A product of McClatchy Newspapers, Longmont Leader is expected to begin operations in late May to serve the residents of Longmont.
McClatchy acquired the Longmont Observer, a community-operated, free, nonprofit local news website run by volunteers which led to the launch of this new digital-only news site.
The news website will be the second of three community-centric digital publications around the country that are part of The Compass Experiment, which is described as a local news laboratory. The aim will be to disseminate news and to make local operations financially sustainable.
“We were drawn to Longmont because we want to help bring together its residents around a shared passion for the city, its people and its local businesses,” said Mandy Jenkins, general manager of the Compass Experiment. “But as the city has been growing, local news sources have been shrinking. We intend to build on the great work of the Longmont Observer with a news site that is hyper-focused on all things Longmont.”
Currently, officials are hiring a local team that includes a business development leader as well as an editor, assistant editor and two reporters.
The site is expected to feature comprehensive coverage of local news and events and will also be home to community columns and citizen journalism produced in partnership with Longmont Public Media.
Read more here.
