Newspaper Gets Loan From Brattleboro

(Host) A free monthly newspaper in Brattleboro has received a loan from the town that will allow it to begin publishing every week.

The paper, called "The Commons," works with both established and inexperienced writers to produce in-depth local stories.

VPR's Susan Keese has more.

(Keese) The Commons started publishing in 2006.  It used a combination of advertising, grants and community donations to pay the bills.

Jeff Potter is the paper's executive editor. He says The Commons represents a new, non-profit model that could help newspapers emerge from the economic struggle that many have faced in recent years.

(Potter) "And I think more philosophically a model that really embraces the concept that newspapers should be: more of a public utility and less of a commercial enterprise."

(Keese) Potter says there's no pressure to make a profit, and that frees reporters to take the time to dig more deeply into local stories and local people that might not otherwise make the news.

It also allows the paper's editorial staff to work with people who may never have written a story before, but who have a story they want to tell.

 (Potter) "And that's what a true community newspaper can do, is to chronicle what matters to people. Particularly in some of the small towns that are beyond the reach and scope of the daily that covers the area."

(Keese) Potter says the $25,000 loan the paper has received from the town of Brattleboro is part of a revolving loan fund that's available to businesses throughout town.

Brattleboro Select Board Chairman Dick DeGray says the loan will not make The Commons obligated to the town editorially.

(Degray) "We viewed it as a small business loan. It didn't have any bearing that it was a newspaper. Since I've been on the board we've given money to a local brewery we've given money to a bagel start up. So as long as they meet the criteria, which they did."

(Keese) The Commons will start publishing weekly June 2nd.

For VPR News, I'm Susan Keese.