Island Institute has named Charles Eichacker as the next editor of its signature publications, The Working Waterfront newspaper and Island Journal annual magazine. Eichacker will succeed Tom Groening, who retires early next year. 

Eichacker comes to Island Institute from the Bangor Daily News where he served as state editor and, before that, as coastal editor and news reporter. Eichacker is a Colby College graduate who then completed a master’s degree at the prestigious Columbia University journalism program. Prior to joining the Bangor Daily News, he was the digital news editor at Maine Public. He has written for the Seven Days newspaper in Vermont and, in Maine, the Ellsworth American and Kennebec Journal. 

“Charlie’s education and experience are as good as they get in Maine journalism,” said Groening. “He understands the assets and challenges of our coast and islands, and he’ll work well with our already high-quality contributing writers, photographers, and columnists. And Charlie is a first-rate writer himself. I look forward to where he takes our publications with his unique editorial perspective.” 

Kim Hamilton, Island Institute president, noted that the 42-year-old nonprofit organization has been a source of trusted, insightful, and locally grounded journalism since Island Institute launched its Island Journal in 1984 and its Working Waterfront Newspaper in 1993. Both the journal and newspaper offer analysis and perspectives on Maine’s changing islands and coastal communities. The Journal’s long-form journalism and photography provide a uniquely sensitive and accurate portrayal of life here. 

“Charlie is joining us at a pivotal time as both the coast of Maine and the journalism industry are facing significant changes. This makes our focus on trusted journalism even more important,” Hamilton said, “and we remain committed to providing a voice our communities can rely upon for information and analysis, as global and national forces bring significant challenges to our coast.” 

A new focus for Island Institute media work, Hamilton added, will be a digital-first approach, complementing print with video and audio storytelling to continue to meet Island Institute’s supporters where they find their news. 

In addition to Island Journal, the Institute published Island News and later the Inter-Island News. The Working Waterfront newspaper is printed six times a year with a distribution of 35,000.

Founded in 1983 and based in Rockland, Island Institute is a community development nonprofit that boldly navigates climate and economic change with island and coastal communities to expand opportunities and deliver solutions. For more information, visit islandinstitute.org.