A conversation with members of the Cambridge News Inc. board at the Cambridge Kiosk
On June 12, 2025, BINJ hosted Mary McGrath of Cambridge News Inc. at the Cambridge Kiosk in Harvard Square for a conversation on “Sustaining Nonprofit Journalism In Cambridge.”
Against all odds, independent media is thriving in the area, most recently through an exciting rebuild of the longrunning Cambridge Day into a nonprofit with a weekly print edition. A coalition of residents launched the nonpartisan newsroom to bolster in-depth journalism that will help residents make informed decisions to better their lives and hold local institutions accountable.
The work they are doing is critical. Recent progress aside, research shows that while Cambridge is a hub of innovation and civic engagement, its 120,000 residents lack access to consistent reporting on local government, education, housing, community happenings, and issues.
BINJ Editorial Director Chris Faraone spoke with Mary McGrath, a longtime producer for the legendary podcast and radio show Open Source and the director of the Cambridge News Inc. board, as well as Kristen Wainwright from the Cambridge Community Foundation’s Cambridge Local News Fund board about their group’s plans to address the critical gap in local journalism moving forward and much more—from the challenge of raising money and awareness for independent media to connecting with the unique demographics of Cambridge and Somerville.
