The Belmont Voice
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Owner(s) | The Belmont News Foundation, Inc. |
| Founder(s) | Community members and journalists |
| Publisher | The Belmont News Foundation, Inc. |
| Editor | Jesse Floyd |
| Founded | June 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Belmont, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Circulation | ~11,000 (weekly) |
| Website | belmontvoice |
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]
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
- ^ a b "The Belmont Voice". belmontvoice.org. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Haunted by ghost papers: How Massachusetts startups are replacing "ghost papers"". Medill Local News Initiative. Northwestern University. December 12, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "A New Weekly Voice for Belmont". Belmont Citizens Forum. June 30, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Who owns your local newspaper?". Concord Monitor. October 14, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "From News Desert to Newsroom: How Belmont Voice Rebuilt Community Journalism". Editor & Publisher. 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Disappearing news deserts: How communities are rebuilding local reporting". New Hampshire PBS / Granite State News Collaborative. October 7, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "With local news sources in peril, Cambridge is considering an infusion of public funds". Boston.com. July 11, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2025.