REGION — On December 3, 2025, the award-winning weekly newspaper the River Reporter will mark its 50th anniversary. The paper is celebrating with a series of collaborations and special events, partnering with regional institutions and businesses as part of a Festival of Journalism that accentuates the relationship between the newspaper and the community that it serves.

 The festival highlights the paper’s history and the goal is to ensure another half century of responsible service to the region. Says longtime publisher, the Rev. Laurie Stuart, “The River Reporter is focused on providing accurate and dependable news in the Upper Delaware River Valley.  We’re looking to increase our readership through creative organizational fundraising campaigns, with the expressed goal of supporting our local organizations while increasing our subscriptions.”    

   Programming for the festival will occur on both sides of the anniversary. It will include a

Newsprint Ball; screenings of films that feature journalism; symposiums addressing local media, investigative journalism and arts criticism; staged readings of plays about newspapers and reporting; visual arts projects that engage people of all ages; continued expansion of 

the News Ambassadors initiative; and a media literacy project. Learn more at riverreporter.com and in the weekly print editions.

   The first collaboration is focused on the musical “Newsies” at the Forestburgh Playhouse, which has had a long relationship with the River Reporter. “Their staging of ‘Newsies’  seemed like absolute kismet to launch the festival,” says festival producer Cynthia Nash. “Newsies” runs from July 29 through August 10. A dedicated River Reporter “Newsies” night will be hosted by the Playhouse on August 7, with special ticket prices in celebration of the paper's 50th anniversary.

On Thursday, July 17 at 7 p.m., the public can learn about the inspiration for “Newsies” and the crafting of the original productions for film and stage. The musical’s creators, writers Bob Tzudiker and Noni White,  will speak from their home in Los Angeles in a special Zoom event moderated by writer and humorist Bizzy Coy. Audiences can participate online or in person. 

The Delaware Valley Opera (DVO) has offered its cabaret space, the Arts Nest, and the Zoom will be shown on a large screen. The event is free of charge. The  DVO will serve libations and tapas from 6 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. at a cost of $20 per person.  

Registration is requested. RSVP for this online and in-person event at myrivertickets.com/riverreporter.