The scoop on Albany's new local news site
We’ve been thinking through everything that needs to happen to make the site a reality. And we’ve made some big decisions.
We’re excited to update you on our plan to launch a news site for Albany in 2026.
This year, we’ve been hard at work thinking through everything that needs to happen to make the site a reality. And we’ve made some big decisions.
So what’s the plan? The site — Albany Scanner — will cover all things Albany and be the trusted, authoritative source you need on Albany politics, schools, local business, public safety, housing, transportation — and everything else you can imagine.
Our ultimate goal is regular news coverage (5-10 stories a week, to include freelance and community contributions) following an initial ramp-up period as we build our paid subscriber base and firm up the budget.
We’ll also produce a newsletter and allow comments to foster dialogue and debate.
Who’s behind this? Emilie Raguso (The Berkeley Scanner, Albany Patch, Berkeleyside) will oversee the site as publisher with help from a community advisory group, the Albany News Project, who will support Albany Scanner through fundraising and volunteerism.
Who will cover the news? In time, we’ll hire a full-time reporter who will oversee the site and produce stories with freelance support. For the first 6-12 months, as we see what the market will bear, we’ll rely on trusted freelance reporters to get the job done. Editorial operations will be independent and objective — there’s no political agenda.
How will it be funded? The Scanner will rely largely on monthly subscriptions to fund the reporting.
Major gifts of $1,000 or more will be tax deductible if made through Bay City News Foundation, our fiscal sponsor.
There will be no paywall — we want everyone to be able to read the Scanner.
But we can’t make this happen without substantial community support. In a town Albany's size, every single member will make a critical difference if we want to ensure a sustainable news operation in the years ahead.
Our promise: We will be responsive and accountable to the Albany community as we work to build a comprehensive news site that will quickly become required daily reading.
What’s next for Albany Scanner?
- Make sure to subscribe for updates on our plans
- Share this news with your friends and neighbors so they know what's in the works: Word-of-mouth will be crucial as we get up to speed
- Consider making a one-time gift to help launch the Scanner: All money raised via this message will fund reporting on the site and won't be used for any other purpose
- Able to dig deeper? Consider a tax-deductible major gift of $1,000 or more to help us launch sooner
- Follow us on Instagram
Learn more about the Albany News Project, a volunteer initiative organized by Albany citizens to support accurate and timely news reporting that serves the community.