The Maine Monitor will be out in the community on several occasions in the coming months! Please join us for any of the below events or reach out to help us arrange a visit to your community!
We welcome opportunities to talk with readers and communities across Maine and enjoy participating in conversations about our work and issues in Maine.
Upcoming Events
February 4: Join The Maine Monitor’s religion reporter Sean Scott in-person at the Bangor Public Library, or virtually, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a panel discussion with Maine leaders at faith-based organizations who are serving low-income and other vulnerable community members, including by providing housing, food assistance and addiction recovery services. Local faith leaders will talk about the needs they are seeing in their communities and how they aim to fill in the gaps. Register to attend in-person or virtually.
Past Events
January 21: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm, Monitor Local editor Judy Meyer and Monitor Local reporter Ben Hanstein hosted community members for coffee and conversation at Twice Sold Tales in Farmington to hear the local journalism needs of Mainers.
January 10: Maine Monitor deputy editor Stephanie McFeeters spoke at the Portland Rotary.
January 28: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough spoke at the Rotary Club of Bangor about the electric grid and the reporting of The Monitor.
February 4: The Maine Monitor hosted a panel discussion with local experts at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport about the future of Maine’s dams, focusing in part on the fate of dams on Silver Lake, Alamoosook Lake, and Toddy Pond. Watch the discussion.
March 12: Executive Director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke at a League of Women Voters democracy workshop on local news.
April 21: Maine Monitor environmental reporter Emmett Gartner held a discussion about reconciling with resilience and how Maine can bounce back from floods at the University of Maine’s Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions.
April 24: Maine Monitor environmental reporter Emmett Gartner spoke at a World Affairs Council of Maine event about The Monitor’s environmental reporting.
May 8: The Maine Monitor tabled at the Climate Work Maine Summit at the Augusta Civic Center.
May 14: The Maine Monitor and Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs at Colby College hosted a discussion in Waterville with health care experts on the state of health care access in Maine. Watch the discussion.
July 7: The first stop of the 2025 Maine Monitor listening tour was held at Cafe Nomad in Norway. The event centered around a discussion on what Mainers need from local news reporting.
July 8: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm talked about the newsroom’s work at a Rotary Club of Bethel event.
July 9: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough and environmental reporter Emmett Gartner, during an event at Martin Point Community House, discussed their reporting and analysis of recent developments impacting Maine’s climate goals, including decisions in Augusta and in Washington D.C., and the impacts on Maine’s environmental resilience.
July 29: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the McArthur Public Library in Biddeford on what Mainers need from local news reporting. The event was held in partnership with Saco Bay News, Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman and Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail.
August 3: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough and public health reporter Rose Lundy discussed during an event at the Islesboro Community Center how the newsroom is helping readers make sense of current developments — state and federal — that impact their lives.
August 12: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the Sargent Family Community Center in Presque Isle on what Mainers need from local news reporting. The event was held in partnership with the Bangor Daily News and The County.
August 26: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the Belfast Free Library on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This event was held in partnership with the Midcoast Villager and Belfast Free Library.
August 27: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at Twice Sold Tales in Farmington on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This event was held in partnership with Mt Blue TV and the Daily Bulldog.
September 2: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the Port Authority Welcome Center on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This event was held in partnership with the Quoddy Tides.
September 7: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm moderated a Mid-Coast Forum on Foreign Relations talk at the Camden Opera House on how soft power is an essential element of foreign relations that featured French cultural counselor Mohamed Bouabdallah and American classical singer and cultural diplomat Carla Canales. Listen to the conversation.
September 10: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the Rumford Public Library on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This event was held in partnership with the Rumford Falls Times, Sun Journal and Town of Rumford.
September 11: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the Katahdin Higher Education Center in East Millinocket on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This event was held in partnership with the Lincoln News, Town of East Millinocket and Katahdin Higher Education Center.
September 16: Maine Monitor reporters Rose Lundy and Kristian Moravec participated in a discussion, moderated by executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm, at the Highland Green Community Center in Topsham about how the nonpartisan, in-depth reporting by The Maine Monitor is helping readers make sense of issues and developments — state and federal — that impact their lives.
September 19 through September 21: Hundreds of Mainers stopped by The Maine Monitor’s booth at the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity to share issues happening in their communities they think deserve more attention, and highlight the need for local independent journalism. Plus, Maine Monitor reporter Emmett Gartner gave a talk about his climate resiliency reporting and answered questions about the state’s flood preparedness. Read our recap of the event.
September 25: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the Alfond Youth & Community Center in Waterville on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This was held in partnership with the Maine Youth Action Network, Main Street Skowhegan, Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
October 7: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at Chimera Coffee in Bangor on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This was held in partnership with the Bangor Daily News.
October 9: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library in Sanford for a Monitor listening tour discussion on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This was held in partnership with the Sanford-Springvale News.
October 16: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke on a ComNet25 panel in Denver alongside representatives from the Associated Press, Colorado Sun and the Joyce Foundation on the importance of strengthening local news and the benefits of supporting local news.
October 20: Maine Monitor reporter Emily Bader participated in a panel discussion on this year’s state referendum questions that was hosted by Bates College’s Harward Center for Community Partnerships.
October 21: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at the Northland Hotel in Jackman on what Mainers need from local news reporting.
October 23: The Maine Monitor hosted a listening tour discussion at The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine in Augusta on what Mainers need from local news reporting. This event was held in partnership with the Kennebec Journal.
December 13: The Maine Monitor had a table at the Bangor Authors’ Book Fair & Literary Festival at the Bangor Public Library.
Tuesday, January 16: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke about the state of news in Maine at the Bangor Mechanics Association’s annual meeting.
Wednesday, February 14: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm and Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough spoke about The Monitor and reporting on women and children at a Women’s Giving Tree meeting.
Saturday, February 24: Maine Monitor deputy editor Stephanie McFeeters moderated a discussion with Alex Gibney at the Points North Cabin Fever Film Fest.
Tuesday, February 27: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke about the work of The Monitor at the Tuesday Morning Scone Club.
Tuesday, March 5: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke about the state of news in Maine at a Bangor Rotary Club meeting.
Wednesday, March 20: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke about the state of news in Maine at a Belfast Rotary Club meeting.
Wednesday, March 27: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough hosted a panel on Maine’s saltwater marshes in a collaboration between The Maine Monitor and Wells Reserve. Watch the discussion.
Saturday, April 6: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough spoke about the importance of local news to a functioning democracy at a League of Women Voters event.
Wednesday, April 10: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke at the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce Women’s Luncheon Series.
Thursday, May 9: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough moderated a panel on climate migration at the ClimateWork Maine Summit.
Friday, May 17: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough moderated a panel on lithium at the Climate Convergence event.
Thursday, June 20: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough participated in a panel on nonprofit news at the Curtis Memorial Library.
Wednesday, June 26: Maine Monitor public health reporter Rose Lundy spoke about reporting on aging at the Skidompha Library.
Tuesday, July 9: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke on a panel about careers in nonprofit journalism during an Educate Maine event for college students.
Wednesday, July 31: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm introduced a panel at the College of Atlantic Summer Institute in Bar Harbor.
Wednesday, July 31: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm was a panelist for a discussion on saving local news at the Word Festival, hosted by the Blue Hill Public Library.
Wednesday, August 7: Join us for Maine Monitor Night at Fogtown Brewing in Ellsworth. Chat with Maine Monitor staff about our work and news in Maine in a relaxed environment.
Sunday, August 11: Maine Monitor environmental reporter Emmett Gartner, editor Kate Cough and executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm for a discussion on Maine’s news deserts at the Islesboro Community Center.
Wednesday, August 28: The Maine Monitor hosted a panel about environmental journalism with Kate Cough, Annie Ropeik and Emmett Gartner at the Martin Point Community Center.
Tuesday, September 17: Kate Cough, Annie Ropeik and Emmett Gartner held a discussion on environmental journalism at the Belfast Public Library. Watch the discussion.
Friday, September 20 through Sunday, September 22: Find our booth at the Common Ground Fair. Talk with our editors and reporters — we’ll be eager to hear your story ideas! On Friday, September 20 at 5 p.m. our executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm hosted a discussion about nonprofit news in Maine in the SPA Speakers Tent. Read the event recap.
Monday, September 23: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough spoke at the Mitchell Center about Maine’s environmental and energy challenges. Watch the presentation.
Tuesday, October 8: The Maine Monitor and Waterville Creates hosted a showing of the film Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink and a Q&A with filmmaker Rick Goldsmith at the Maine Film Center in Waterville. Read the event recap.
Wednesday, October 9: The Maine Monitor, Bangor Daily News, and Ellsworth American hosted a showing of the film Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink and a Q&A with filmmaker Rick Goldsmith at The Grand in Ellsworth. Read the event recap.
Thursday, October 10: The Maine Monitor and Portland Press Herald hosted a showing of the film Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink and a Q&A with filmmaker Rick Goldsmith at the University of New England in Biddeford. Read the event recap.
Saturday, October 19: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough moderated the keynote panel discussion, about reporting on the Lewiston mass shooting, at the Maine Press Association’s annual conference.
Monday, October 21: Maine Monitor editor Kate Cough moderated separate keynote discussions with Dr. Basil Gooden, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, and Hannah Pingree, the Director of Governor Mills’ Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.
Tuesday, October 22: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke on the case for local news in our nation’s democracy, and why nonprofit news is the future of local news, at the Belfast Public Library, in partnership with Belfast Senior College. Watch the presentation.
Friday, November 1: Maine Monitor environmental reporter Emmett Gartner and Maine Monitor contributing Washington County reporter Joyce Kryszak moderated panels during the University of Maine’s Rural Issues Symposium.
Thursday, November 7: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke on a panel at the Boston University Local News Conference about fundraising for local news.
Friday, November 8: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm spoke on a panel at the Maine Public Relations Council’s annual conference about adaptation in journalism.
Wednesday, November 20: MCPIR executive director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm participated in a Camden Conference panel discussion titled “Democracy Diminished: Is Local News Dying?”.
Tuesday, December 3: Maine Monitor deputy editor Stephanie McFeeters and government accountability reporter Josh Keefe moderated panel discussions at the Maine Public Defense Symposium. Watch the discussions.
Saturday, December 14: Chat with members of The Maine Monitor at the Bangor Authors’ Book Fair and Literary Festival from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.