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.

Election 2020, Local & State, Politics

Maine Republican congressional hopeful claimed a Maine gun rights group endorsed him, but did they?

by Steve Collins October 7, 2020October 8, 2020

Dale Crafts said he erred in radio interview when he said a Maine gun rights group had backed him.

Election 2020, Local & State, Politics

Heat is way down this year in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District race

by Steve Collins October 5, 2020October 6, 2020

First-term Democrat Jared Golden appears to have a big advantage over Republican challenger Dale Crafts.

Election 2020, Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State

Libertarian presidential hopeful seeks to turn USA into ‘one giant Switzerland’

by Steve Collins October 3, 2020October 3, 2020

Jo Jorgensen told a Lewiston crowd Saturday that American troops need to ‘come home’ from around the world.

Election 2020, Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State, Politics

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Cohen sees something of himself in Jared Golden

by Steve Collins October 2, 2020October 2, 2020

Cohen, a Republican, said the freshman Democratic congressman has a streak of independence that marks Maine’s best politicians.

Election 2020, Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State, Politics

Presidential debate outsiders still ready to rumble for Maine votes

by Steve Collins September 30, 2020September 30, 2020

A trio of presidential contenders on Maine’s ballot said voters deserve to hear from more than just Trump and Biden.

Business, Local & State

Poland Spring seeks new packaging materials derived from Maine’s woods

by Sun Journal staff report September 29, 2020September 29, 2020

The Poland-based bottler is collaborating with the University of Maine to find alternative packaging that would lessen its use of petroleum-based products.