Overview:
Publisher Vicky Collins shares five intentions for 2026 shaping Bucket List’s approach to free, hyperlocal journalism across Colorado.
Happy New Year! Now that we’ve sung auld lang syne and turned the corner, I want to say thanks to all of you who supported Bucket List Community News in 2025, and set intentions for 2026. Not resolutions, mind you. Those are strict goals and often lead to failure. An intention, on the other hand, is a practice that requires us to be present in the moment. It is something to aim for that allows room for grace and growth.
Intention #1 is COVERAGE. Bucket List Community News distinguishes itself because it is free hyperlocal neighborly news. We listen to you, so every voice is heard. 2026 is an especially important year. It is the 150th anniversary of the state of Colorado, the 250th birthday of the United States and the midterm elections: we intend to cover all of this in earnest, on all of our platforms, leaning in to how our neighbors are affected by issues, arts and culture, commemorations and more. We also want our award-winning coverage to ensure greater participation in the election, particularly for many in our Gen Z audience, who don’t feel represented by either party or our politicians.
Intention #2 is CONNECTION. Bucket List Community News prides itself on being solution-oriented journalism that connects rather than divides us. Rather than just pointing out problems, we aim to empower folks with information so we can solve problems together. Your trust is very important to us, and we work hard every day to earn it and pay attention to the stories that others don’t. Our intention is to continue to be your boots on the ground and share stories on our website, in our weekly newsletters, on our socials and on our monthly radio show. Please tell us what matters to you.
Intention #3 is MENTORSHIP. The important thing that makes Bucket List different from other publications is the mentorship we do with students and recent graduates. We do this through internships and paid apprenticeships with aspiring journalists from CU Boulder, MSU Denver, DU and Denver Public Schools. Our intention for 2026 is to double down on our mentorship mission and create opportunities for more aspiring journalists, not just on the Front Range, but across the state. We will continue addressing the talent pipeline, and with 90 students mentored to date, we are just getting started.
Intention #4 is COLLABORATION. Back in the day, news was very competitive. Our intention is to not compete but rather collaborate with others. We did this in 2025 through partnerships with Denver INC., Longer Tables, Far East Center, KGNU Radio, Colorado News Collaborative and the nonprofit and small business sponsors who recognize the importance of community journalism to their mission and ours. We have exciting plans for upcoming 2026 events, so keep your eyes peeled for more information soon.
Intention #5 is GRATITUDE. Thank you to everyone who contributed throughout this past year. We are grateful to each of you for your generosity and belief in the work we are doing. Thank you to the Lenfest Institute, whose $10,000 #newsCOneeds match not only doubled your impact but also helped Bucket List make it to 2026. Thank you to the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation for their fiscal sponsorship and the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for grants that have helped us build our platforms so you can have the best experience.
Thank you to Kathy Neustadt, John and Mark Warren, the folks at William Blair, Tom Walsh, Jerry Bell, Skyler McKinley, Colorado News Collaborative and Colorado Media Project for their significant support. Last but not least, thanks to our advisors and to the incredible team of aspiring journalists who serve our community with free local news. We can’t do this work without them and without all of you.
As Bucket List steps into 2026, these intentions are not boxes to check but commitments we make to you every day. We are excited for what’s ahead and grateful to continue building a newsroom rooted in trust and connection in partnership with our community. Here’s to another year of showing up for our neighbors and telling your stories with care. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!
