The Overlook Community Journalism for Six Catskills Towns

CATSKILLS REGION — Journalism faces unprecedented challenges, as evidenced by Northwestern University's study citing the closure of two newspapers per week in recent years. However, the Catskills just witnessed a defiant act against this trend with the launch of The Overlook, a non-profit weekly with editor-in-chief Noah Eckstein at the helm.

The Overlook covers six towns in the Catskills: Woodstock, Saugerties, Hunter, Hurley, Shandaken, and Olive. Founded by Scott Widmeyer and Jackie Kellachan, the initiative was born from a need to fill gaps in local coverage, with a focus on governance and investigatory reporting. With a robust board boasting journalism professionals and local leaders, The Overlook is poised to deliver crucial information to these communities. 

Operating as a nonprofit offers unique advantages. It leverages resources from the Institute for Nonprofit News and opens doors to grant-based funding. This structure not only ensures The Overlook remains free of paywalls but also supports a resilient model that can withstand the shifting dynamics of news consumption, particularly as younger generations' preferences evolve.

In today's digital age, younger audiences are bombarded with information, often opting for headlines over subscriptions. The Overlook recognizes this and strives to make its content accessible and appealing to this demographic, including involving them in the news creation process.

As The Overlook finds its legs, the focus remains on cultivating a devoted team and distributing coverage throughout the towns in its mission statement. Noah told me that by tapping into local historical societies, involving high school correspondents, and calling upon retired journalists for contributions, the news outlet seeks to build a comprehensive narrative that honors both past and present.

For a free subscription to The Overlook, just head over to: http://theoverlooknews.com) or hear the podcast from Silver Hollow Audio here: https://www.kaatscast.com/the-overlook-community-journalism-for-6-catskills-towns/.