More than 100 Catskills residents braved single-digit temperatures on Saturday for a conversation about the future of local journalism.
“The Future of News: Global and Local,” hosted by Windham resident and The Overlook board member Josh King alongside other community members at the Catskill Mountain Country Store & Restaurant, explored the rise of nonprofit journalism, the changing media landscape, and the role community-based news organizations can play in filling local information gaps.
“The outlets on the ground, in the community, don’t exist anymore,” said James Doran, a former journalist who lives in East Jewett, near Windham. Speaking about The Overlook, he added, “To have that here, in our community, is of vital importance. The more people who get involved, the better.”
The panel was moderated by Anthony Scaramucci, a part-time Windham resident and podcast host who briefly served as White House communications director during the first Trump administration, and featured Susanne Craig, a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter for The New York Times and a member of The Overlook’s board of directors; Jim Rich, a senior reporter for The Overlook and former editor-in-chief of the New York Daily News; and Noah Eckstein, founding editor-in-chief of The Overlook.
Much of the discussion focused on The Overlook’s coverage area—Hunter, Hurley, Olive, Saugerties, Shandaken, and Woodstock—and how the nonprofit has positioned itself as a go-to news source in less than a year. The organization plans to expand coverage to Windham and is fundraising for a full-time reporter dedicated to the area, a rare example of growth in today’s local media environment.
King said the effort reflects a desire to move away from misinformation and rumors that often circulate on social media.
“We realized the only thing standing in the way of rumors and gossip was to find reporting and journalism talent and put them on the ground between Windham and Hunter,” King said.
In opening remarks, The Overlook co-founder Scott Widmeyer said the organization’s mission extends beyond publishing stories.
“More than anything, we wanted to bring these communities together,” Widmeyer said. “Tonight is an example of that.”
Eckstein said nonprofit journalism has emerged as a durable model at a time when many for-profit outlets have struggled. He cited the closure of thousands of newspapers nationwide over the past two decades and the loss of tens of thousands of reporting jobs. The Institute for Nonprofit News, a network of more than 500 independent outlets, including The Overlook, says its membership has tripled since 2017.
The Overlook reaches more than 5,000 subscribers through its weekly newsletter and publishes breaking news throughout the week, alongside in-depth reporting on its website, Eckstein said.
“Our mission is to inform and empower people to make the best decisions in their lives,” he said. Since the outlet’s launch in February 2025, he added, residents have expressed a stronger sense of connection to their communities and to one another.
Rich reflected on the fundamentals of reporting—who, what, when, where, how, and why—and said the final question is often the most important, particularly in regions with limited local coverage.
“People will find out what happened and when it happened,” Rich said. “But it’s the ‘why’ that so often goes unanswered. That’s where local journalism really matters.”
Craig said The New York Times has adapted and endured. She also recalled the early days of her career, when she covered City Hall for the Calgary Herald.
“There were so many reporters there,” Craig said. Today, the paper staffs City Hall with a single reporter and has since merged with the rival Calgary Sun.
“It’s real,” Craig said, underscoring the pressures facing local newsrooms worldwide. “I’m really excited about The Overlook. With support, we can really get this going.”
By the end of the evening, the mood in the room was notably hopeful. Panelists and attendees alike framed nonprofit journalism not simply as an alternative model, but as an opportunity to rebuild local coverage and strengthen civic life—an effort The Overlook aims to continue as it grows.
John W. Barry is a reporter for The Overlook. Reach him at john@theoverlooknews.com.