Honors a young organization (operating for less than three years) for establishing strong support of their journalism throughout the community and the revenue growth to sustain it.

2025 Award Winner

Swampscott Tides

At first, the Swampscott Tides was an idea that three journalists and a lawyer discussed at a coffee shop in December 2023. At the time, they were unsure if their community, Swampscott, Massachusetts, wanted or would support a newspaper. 

Less than two years later, they have an answer. 

The Tides received nonprofit designation in February 2025 and had raised more than half of its projected annual budget as of May 24. Its leaders have hired a managing editor and signed a lease for a small newsroom. In May, the outlet also began publishing news stories and launched an email digest of aggregated stories called the Swampscott Tides Catch of the Week. 

Two weeks after its launch, the number of Tides subscribers increased nearly 30%, its digest open rate hit about 70%, and site traffic spiked after each digest went out. 

“These early results show that the community not only wants but will support a dedicated, independent source of local news,” Anne Driscoll, president of Swampscott Tides, said in the outlet’s nomination letter.

Finalists

• Oxford Free Press
• Spotlight Delaware