In our inaugural episode of Behind the Beacon, we take listeners inside the Bucks County Beacon: how we began, why our work matters, and what it takes to keep rigorous local journalism alive. Released on April 9, Local News Day, this conversation is our chance to pull back the curtain on the mission, the mechanics, and the momentum behind the Beacon.
Hosts Emily Smith and Daralyse Lyons revisit the Beacon’s unlikely origins and its expansion from a simple idea to a newsroom reaching more than 35,000 readers each month. The Bucks County Beacon may be local, but our reporting has illuminated patterns unfolding across the country.
Running a newsroom isn’t cheap or easy. Our operating costs sit between $25,000 and $30,000 a month, yet we remain free to readers because we believe access to trustworthy information shouldn’t depend on ability to pay.
We share stories from community members who’ve told us that our reporting helped them understand issues shaping their lives and we talk about how we’re partnering with other organizations to expand our reach and dig deeper into stories that matter.
As we say in the episode, “We are building the plane while we’re flying it.”
At the end of the day, local news needs to be local, and we’re committed to transparency and accountability. So join us in this episode of Behind the Beacon, where we take you behind the scenes and share about our internal operations, reader feedback, and exciting updates.
If you value independent, community‑rooted journalism, you can support the Beacon at buckscountybeacon.com. Your contributions, your feedback, and your engagement keep our work alive.
