Sarah Leach Courtesy of Sarah Leach
Veteran journalist Sarah Leach is leading the Ottawa News Network (ONN), a newly launched nonprofit dedicated to delivering free, reliable local news to Ottawa County residents.
Leach, former Holland Sentinel editor-in-chief, said ONN will provide in-depth coverage of government, business, schools, and communities to address the decline in local news.
“I’m thrilled to join the ONN team and look forward to continuing to serve Ottawa County residents with hyperlocal coverage that will help residents be informed in their daily lives,” Leach says. “I believe groups like ONN are a great step toward addressing the decline in local news reporting.
“This isn’t about criticizing the current media options; it’s about augmenting them and pursuing content-sharing relationships so Ottawa County residents have what they need to be an informed electorate.”
Filling a void
ONN Board Chair Clay Stauffer, former publisher of The Holland Sentinel, says the decline of local newspapers has left communities uninformed and disengaged.
“In the past 20 years local news coverage nationwide has become increasingly sparse as local newspapers wither,” Stauffer says. “By the end of this year, one-third of U.S. newspapers will have disappeared since 2005. In the past year alone, 127 newspapers have closed nationwide. Civic trust and engagement suffer when people know less and less about what’s going on locally. Even in areas with surviving newspapers, local coverage has been reduced as newspapers struggle to survive."
The donor-funded digital newsroom will deliver news through a website, email newsletters, and social media. It also partners with schools and libraries to promote civic education and media literacy.
As part of its launch, ONN recently completed listening sessions across the county to gather input on local news needs.
The Lakeshore recently connected with Leach to talk about her new role in community journalism.
The Lakeshore: Community members and stakeholders shared their thoughts during your meetings and listening tour. What has the reaction been like so far, and were there any unexpected insights or suggestions?
Sarah Leach: The reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. We are finding that our initial reasonings for launching ONN are on target. People want more local, thorough reporting on issues that are important to them, and we feel that ONN can play a part in providing that solution.
TL: As ONN takes on the role of covering Ottawa County, what topics will the organization prioritize? Will you personally handle much of the reporting, or will others contribute to provide comprehensive coverage?
SL: Local news is our top priority, but readers want more than just volume — they want news coverage that helps them better understand how events and issues affect their everyday lives. ONN aims to help readers understand how local government works, how their tax dollars are being used, and what events are happening around town. We believe in that sense of community that the local newspaper traditionally provided in small towns.
TL: ONN plans to collaborate with local educational organizations to enhance civic education and media literacy. Could you provide specific examples of these planned initiatives?
SL: We have already begun an internship program where four GVSU journalism majors are working at ONN to continue gaining experience for their professional careers. We hope to expand that program outward where other higher institutions will be willing to partner with us. We also are in the process of meeting with local K-12 schools to discuss how ONN can help reinstate the concept of Newspapers in Education. This programming will help students gain news literacy skills as well as understand their local community.
TL: As a nonprofit news organization, ONN operates differently from traditional models. How does this approach work financially?
SL: ONN operates on a donation-based funding model. We have several large donors who have very generously helped support our launch and hopefully will continue to see the proof in concept as we continue to grow. We also are supported by individual annual and monthly donors who see the value in the work we are doing and the mission we aim to achieve. In 2025, we are pursuing grant funding as well at the local, state, and federal levels.
TL: With a journalism career spanning MLive to The Holland Sentinel, what inspired you to take on the leadership role at ONN?
SL: I am passionate about local news. I believe that things that happen locally are both a reflection of what's happening nationally, but have an exponentially bigger effect on people. Discussions about local tax dollars mean real, tangible things that impact our everyday lives — it's not just arguing about concepts. I think the majority of residents have become distracted by national and international news and don't realize that connecting with your neighbors is the first solid step we all need to take to directly affect outcomes beyond our towns.
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