surprised by kindness of Mainer s dailynews.com/2021/07/16/news/han cock/driver-whogot-stuck-hauling-an-mri-to-bar-harbo r-surprised-bykindness-of-mainers/

He’s been the only one behind the cafeteria counter when 500 kids get their lunch in Orono bangordailynews.com/2021/10/25/news/bangor/hesbeen-the-only-one-behind-the-cafeteria-counter-when500-kids-get-their-lunch-in-orono-joam40zk0w/

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World War II pilot Second Lt. Ernest Vienneau who was considered missing in ac tion for more than 75 years was buried with military honors in his hometown of Millinocket , a year after Defense Departmen t divers recovered his body from the wreckage of a bomber pl ane off the coast of Croatia.

WWII pilot from Millinock et missing in action for 75 years will be buried with military honors bangordailynews.com/20 21/08/21/news/ penobscot/wwii-pilot-from -millinocketmissing-in-action-for-75 -years-will-be-buriedwith-military-honors/

The Millinocket Marathon and Half, a unique sports event with no entry fees, returned in 2021 to bring an economic boost to the mill town,

working hard to reinvent itself.

A marathon about Millinocket returns to give the town an economic boost bangordailynews.com/2021/12/04/news/ penobscot/a-marathon-about-millinocketreturns-to-give-the-town-an-economic-boost/

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Maine kids are n’t exempt fro m the national trend of kids spend ing more time indoors.

St. John Valle y teachers are creating new outdoor teach ing modules to help kids fi nd joy in the Maine outdoors, ins till confidenc e in outdoor life skills and keep them in vested in their educatio n in a region where young people typica lly leave for o ther places.

Maine kids are n’t spending enough time side in a state outknown for the outdoors bangord

ailynews.com /2021/09/24/ maine-kids-ar news/aroosto ent-spending ok/ -enough-timestate-knownoutside-in-afor-the-outdo ors/

INCREASING THE IMPACT OF MAINE SERVICE AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

Pulse Marketing Agency, a BDN sister company, is a full-service marketing agency employing 12 local marketing, design, web development, and sales professionals focused on growing businesses in Maine and beyond, and connecting Mainers with vital services offered by nonprofits.

HELPING KIDS IN NEED As sponsor of the Penquis Community Action Program’s seasonal Christmas is for Kids campaign, Pulse helps connect Maine children in case management services with donors volunteering to make their holiday wishes come true. In the 2021 season, leftover donations helped local families in need during the holiday season. Pulse’s sponsorship included advertising on the Bangor Daily News website, bringing the message of gifting joy to local children to generous Mainers.

BOOSTING MAINE’S ECONOMY Working with a number of state agencies and departments in 2021, Pulse generated interest in state initiatives, programs, services, and activities to boost Maine’s economy. Contracted state projects have included video marketing to encourage Mainers and visitors to explore Maine’s State Parks, recruitment campaigns for areas recognized by the State as understaffed and high need, and public awareness campaigns.

LOOKING AHEAD In 2022, Pulse is pursuing projects that generate interest in the State of Maine as a whole, or directly benefit its residents. Pulse understands the weight that awareness plays in ensuring that Mainers receive the services they need, and looks forward to continuing to connect people with services that reduce their barriers to education, job training, or housing.

SPREADING AWARENESS Throughout 2021, Pulse worked with nonprofit agencies to amplify education efforts for local services such as lending programs for members of Native tribes in Maine, affordable housing, and public health initiatives. With increased awareness of public service initiatives, more Mainers have the knowledge they need to make use of these services, especially during the pandemic.

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CONVENING COMMUNITY In 2021 BDN was proud to host more than 2,600 readers from across Maine and beyond with online events geared toward important topics in Maine life, hobbies and artistic issues, and civic information.

The move to online-only events due to the pandemic made it possible to host more conversations on more topics, reaching more people and across a greater distance than ever before.

COVID ve si n e xt e e th e at ci re p “I ap uestions q l u tf h g u o th d an e g ra cove efings, ri b ss re p C D C g n ri u d d aske ity of the al u q d an ty e ri va e th d an live/zoom events.”

– a subscriber

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THANK YOU

TO OUR 2021 EVENT SPONSORS

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THANK YOU

TO OUR 2021 FUNDERS AND DONORS

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT OVER $250 Karin Anderson 20 Anonymous Donors Joseph Baldacci Amy Bargeron David Batuski Kate & Walter Beard-Tisdale Susan Brawley Laurie Campanelli David Carlisle Douglas Chamberlin Thomas “Skip” Chappelle John Churchill Michael Comer Sascha Deri G Clifton Eames Sue Erich

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Richard Ferguson Duane & Deb Hanselman Alan Hess Joan Holmes Barbara & Phil Joyce Alvion Kimball George Knightly Norton Lamb Anne S Lawton David & Barbara Lockwood K Prescott Low Jan Luke Dan MacLeod Margaret McGarvey Lorenzo Mitchell Glenn Montgomery

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INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT UNDER $250 Robert Goodwin Robert Gott Diane Grant Howard Gray Virginia Green Pattie von Gretener Faith Griffith Geraldine Gross Samantha Lott Hale Janet Hamel Amanda Hancock Paula Hannah-Mauri Cecilia Harmon Judith Harrison Marcia Hart-Quinby Ann Hartman Meg Haskell Stephen Hathaway Jasper Haynes Rosemary Hede Michael Hein Hanna M Henderson Andrew Henry Sara Louise Hessler Ryan Hews Mary Anne Hillery Bruce & Amy Hodgdon John Hodgman Maggie & Darryl Hoffman Constance Holden Mary Hollingdale Jennifer Holmes Sue & Ed Hoovler Gary Howard Leslie Hudson Mary Frances Hudson Charles Hudson Brian Hurley Edward Hurwitz Donna Inglehart Constance Insley Dennis Jackson George Jacobson Gregory & Elizabeth Jamison 24

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EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE

In our work with individual donors and community and institutional funders who support journalism at the BDN, the following principles guide our conduct: 1. Local news is a public good that is under financial stress and must be protected. By supporting the Bangor Daily News, funders and donors are helping to sustain a local and locally accountable information source -- and by extension, supporting Maine communities.

2. Funders and donors do not have any input into the reporting and writing of stories or into any specific content that will emerge from initiatives funded directly by businesses, organizations or individual contributors (community funders).

3. Funders and donors are not aware of specific stories the Bangor Daily News is working on and do not review them before publication.

4. Funders and donors do not have special access to reporters, editors or any newsroom staff.

5. We commit to uphold high reporting standards, and we will follow the story wherever it may lead, regardless of who helped to fund our journalism.

From time to time we may gather financial support from funders for specific areas of coverage. When we do so, these additional principles apply: 7. We are proud of our funders and eager for readers to know who they are: We name funders on every story funded in whole or in part by community and institutional funders.

8. We commit to share any evidence of impact of funded work with the funder of that work.

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THANK YOU. With your support, the BDN brings Maine together.