The Belmont Voice

Last updated

The Belmont Voice
TypeWeekly newspaper
FormatTabloid
Owner(s)The Belmont News Foundation, Inc.
Founder(s)Community members and journalists
PublisherThe Belmont News Foundation, Inc.
EditorJesse Floyd
FoundedJune 2023
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersBelmont, Massachusetts, U.S.
Circulation ~11,000 (weekly)
Website belmontvoice.org

The Belmont Voice is an independent, nonprofit newspaper serving the community of Belmont, Massachusetts. [1] Launched in 2023, the publication offers a weekly print edition and a digital platform providing local news, features, and community information. [2]

Contents

History

The Belmont Voice was founded in 2023 in response to the decline of local news coverage after significant reductions in reporting at the town’s long-established newspaper. [3] [4] The newspaper’s founders, a group of Belmont residents and journalists, created the outlet to restore local, independent reporting in the community. [5] Its formation occurred during a broader rise of nonprofit journalism in Massachusetts. [2]

Coverage of the launch appeared in trade and regional media. Editor & Publisher profiled the newspaper as an example of community-driven newsroom rebuilding. [5] Research from Northwestern University's Medill Local News Initiative included The Belmont Voice in an analysis of Massachusetts news-startup models. [2] A 2025 report from New Hampshire PBS and the Granite State News Collaborative described it as a “well-funded startup” that addressed a local news gap by reintroducing weekly print distribution and local reporting. [6]

Ownership and funding

The publication is operated by the nonprofit organization The Belmont News Foundation, Inc., incorporated in April 2023 as a 501(c)(3). [3] Its funding model combines charitable contributions and advertising revenue. [7] According to reporting from Boston.com, the foundation raised roughly US$500,000 in startup grants and donations during its first year. [7] Additional coverage from New Hampshire PBS in 2025 noted that the newspaper continued operating as a nonprofit supported by community fundraising efforts. [6]

Leadership and staffing

Veteran journalist Jesse Floyd serves as editor-in-chief. [4] Floyd previously spent nearly three decades with Community Newspaper Company/Gannett before helping launch The Belmont Voice. [4] The newsroom is staffed by two journalists, freelance contributors, and a part-time advertising sales manager. [6]

The foundation’s board of directors provides organizational oversight and guidance. [3]

Circulation and distribution

The Belmont Voice publishes a weekly print edition delivered free of charge to approximately 11,000 Belmont households and businesses. [6] The newspaper also maintains an active website and offers a weekly newsletter, which had more than 2,300 subscribers by mid-2025. [6]

Content and coverage

The publication focuses on hyperlocal journalism, including coverage of town government, schools, local sports, arts, business, and community events. [2] Its reporting addresses municipal issues, civic engagement, and topics of daily relevance to Belmont residents.

Community engagement

The Belmont Voice encourages community participation through reader feedback, letters, and story suggestions. [1] As a nonprofit, it offers local advertising opportunities and accepts individual donations to support its operations. [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The Belmont Voice". belmontvoice.org. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Haunted by ghost papers: How Massachusetts startups are replacing "ghost papers"". Medill Local News Initiative. Northwestern University. December 12, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "A New Weekly Voice for Belmont". Belmont Citizens Forum. June 30, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Who owns your local newspaper?". Concord Monitor. October 14, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "From News Desert to Newsroom: How Belmont Voice Rebuilt Community Journalism". Editor & Publisher. 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Disappearing news deserts: How communities are rebuilding local reporting". New Hampshire PBS / Granite State News Collaborative. October 7, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "With local news sources in peril, Cambridge is considering an infusion of public funds". Boston.com. July 11, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2025.