Founded in 2012 by a group of local media veterans including Lynda Clancy, Chris Wolf, and David Gelina, PenBay Pilot came into being to offer a fresh, digital-first approach to the conventional local news scene. The idea sparked when the founders decided to create a platform that would cover community issues and events in a modern, real-time way they felt was lacking in traditional print media, aiming to build an online hub for the coastal communities of Maine. Today, the site continues to operate under the ownership and management of MaineStay Media. Today, PenBay Pilot is still run by a dedicated team of local editors, including Lynda Clancy, and is mainly focused on hyperlocal community news. They're based in Camden, Maine, and have made a name for themselves among residents looking for comprehensive updates on local town politics, maritime news, community arts and entertainment, and regional sports, with a heavy emphasis on local high school athletics and coastal events. One interesting fact: A unique fact about PenBay Pilot is its pioneering design as an open "digital town green." Unlike traditional local newspapers that rely exclusively on staff writers, the founders intentionally built their free platform so that everyday citizens and community groups are actively encouraged to directly submit and publish their own stories, photos, and announcements right alongside the work of professional journalists!