The Maine Trust for Local News, the nonprofit that owns most of Maine’s daily newspapers, has hired three people to expand the company’s innovative storytelling and presence in the community.

Leaders at the Maine Trust say these hires reflect a big step forward in the company’s mission to change the scope of what local news looks like.

“How we report and deliver news continues to change rapidly,” said Executive Editor Carolyn Fox. “To not only keep up but be on the forefront of innovation in local journalism requires curiosity and adaptability.”

Sean Sullivan is the nonprofit’s Innovation & Experiential Strategy Lead, a new position responsible for organizing events, building partnerships and developing readership engagement efforts. He previously worked as the executive director of the Maine Brewers’ Guild for nearly a decade and co-founded Buoy Local, a mobile app-based rewards program that incentivizes people to shop locally. It was acquired by Bangor Savings Bank in 2016.

Stefanie Manning, managing director of the Maine Trust, said Sullivan’s deep roots in Maine and background with unique business ventures will help the company strengthen its ties in the community.

“He joins us with a clear vision: to create public-facing experiences and business strategies that reflect Maine’s unique character, spark local dialogue and support our journalistic mission,” Manning said. “Whether through data-driven storytelling, innovative partnerships or new models of civic convening, Sean is here to help us grow as both a news organization and a community anchor.”

Claire Tighe will start as the Maine Trust’s deputy managing editor for Digital Strategy & Transformation in late July. Tighe will supervise daily online work and long-term strategic initiatives to push forward digital reporting. Tighe has worked for NBC News/MSNBC, Audible and the Chicago Tribune, where she produced a podcast.

She has also taught classes at the Salt Institute — an audio storytelling program at the Maine College of Art & Design —and as a journalism professor at New York University and Hunter College. She has been living in Portland since 2020.

Fox said Tighe’s experiences will be a boon to the paper – both as an experimental storyteller and a mentor for journalists in training.

Tyler Lynch will start as an assistant web editor in mid-July. He has previously worked at The New York Times, USA Today and the Roux Institute at Northeastern University.

“Although both Claire and Tyler have worked at or with traditional media organizations, their careers have been rooted in digital journalism,” Fox said. “Their fresh perspectives come at the right moment as we chart our path forward.”