

The Media Issue
All the Vermont Media News You Can Use in 2026
The way people get and share news is changing. For the 2026 Media Issue, Seven Days looks at how Vermont journalism outlets are learning to survive.
VTDigger’s Contract Negotiations Highlight Fears About AI
A spat over the possible use of artificial intelligence has sown discord between workers and management in Vermont’s largest newsroom.
Vermont Public Navigates a Future Without Subsidies
The nonprofit is weathering the federal cuts to public broadcasting
From the Publisher: State of the Media
Publisher Paula Routly checks in on Vermont’s changing media landscape and the correlation between reliable local news and healthy civic engagement.
Vermont Media News: Developments You May Have Missed
Here’s local media news that may have escaped your attention — from a controversial citizen-journalist in Brattleboro to an all-star readership in Middlebury.
Compass Vermont Raises Questions About the Role of AI in Producing the News
Evidence shows that the online news outlet’s stories are produced, at least in part, with undisclosed artificial intelligence.
As Print Journalism Declined, These Vermont Journos Adapted
Print outlets have shed jobs nationally for decades. Veteran scribes Rob Gurwitt and Mike Donoghue carved new niches for themselves in Vermont anyway.
Town Meeting TV Gears Up for Its Election Results Show
The public access television station has become one of Vermont’s most reliable sources of campaign coverage.
Vermont Public Declines to Air Film About the State’s Abenakis
Vermont PBS aired the film years ago — before Vermont Public reported and published a series questioning the legitimacy of tribes that the state has officially recognized as Abenaki.
Lane Press Keeps Magazines Alive in Digital Age
The South Burlington business has printed, bound and distributed magazines and catalogs for generations, even as the industry shrank.
Soundbites: The Future of Music Journalism
As music journalism continues to both change and shrink, music editor Chris Farnsworth contemplates the future of Vermont music coverage.
Senator Who Resigned Over Racist Chats Lands Reporting Gig
A new byline appeared in the online publication Vermont Daily Chronicle: Sam Douglass, who stepped down from his Orleans County seat last fall.
Food Photographer Clare Barboza Gets the Glamour Shot
The Brattleboro artist shoots for cookbooks, magazines and big brands. Through workshops and her Poppy Bee business, she also teaches the tricks of the trade.
Ryder Manske Is a Burlington Line Cook With a Serious Online Following
The 22-year-old Hen of the Wood line cook has thousands of followers of his low-key, self-produced recipe videos. Just don’t call him an influencer.
News
Arts+Culture
This Year’s White River Indie Festival Is More Than a Film Fest
With new classes and live events, the expanded eight-day White River Junction arts fest has grown well beyond its film-focused roots.
Page 32: Short Takes on Five Vermont Books (2/25/26)
Short reviews of five new releases by Vermont authors, including an art book about wet nurses, a poetry collection and essays about living off the land.
Q&A: Hey June Letterpress Studio Builds a Community of Note
Maria Brown’s stationery shop has been forging connections in Richmond for five years. Go behind the scenes of this “Stuck in Vermont” video.
Ghosts and the Machine: Damian Stamer’s AI-Inspired Paintings
The North Carolina artist creates paintings based on his memories that incorporate AI-generated imagery and hallucinated “Angels & Ghosts.”
Artist dan Waller Turns Trash into Treasured Objects at Kishka
The longtime New York City building superintendent makes reliquary-like sculptures from discarded materials such as window screens, book covers and thorns.
Magnificent 7: Must-See, Must-Do Events in and Around Vermont, February 25-March 4
Explore our editor’s picks for must-do events in the region this week, including citywide nighttime arts extravaganza Nuit Blanche across Montréal.
Food+Drink
Food Photographer Clare Barboza Gets the Glamour Shot
The Brattleboro artist shoots for cookbooks, magazines and big brands. Through workshops and her Poppy Bee business, she also teaches the tricks of the trade.
Ryder Manske Is a Burlington Line Cook With a Serious Online Following
The 22-year-old Hen of the Wood line cook has thousands of followers of his low-key, self-produced recipe videos. Just don’t call him an influencer.
Church Street Marketplace Seeks New Food and Drink Kiosk Tenant
Leunig’s Petit Bijou will not reapply to renew its lease. Leunig’s co-owner Amy Bernhardt cited staffing, competition and the “struggling” downtown population.
Whereabouts Cocktail Bar and Day Haus Find ‘Forever Home’ in Stowe
The coworking space and its associated speakeasy have moved to the longtime Sunset Grille location. Now, the bar is open to all with regular service.
Music+Nightlife
Soundbites: The Future of Music Journalism
As music journalism continues to both change and shrink, music editor Chris Farnsworth contemplates the future of Vermont music coverage.
On the Beat: New Releases From Vermont Musicians
From indie to rap to rock, local artists put out fresh tracks. Here’s the latest from Anteneh, Mavstar and Boxguts, Moira Smiley, and Emily Margaret Band.
Album Review: Astral Underground, ‘Star Struck Gutz’
The Enosburg Falls trio delivers a strikingly modern take on jazz, pushing the envelope and bottling lightning for the third time.
On Screen
George Clooney Ponders If Stardom Was Worth the Cost in the Overstuffed ‘Jay Kelly’
Noah Baumbach’s drama about Hollywood regrets has a large cast, glossy cinematography and a screenplay that spells out its themes.
Now Playing in Theaters, February 25-March 4
In addition to Scream 7, here’s what is playing in Northern and Central Vermont movie theaters this week. Listings include new movies, vintage films and a directory of open theaters.
Fun Stuff
Crossword: ‘People With Connections’ (2/25/26)
Want more puzzles? Visit sevendaysvt.com/games
Free Will Astrology (2/25/26)
Check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes & daily text message horoscopes: realastrology.com or 1-877-873-4888.
Ask the Rev: I’m Turned Off by Long Toenails!
Untidy tootsies are giving one man cold feet about a potential partner. Here’s some advice for overcoming a tricky hygiene issue.
Life Lines
Obituary: Brian Waxler, 1959-2026
Proud husband and father made a second home at Pomerleau Real Estate, where he valued his coworkers as family
Obituary: Dennis Anthony Ross, 1952-2026
Forty-year community mental health counselor and advocate was deeply connected to his community and the land
Obituary: Lawrence Castello, 1949-2026
Burlington business owner was known for his warmth, generosity, and the deep connections he maintained with family and friends
Obituary: Keith Miner, 1930-2026
U.S. Army veteran and “true MacGyver” was known for his patience, kindness, steady resolve and warm smile
Obituary: Max Kavet Guyton, 1989-2026
Bass player found true joy in making music and created community and connection wherever he went
Obituary: Robert Merrick Fuller, 1946-2026
Chef, adventurer and vintage-motorcycle enthusiast owned and operated many iconic area restaurants, including Leunig’s Bistro in Burlington and the Bobcat Café & Brewery in Bristol
Obituary: Kyle L. Russell, 1962-2026
Longtime owner of KC’s Bagel Café in Waterbury will be remembered for her boundless kindness, creative brilliance and resilience
Obituary: Eric Boulanger, 1972-2026
Colchester man found joy in life’s quieter moments and was cherished for his kind-heartedness, sense of humor, and steadfast devotion to his family and friends
Obituary: Joan Mabelle LaPointe Flynn, 1933-2026
Registered nurse served for decades in area hospitals and was a lifetime volunteer with the American Red Cross
Obituary: Frank E. Lavery, 1948-2026
U.S. Navy veteran had a long career in computer coding and management, and his favorite people were his grandchildren
Obituary: Nancy Fish Zorn, 1953-2026
Longtime leader with Green Mountain United Way and the American Cancer Society strengthened programs to help others and beautified Barre through municipal gardens
Obituary: Joan P. Matanle, 1940-2026
Former nurse was involved in many areas of the Springfield community, and one of her greatest passions was being a grandmother
In Memoriam: Ellen Bryant Voigt
Please join us for a celebration of life for Ellen Bryant Voigt on Saturday, April 11, 2026, 1 p.m., at Alumni Hall, 45 College St., Montpelier, VT 05602. Reception to follow.
Obituary: Richard Davis, 1949-2026
Renaissance man was a race car driver, peace activist, luthier, fencer and a joy to have in any gathering
Obituary: Corena C. Hill, 1950-2026
St. Albans woman’s journey balanced motherhood with her professional aspirations






