Today, GOOD Morning Wilton celebrates Lucky 13 — 13 years of dedicated news coverage of Wilton, and only Wilton.
Since Aug. 19, 2013, we’ve published 13,080 stories and posts, and garnered over 13 million pageviews from Wilton and far beyond. Through them all, we’ve had one mission — provide timely, accurate and independent reporting that keeps Wilton residents connected to what’s happening in town and to one another.
Connection is our focus. We’ve remained independent and intimately connected to this town like no other news organization. As other media outlets stopped paying attention and devoting resources toward being the public’s eyes and ears about Wilton, GOOD Morning Wilton has stayed dedicated to doing just that — and doing so while being firmly committed to keeping the news accessible and free to everyone.
We’ve covered elections, budgets, schools, businesses, development proposals, emergencies and celebrations. We’ve also written about storms, bears, protests, politics, murder, real estate, Wilton kids doing GOOD things, sports, and of course, COVID. We’ve attended countless meetings, asked difficult questions, livestreamed breaking news and highlighted the people and organizations that make Wilton special.
We’ve also helped raise money for local organizations as well as for individuals in need. Just this month we heard from Wilton Social Services Director Stephanie Rowe that our recent story on how residents can help their fellow Wiltonians who access services like the Wilton Food Pantry created an immediate outpouring of support.
We’ve been extremely lucky to have had very talented writers join us in fulfilling our mission. We’ve worked with high school interns who’ve become professional reporters (including one TV meteorologist).
We’ve also been recognized by local civic organizations and professional journalism associations alike. After being awarded the First Amendment Award in 2021 from the CT Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, this year was just as monumental: GMW reporting earned three honors in CT-SPJ’s Excellence in Journalism Contest, including first place for Continuing Coverage or Series for uncovering that Wilton’s then-CFO was simultaneously holding a second full-time municipal job nearly 2,000 miles away in Wyoming, and first place in Editorial Commentary for an editorial about Town Hall’s financial processes and oversight.
We’re proud of the awards, but just as meaningful are emails we receive from readers thankful for the service GMW provides to the community. They tell us how they rely on GMW to bring them need-to-know information, that we’re making a tangible difference in their lives, and that they know we’re working hard for Wilton’s best interests.
That’s why local journalism matters.
Today, GMW is the only news organization covering Wilton, and only Wilton, full time. Our reporting remains free for everyone to read, but it is not free to produce. Reporters must be paid, public records must be reviewed and meetings must be covered — even when they run late into the night.
Providing an essential service that so many of you trust and depend on has become harder. We don’t charge to read GOOD Morning Wilton, but donations recognize the value of our product and our hard work, and help keep local, trusted, independent news going in Wilton.
Reader support makes that work possible.
As we begin our 14th year, our mission remains the same: to report independently and fairly, hold local institutions accountable, celebrate what is GOOD about Wilton and make important information available to the entire community.
Thank you to our readers, supporters, advertisers and community partners for trusting and supporting us. Thank you to our writers for delivering such high-quality, important work. And thank you to my family members. I could not do this work without your love and support.
Thirteen years. Three new awards. One community we remain proud to cover every day.
If you rely on us, and value what GMW brings to Wilton — and has for the last 13 years — please consider supporting us today.
With GOOD wishes for the next year,
Heather Borden Herve
Editor/Publisher/Founder
Congratulations on your 13 years of excellence!
Many more to follow.
Thank you for keeping me informed on both topics that are important but which I wouldn’t follow otherwise (govt!) and topics that connect me to the Wilton community. It’s so easy to get caught up in the personal and then the very big national and international. Local gets lost without a resource like GMW. So, again, thank you, and congratulations!
Happy Anniversary Heather and to your fine staff as well!
Keep up the great work you’re doing – it is very much appreciated!
Congratulations! Well done, Heather. I love having a crossword every morning, it is a great addition. Thanks.