Steve Collins

Columnist

Steve Collins became an opinion columnist for the Maine Trust for Local News in April of 2025. A journalist since 1987, Steve has worked for daily newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Maine and served as the State House reporter for the Sun Journal since 2016. The Maine Press Association named him Maine's Journalist of the Year in 2022. Among his other awards are the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2016 Ethics in Journalism Award, the I.F. Stone Whistle-Blower Award in 2015 and the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association. Steve is a founder and board president of Youth Journalism International, a charity that teaches students around the globe about news writing, media literacy and issues of the day. His wife, Jackie Majerus, serves as its executive director. Born in Massachusetts, he grew up in a military family that took him to Norway, Ohio and Virginia, where he earned a degree in history from the University of Virginia. He and Jackie live in Auburn. They have two adult children, two collies and not enough time.

Maine, Politics

Sen. Collins uses leadership PAC to shore up Republican support

by Steve Collins June 12, 2019June 12, 2019

Maine’s senior senator relies on her Dirigo PAC to give to GOP politicians from Mitch McConnell to candidates for the Maine Legislature.

Maine, News, Schools and Education

Lots of ‘cool science’ at Bates spurred by federal program

by Steve Collins June 9, 2019June 9, 2019

The $104 million that taxpayers have allocated to encourage biomedical research in Maine contributes to the growth of student-focused scientific training.

Business, Maine

Identical mailers touting power line project offer wildly different job estimates

by Steve Collins June 3, 2019June 4, 2019

Critics say the power company’s advertising in favor of its $1 billion project are misleading, but both versions are both confusing and correct.

Maine, News, Source

Program that pays farmers to provide food for hungry Mainers threatened

by Steve Collins May 28, 2019May 29, 2019

State lawmakers are weighing whether to allocate $3 million to continue a hunger relief program, which buys fresh produce from 75 Maine farms, for two more years.

Maine, Nation & World, News, Politics

Rep. Jared Golden protests ‘gotcha politics’ move by House leaders

by Steve Collins May 20, 2019May 21, 2019

The Lewiston Democrat says measures with bipartisan backing should be allowed to go to the Senate without tying them to bills the Republican Party won’t support.