Nancy West - InDepthNH.org turns 10!
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Ten years ago, in the face of dramatic changes sweeping the news media, Nancy West launched InDepthNH.org, a news website under the aegis of the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism.
Nancy West reflects on ten years of hard-won success that has made InDepthNH.org an important force in providing local and state news and feature stories intended to fill the void left by the media companies that have eroded to a shadow of their previous versions or closed entirely.The Citizen of Laconia newspaper closed in 2016.
In 2022, the weekly digital E-Ticker News of Claremont ceased publication.
In 2024, the News and Sentinel in Colebrook published its final issue after unsuccessful attempts to sell the paper.
The Portsmouth Herald and Foster's Daily Democrat merged in 2014, and in 2023, their printing press in Portsmouth was shut down by their owner, Gannett, as part of a national consolidation effort.
The Union Leader has faced significant business and audience challenges, with its audience and financial stability diminishing. In 2012, two New Hampshire-based companies acquired 28 radio stations across New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine from Nassau Broadcasting, which had been forced into bankruptcy.
In 2025, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced its closure due to the loss of federal funding, which will impact local public television and radio stations, including potentially New Hampshire Public Radio and NH PBS.WBIN, one of New Hampshire's two commercial television stations, sold its broadcasting rights in 2017 and laid off most of its news staff, eventually going off the air.
Despite the long hours and attention to detail demanded of someone serving as both Editor and Publisher as well as chief cook and bottle washer, Nancy West has been able to also keep her fingers in her first love, journalism and her advocacy for freedom of the Press as well as on accountability with her Laurie List advocacy have really raised the bar on journalism in this new "wild west" new environment.
In 2023 Nancy West, received the Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award given by the New England First Amendment Coalition (NEFAC) at a ceremony in Boston.
The award is given each year to a journalist or team of journalists for a body of work that protects or advances the public’s right to know. The FOI Award is named for Michael Donoghue, who worked for more than 40 years at the Burlington Free Press.
Purchase tickets for 10th Anniversary event
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/10th-anniversary-celebration-of-indepthnhorg-tickets-1488794196519
In 2023 Nancy West, received the Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award given by the New England First Amendment Coalition (NEFAC) at a ceremony in Boston.
The award is given each year to a journalist or team of journalists for a body of work that protects or advances the public’s right to know. The FOI Award is named for Michael Donoghue, who worked for more than 40 years at the Burlington Free Press.
Purchase tickets for 10th Anniversary event
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/10th-anniversary-celebration-of-indepthnhorg-tickets-1488794196519
