We want to meet and speak with you!
Join reporters from Maine Public and the Maine Trust for Local News for a series of listening sessions this fall. What’s going on in Maine that you’d like to see covered? What is happening in your community that we should be aware of? What do you like and not like about our respective coverage of the news so far in 2025?
We are offering two different opportunities to meet our reporters. First, we are holding a series of events we are calling Issues & Ale at local brewpubs. Grab a chair and meet one-on-one with people who cover the state.
We are also providing a more in-depth experience at three libraries in Maine that we’ve aptly called Issues & Conversation sessions. Hear from leadership members of both organizations about the state of the media in Maine today and what best practices news organizations must adhere to moving forward to remain valued and relevant. After each Issues & Conversation event, there will be the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with journalists from both organizations.
Can’t make an Issues & Ale stop? You can still participate! Click here to fill out a short survey. Tell us what’s going on in your community!
Issues & Ale Schedule
- Tuesday, September 30, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Marshall Wharf Brewing Company, Belfast — COMPLETED!
- Wednesday, October 1, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Argenta Brewing Company, Portland — COMPLETED!
- Tuesday, October 21, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Flight Deck Brewing
11 Atlantic Drive, Brunswick- Maine Trust for Public News Staffers
- Nick McCrea, Times Record editor
- Eric Russell, Portland Press Herald editor
- Katie Langley, Times Record reporter
- Maine Public News Reporters
- Nora Saks, News Reporter – Fisheries
- Esta Pratt-Kielley, Digital News Reporter
- Tulley Hescock, Digital News Reporter
- Mark Simpson, Director of News and Public Affairs
- Maine Trust for Public News Staffers
- Wednesday, October 22, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Mason's Brewing Company
15 Hardy Street, Brewer- Maine Trust for Public News Staffers
- Reuben Schafir, Portland Press Herald reporter
- Maine Public News Reporters
- Kevin Miller, State House Correspondent
- Steve Mistler, Chief Political Correspondent – Statehouse Bureau Chief
- Mark Simpson, Director of News and Public Affairs
- Maine Trust for Public News Staffers
Thursday, October 23, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Fogtown Brewing Company25 Pine Street, Ellsworth
Maine Public News Reporters
- Kevin Miller, State House Correspondent
- Kaitlyn Budion, Northern Maine Reporter
- Mark Simpson, Director of News and Public Affairs
Issues & Conversation Schedule
- Wednesday, October 15, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Lewiston Public Library — COMPLETED!
- Monday, November 3, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square, Portland- Maine Trust for Public News Staffers
- Carolyn Fox, executive editor, METLN
- Julia Arenstam, managing editor, Press Herald
- Maine Public News Reporters
- Mark Simpson, Director of News and Public Affairs
- Irwin Gratz, Morning Edition Host and News Reporter
- Peter McGuire, Climate Reporter
- Maine Trust for Public News Staffers
- Thursday, November 6, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Lithgow Public Library
45 Winthrop Street, Augusta- Maine Trust for Public Media Staffers
- Scott Monroe, managing editor, METLN
- Jessica Lowell, managing editor, Central Maine
- Maine Public News Reporters
- Andrew Catalina, News Editor
- Keith Shortall, Senior Editor
- Mark Simpson, Director of News and Public Affairs
- Maine Trust for Public Media Staffers