Burlington Buzz Celebrates Four Years of Community Connection

Four years ago, Burlington Buzz didn’t exist.

Residents were looking for clearer, more consistent information about what was happening in town — from local government decisions to community events — and often weren’t sure where to find it.

With the regionalization of many local print papers and the shift to online, residents in Burlington, MA, were feeling increasingly untethered and uncertain where to go for reliable, unbiased information about events going on in town and information about how to engage with the local government.

Local election turnout was another concern, with only about 15% of residents participating in selecting town leadership. Yet local officials make decisions that affect budgets, bylaws, schools, health, and planning — shaping everyday life in Burlington.

Hyperlocal News, Reimagined

As the 2022 town election drew near and I learned more about this disconnection and lack of engagement, I decided to do something I hadn't seen yet but felt the town needed. On January 31, I posted my first civic explainer on Facebook, and I did the same every day for the next three weeks. I researched state information and met with local officials to learn about what their work actually was, and then recorded it and shared it for my neighbors to learn alongside me.

On February 20, 2022, Burlington Buzz was officially born, and since then our brand of civic explanatory journalism has taken shape and begun to fill a gap many residents had been feeling — sometimes without having words for it. The Buzz has become a steady presence for thousands of readers who want to stay connected to their community.

What We’ve Covered — and Why It Matters

Since that first issue, Burlington Buzz has reported on:

• Town Meeting, local elections, and town governance
• School issues, budgets, and community decision-making
• Development, zoning, and how Burlington is changing
• Community events, local traditions, and everyday civic life

Some of these moments were celebratory; others were complicated or contentious. All of them mattered, and we broke them down into easy-to-understand summaries that got to the heart of the matter without fluff and filler.

Our website has become a go-to source for information about Burlington. Our magazine reaches households across town each season, highlighting municipal coverage, things to do, and the residents making a difference. The award-winning Daily Buzz newsletter serves nearly 2,500 residents and neighbors, and events such as our Civic Expo and 4th of July Community Picnic attract hundreds.

Guided By Values

Burlington Buzz believes the world is better when discussions focus on community, connection, and curiosity. To meet that end and keep our business working for you, we work every day to keep the Buzz:

• Local and independent — We’re not owned by a media company or influenced by outside interests.
• Clear and accessible — Local government shouldn’t feel impenetrable.
• People-centered — We focus on how policies and decisions affect real lives.
• Consistent — We show up regularly to ensure you have a reliable source of local information.

We focus on original reporting and community storytelling rather than republishing press materials. We don't engage in inflammatory rhetoric or chase clicks. And we believe trust is built slowly, through person-to-person connection.

This Is a Community Effort

Burlington Buzz exists because readers support it.

Some of you have been here since that very first issue in 2022. Others joined more recently — after an election, a school issue, or a story that helped something finally click.

Along the way, we’ve been supported by:

• readers and members - 250 of whom contribute monthly or annually to help us continue this work
• local advertisers and partners
• student reporters, neighborhood contributors, and columnists
• neighbors who share tips, corrections, and encouragement

This work is deeply collaborative, even when much of it happens quietly behind the scenes.

One reader shared:

“I never felt like I knew enough about what was going on in town to participate in an election. Now I feel like I'm a part of it.”

Moments like that are why this work matters.

Looking Ahead to Year Five

Four years in, Burlington Buzz is still small — but it’s steady, trusted, and growing alongside the community it serves. As Burlington continues to grow and change, the need for this connective work only increases.

In the year ahead, we will continue to focus on:

• covering local government and elections thoroughly
• explaining how town decisions are made – and helping you know how to get involved before the decisions are final
• creating spaces for community connection
• experimenting thoughtfully with new formats and voices

This work takes time, care, and resources — and it’s sustained by people who believe this work is worth protecting.

Thank You

Whether you read every day or check in when something important is happening, thank you for being part of the Burlington Buzz community.

If you value this work and are able to support it, our four-year anniversary is a meaningful moment to do so.

You can learn more about supporting Burlington Buzz here:

Here’s to four years of showing up — and to what we’ll build together next.