Gavin Minu, publisher and chamber president, says keeping Hamptons news local takes people and support

Gavin Minu, co-publisher of the Express News Group and president of the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce, said maintaining strong local coverage requires both community trust and steady local support. "We have an editorial team of 17 people who are covering these communities," Minu said, adding that the company employs about 30 staff across its print and digital products.

Minu traced the company's roots in the region: he and his wife own the Sag Harbor Express (which he said dates to 1859) and the Southampton Press (1897). He highlighted recent honors for the newsroom, saying the group won 24 awards at the New York Press Association ceremony this spring and naming several staff winners. "Our photographers and reporters are outstanding," Minu said, pointing to long-tenured editors and freelance contributors.

Minu described daily operations—advertising, editorial meetings and production—and the tradeoffs the staff makes about which stories to prioritize. He said the newsroom's local presence, with reporters who "live here" and attend meetings, is central to countering misinformation and keeping community reporting robust.

Minu closed with an appeal to listeners: "Subscribe, advertise, donate," he said, urging support for local outlets including the Express News Group, the East Hampton Star and LTV to keep local reporting viable.