Whereas, Vermont Independent Media (VIM) was incorporated on August 8, 2004, as a nonprofit organization at a time of intense consolidation in the newspaper industry, and
Whereas, this nonprofit organization was established to provide an independent source of local news produced locally for the people of Windham County, and
Whereas, the VIM newspaper, The Commons, began monthly publication monthly in January 2006, and, beginning on June 2, 2010, it became a weekly publication, and
Whereas, digitally, The Commons is accessible at Commonsnews.org for updated news, and
Whereas, The Commons's hiring of a full-time editor was a major step in its effort to achieve journalistic credibility and integrity, and
Whereas, the professional editorial leadership and The Commons's continuously improving journalistic output established the foundation for the publication winning six New England Newspaper and Press Association awards for journalism excellence, and
Whereas, increasing the number of community-based writers published in The Commons is being realized through the paper's distinctive Voices section that welcomes and features letters, essays, viewpoint commentary, and other original material from around the county and, when relevant, the state, and
Whereas, The Commons is considered a model for a successful local weekly newspaper, and the editorial staff was featured in the recent Vermont Public Television documentary Headline Vermont on the history of newspapers in the state, and this television documentary has been nominated for a New England/Boston regional Emmy Award, and
Whereas, VIM has also started a media mentoring project to teach journalism skills to adults and to children in schools, and
Whereas, on May 11, 2011, The Commons will proudly publish its 100th issue, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly congratulates the award-winning The Commons newspaper on the publication of its 100th issue, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Vermont Independent Media in Brattleboro.