Our Mission

At The Bethel Truth Teller, we believe that journalism is not simply a profession — it is a solemn duty to democracy, decency, and the fine people of Bethel, Connecticut. While others may shy away from uncomfortable truths, we march boldly forward, undeterred by the loud voices of Facebook comment sections or the mysterious politics of the Bethel Planning & Zoning Commission. Our focus is simple: to tell Bethel what’s really going on.

A Storied History

Founded in 1873 by newspaperman Silas P. Hurlbut, The Truth Teller began as a single-sheet broadside pinned to the oak tree outside Bethel’s general store. Hurlbut’s mission was clear: to expose corruption, malfeasance, and the occasional horse theft with the integrity and seriousness only an unpaid editor could provide.

Over the decades, the paper has withstood fires, floods, budget cuts, and at least three separate editor resignations following pie-related scandals. Yet through it all, the Truth Teller has remained steadfast, bringing the people of Bethel the kind of fearless reporting they never asked for, but nonetheless receive.

In 1978, under the leadership of Harold J. Pemberton III, the paper bravely transitioned into typewritten mimeographs distributed in the high school parking lot. In 2025, we fully embraced the digital age, re-launching as an online-only newspaper — because print may be dead, but the need to scold our neighbors in a professional-sounding format lives on.

What We Cover

Our award-deserving journalism focuses on the issues that matter most to Bethel:

• Local Government: Because no one is above scrutiny, especially the Parks & Recreation Committee.

• Community Affairs: From zoning meetings to bake sales, we’re there. Even if no one asked us to be.

• Facebook Disputes: We take your arguments online, fact-check them, and then reprint them as news. You’re welcome.

• The Truth: Or at least the closest thing to it, as determined by our editorial board over coffee and muffins at the Bethel Dunkin’.

Our Promise

We are not satire. We are not parody. We are the solemn record of our time, the unflinching watchdog of our town, and the only paper brave enough to say:
“Because Someone Has to Tell Bethel What’s Really Going On.”