Seven Days (newspaper) explained

Seven Days
Type:	Alternative weekly
Owners:	Pamela Polston Paula Routly Don Eggert Cathy Resmer Colby Roberts
Publisher:	Da Capo Publishing
Foundation:	1995
Headquarters:	Burlington, Vermont
Oclc:	38931753

Seven Days is an alternative weekly newspaper^[1] that is distributed every Wednesday in Vermont. The American Newspapers Representatives estimate Seven Days' circulation to be 35,000 papers.^[2] It is distributed free of charge throughout Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland and St. Albans.^[3]

Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing, Inc., and is owned by Paula Routly and a group of longtime employees.

In addition to publishing Seven Days, Da Capo hosts two annual events in Vermont: Vermont Restaurant Week and the Vermont Tech Jam.

History

Seven Days was founded in 1995 by reporters Pamela Polston and Paula Routly.^[4] The original capital investment of $68,000 by angel investors was repaid within three years. Originally, the paper's title was going to be the Vermont Voice, however a dispute over the name caused them to settle on Seven Days instead. Circulation of the newspaper in 1995 was around 12,000.^[5]

Angelo Lynn, owner and publisher of the Addison County Independent (a local newspaper based in Middlebury, VT) was a valued mentor to the pair of owners as they got their start.

From 1995 - 2002 Seven Days saw a 20% increase in revenue each year.^[6]

In 2013 Seven Days expanded its weekly circulation to 36,000 by including the Northeast Kingdom in its distribution radius.

Pamela Polston and Paula Routly, who co-founded the paper, were inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2015.^[7] Consulting editor Candace Page was inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2017.^[8]

In 2019, Seven Days hired reporter Kate O'Neill to launch a year-long project reporting on the opioid epidemic in Vermont.^[9]

In March 2020, with a decline in advertising revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic, Seven Days temporarily laid off seven employees.^[10]

Coverage and ads

Seven Days covers many aspects of life in Vermont. Columns and stories in the newspaper often concern such topics as state and local politics, Vermont organizations and charities, and general human interest stories. It also features local music listings, an alternative comics section, art, movie, and theater reviews, event listings, local dining, classified advertisements, and personals.^[11] Each year, Seven Days asks its readers to place votes for the "Seven Daysies," which is a compilation of favorite people and places to visit throughout the state.

Awards

Vermont Press Association

^[12] !Year!Award!Place!Individual (if applicable)

2015-2016	Best of Vermont, General Excellence (non-daily)	2nd
2016-2017	Best of Vermont, General Excellence (non-daily)	1st
2016-2017	Outstanding Website (non-daily)	1st
2015-2016	Mavis Doyle Award	Honorable Mention	Mark Davis
2016-2017	Mavis Doyle Award	1st	Alicia Freese
2015-2016	Rookie of the Year (all newspapers)	2nd	Kymelya Sari
2016-2017	Rookie of the Year (all newspapers)	1st	Jordan Adams
2015-2016	Best State Story (non-daily)	1st3rd	Paul HeintzMark Davis
2016-2017	Best State Story (non-daily)	2ndHonorable Mention	Mark DavisPaul Heintz
2015-2016	Best Local Story (non-daily)	2ndHonorable Mention	Mark DavisAlicia Freese
2016-2017	Best Local Story (non-daily)	1st	Molly Walsh
2015-2016	John Donoghue Award for Arts Criticism (all)	1st2nd 3rd	Dan BollesAlex Brown Rachel Elizabeth Jones
2016-2017	John Donoghue Award for Arts Criticism (all)	1st2nd 3rd	Rachel Elizabeth JonesJordan Adams Dan Bolles
2015-2016	Column Writing - Features/Lifestyle/Humor (non-daily)	1st	Dan Bolles
2016-2017	Column Writing - Features/Lifestyle/Humor (non-daily)	1st3rd	Ken PicardDan Bolles
2016-2017	Column Writing - Political/Hard News (non-daily)	1st2nd 3rd	Paul HeintzJohn Walters Paul Heintz
2015-2016	General News Photo (non-daily)	1st 3rd	Matthew ThorsenMatthew Thorsen
2015-2016	Feature Photo (non-daily)	2nd	Matthew Thorsen
2015-2016	Sports Photo (non-daily)	1st	James Buck

Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce

2000 - Business of the Year

Burlington Business Association

2008 - Business of the Year

Recognition

2013 - Editor & Publisher - "10 Newspapers that Do It Right"^[13]

2013 - The Atlantic article "Strange Tales from the North Country: A Profitable (Print) Newspaper"^[14]

Notes and References

1. News: Felsenthal. Carol. Jane O'Meara Sanders, future first lady?. The Hill. 9 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022084343/http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/256523-jane-omeara-sanders-future-first-lady. 22 October 2015. live. Washington, DC. 1521-1568.
2. Web site: American Newspapers Representatives - Vermont. June 21, 2019.
3. Web site: Seven Days Vermont Newspaper : Free Texts : Free Download, Borrow and Streaming : Internet Archive. archive.org. en. 2019-06-21.
4. Joyce. Marcel. September 1, 2001. Pamela Polston and Paula Routly of Seven Days. Vermont Business Magazine. 29. 16.
5. News: Seven Days Increases Circulation to 36,000. July 23, 2013. Targeted News Service.
6. Kelley. Kevin. February 1, 2002. New media plugged into Chittenden County. Vermont Business Magazine. 30. 69. ProQuest US Newsstream.
7. Web site: Seven Days founders to be inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame. 2015-01-21. VTDigger. en-US. 2019-06-21.
8. Web site: Candace Page Inducted Into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame. 2017-02-28. VTDigger. en-US. 2019-06-21.
9. Web site: Seven Days hires Kate O'Neill for a new reporting project on the opioid epidemic. 2019-01-22. Vermont Business Magazine. en. 2019-06-21.
10. News: Heintz . Paul . Media Note: Seven Days Lays Off Seven Employees . 27 March 2020 . Seven Days . 23 March 2020.
11. News: Raphel . Adrienne . Dating App Fatigue? In Vermont, Personal Ads Still Thrive. . 26 November 2024 . The New York Times . 25 November 2024.
12. News: Seven Days Wins 30 Vermont Press Association Awards. December 1, 2017. Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. July 11, 2018.
13. News: Ackermann . Kristina . 10 Newspapers That Do It Right 2013 . 9 March 2021 . Editor & Publisher . March 4, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180829083304/http://www.editorandpublisher.com/feature/10-newspapers-that-do-it-right-2013/ . August 29, 2018 . This year's 10 Newspapers That Do It Right are all prime examples of how newspapers can flex their marketing muscle to take back their place in the community, produce the high-quality products that readers demand, and update their sales tactics to accommodate the needs of modern advertisers..
14. Web site: Strange Tales from the North Country: A Profitable (Print) Newspaper. Fallows. James. September 20, 2013. The Atlantic. July 11, 2018.