Maine Trust for Local News Reevaluates Central Maine Coverage Strategy Amid Challenges in Skowhegan

The Maine Trust for Local News has decided to reevaluate its coverage strategy for Central Maine, particularly concerning the town of Skowhegan. Previously, the Portland Press Herald attempted to cover outlying towns from its Portland base, approximately 100 miles away, but this approach proved ineffective. Consequently, the newspaper is now seeking a local freelancer from the Skowhegan area to oversee its community coverage. The attempt to assign Portland-based journalist Alex Lear to manage Skowhegan's coverage was met with criticism, as many believed that remote reporting hindered understanding of local nuances. Lear announced the search for a local writer with experience and interest in newsletter curation to take over the role.