Our Mission, Vision and Values

Our Mission

The Weston Observer is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and deliver independent and trusted journalism that keeps the entire Weston community connected, well-informed and engaged with thorough, accurate and fair coverage of topics affecting life in our town.

Our Vision

We envision achieving our mission by: 

  • Publishing a (mostly) weekly, print and digital publication, edited by a professional staff with
    • Print papers distributed to all Weston households and businesses
    • Emails sent to those who elect, and a
    • Website available to any interested in viewing
  • Establishing a sustainable revenue model primarily funded by community support from local businesses and residents
  • Enriching civic engagement and strengthening ties throughout the entire community by providing robust, balanced, and timely coverage of town government, community issues, and events affecting people of all ages and with varying interests
  • Building community and enhancing the lives of local residents, businesses, and organizations by providing a trusted source of local information that is valued by the Weston community

Our Values 

In pursuing our mission and vision, we hold and will defend these core values:

  • A free and independent press
  • Journalistic integrity (ensured through adherence to the Society of Professional Journalism Code of Ethics)
  • An informed citizenry
  • Strong community connections

FAQs

We love questions, almost as much as we like providing answers. A number of Weston residents have asked us a variety of why, what, how and when questions. We have compiled a number of these. We are sure the list will continue to grow. Send your new questions (and comments on our answers) to info@WestonObserver.org. 

Why this effort? 

Weston hadn’t had an independent, community-wide newspaper since the Town Crier ceased publication in 2022. A group of residents formed an exploratory committee to investigate the possibility of a new community news outlet. In a January 2024 survey, nearly 600 residents responded, and almost all (94%) believe this is important. The Weston Observer will meet this vital need!

How did you learn about starting a local news organization? 

The effort began with a lot of research — taking our time and making sure we were thorough. We were lucky to find volunteers with expertise in journalism, strategy, business, and technology, and took advantage of local seminars and presentations. Finally, we were able to gain wisdom from efforts in other cities and towns throughout Massachusetts and beyond also working to establish hyper-local news outlets for their communities. 

Are you aware of similar efforts in other towns? 

Many towns, including our neighbors in Wayland and Waltham, are engaged in a similar effort to bring local nonprofit news to their communities. We are in close contact with them and are exploring potential areas of cost sharing.

Why print? 

We asked the same question! Other towns such as Belmont, Carlisle, and Concord provide models showing not only the viability of a printed and delivered paper, but the necessity of print to ensure a sustainable revenue source by attracting advertisers, who prefer print to an opt-in digital format. Our largest projected expense is professional salaries and benefits, an expense which would be incurred for quality journalism delivered by any means. Printing and delivery costs are more than covered by the bolstered advertising revenue that a print paper offers. Finally, a print paper delivered free to all households is essential to fulfill our mission to provide access to trusted and independent journalism to the entire community. In addition to the weekly newspaper, we intend to offer a robust digital presence.

What guidance is available to nonprofit news organizations? 

A lot! One of the largest organizations providing support for nonprofit print and digital news organizations is the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). INN is a nationally recognized and respected organization, which supports nonprofit, nonpartisan, and independent news organizations dedicated to public service and is an invaluable resource for local news outlets. It provides guidance and sets forth policies to ensure that member organizations maintain the highest standards of transparency and editorial independence. We have been granted full membership with INN. This membership will allow us to apply for grants through INN and will also assist Weston News, Inc. in obtaining matching contributions and other outside grants. 

What’s next? 

We will be raising matching funds throughout the fall of 2025 to ensure the future sustainability of the Weston Observer. 

What is the timeline? 

We published the inaugural print edition on September 19, 2025 and have been delivering weekly to all homes and businesses in Weston ever since.

I have additional questions. How do I contact you?

Send your questions to info@WestonObserver.org. We look forward to hearing from you.