TWN
THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER Vol. 97, No. 11 December 2012
Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association and Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington • www.wnpa.com
Wilson-Gay scholarship launched
Merilynn Wilson creates perpetual scholarship honoring late publishers
A
new internship scholarship established through the WNPA Foundation is named for two of WNPA’s deceased titans, Bruce A. Wilson of Omak and Henry Gay of Shelton. The Wilson-Gay scholarship will go annually to a college student who seeks to work with one of WNPA’s community newspaper members through a journalism internship. The scholarship was launched by Merilynn A. Wilson, who worked along her husband, Bruce, during their years with the Ritzville Journal-Times from 1947 to 1958, and with the Omak Chronicle from 1958 to 1982. Merilynn Wilson, 90, now lives in Port Townsend where son Scott publishes the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader. Bruce Wilson died in 1991.
Pioneer, agency team up to tell ‘a good story’
He was WNPA President in 1957 and was known as an exceptional community newspaper publisher. Highlights of his career included award-winning coverage of the John and Sally Goldmark libel trial in Okanogan County in the early 1960s, and his postretirement election to the Washington State Senate, where he served for 20 years. He was the Senate floor leader for the establishment of Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act, and later served as chair of the Public Disclosure Commission. Henry Gay, who died in 1999, first published the Buckley News Banner and then the Shelton-Mason County Journal, where he skewered state and national politicians in his nationally syndicated column, “The Gay Blade,” for over 30 years. He published the Journal from 1966 until shortly before he died. Gay’s Journal was known for its unapologetic journalistic standards, even See SCHOLARSHIP, page 3
Henry Gay, left, and Bruce Wilson were great friends and exceptional community newspaper publishers in Washington from the 1950s until Wilson retired from publishing in the 1980s and Gay’s departure in 1996. This photo was taken in 1991, shortly before Wilson passed away. Merilynn Wilson established a WNPA Foundation scholarship in their names.
BRIGHT AND WHITE
Three-phase campaign’s results encouraging
After Aug. 31 close, new owners publish return issue Nov. 15
P
ioneer Newspapers has a fresh new multimedia campaign for the company’s newspapers, developed by Flying Horse Communications in Bozeman. Envisioned as a three-phase effort, it launched in eight markets in February 2012 and ends in May 2013. First-phase metrics are in and show positive changes when compared to the pre-campaign survey. “We’ve heard, like everyone else, that we’re dying, “ said Mike Gugliotto, company president and CEO. “You just get tired of hearing that stuff, “ he said. “You go to a party and people ask what you do, and their jaw drops when you answer that you work for a newspaper company. But after you explain current developments and that you publish on multiple print and digital platforms to reach more people than ever before, they usually walk away with a different perspective. “We do have a good story to tell, and we needed to do it to dispel myths and convey the truth.” Getting from Gugliotto’s “we needed to do it” statement in 2010 to the campaign that started in February 2012 involved forming a marketing committee with four Pioneer publishers, writing a plan with goals and supporting rationale to discuss with Pioneer’s owners, See PIONEER, page 6
Toppenish R-I makes comeback Review-Independent, Toppenish
T
Patrick Sullivan/Port Townsend Leader
‘A snowy morning in Port Townsend’ won first place for Patrick Sullivan of the Port Townsend Leader in the Washington Better Newspaper Contest’s Pictorial Black and White category for circulation groups I-IV combined.
he Toppenish-based Review-Independent has been purchased by Yakima Valley Publishing, a locally owned company that produces the Yakima Valley Business Times and Central Washington Senior Times. Owners are Bruce and Ginger Smith. The Review-Independent had ceased publication on Aug. 31 for financial reasons, briefly interrupting a publication history that dates back 109 years. “The paper has deep roots in the community,” said publisher Bruce Smith. “It’s very important for us to not only continue the publication, but to make the paper a strong and viable source for community news. “We plan on breathing life back into the ReviewIndependent and giving Lower Valley residents the sort of newspaper they deserve,” he said. The Nov. 15 newspaper was the first edition published under the new ownership. Jack Smith, who served as the paper’s editor before its closure, returned, as did account executive Shawnee Olson and office manager Tammy Mitzel. Since the change of ownership, the Review-Independent See TOPPENISH, page 2
2
DECEMBER 2012
TWN
Back to basics – building a plan for a brighter future
T
he hot word is “sustainable.” In other words, are the strategies and programs we employed last year going to be successful going forward? In the newspaper business we have been asking ourselves that question for decades, but most recently because many technology evangelists are predicting the end of newspapers is just around the corner. It’s now that time of year when most of us look back to examine what we have accomplished, or in some cases what we have lost, and ask what we need to do going forward. It is a constant process to adapt and change or become irrelevant and disappear. As I begin my process each year, I am always reminded of the immortal words of a fellow from the Boston Consulting Group by the name of Steve Starr, who used to teach a seminar on strategic planning for newspapers in conjunction with the old ANPA (for you young folks, that was the American Newspaper Publishers Association). Steve said there are really only three strategies you need to remember:
Intensification – do the same thing you’re now doing but do it better; Diversification – find new products or services to build on; and Bill Divestiture – Forhan get out before Publisher, you lose your NCW Media, Leavenworth; shirt. WNPA President Few of us ever want to contemplate the last one because we love what we are doing. I have encountered a lot of old publishers over the years who were still going strong decades after the normal retirement age. It seems the ink was so thick in their blood that their hearts would no longer pump if they tried to stop. So we are faced with deciding if we need to concentrate on intensification or diversification in order to make our franchises more vital to our local readers and advertisers. In making that evaluation there are a few very basic things to consider before we prioritize that decision. First,
and probably most important, are the changing demographics of our markets. In my markets there are two trends that stand out – changes in the age of our population in general and a growing Hispanic population. Second, technological change is presenting new opportunities as well as threats to our existing business model. The needs of the baby boom generation and Gen X are dramatically different from the Gen Y group, which uses media in dramatically different ways. How we target those groups will have significant impacts on our circulation and our advertising rates. In my markets it is still safe to assume that in the near term, the traditional newspaper readers will continue to dominate and in fact are a growing market segment as retirees find our communities a great place to retire. But the content may need to shift toward less coverage of high school sports and more lifestyle coverage relevant to seniors. The Gen Y group, however, does not read the traditional print product unless some dramatic event drives them to it. Then they want it for
free. In our market getting their attention will most likely result from stories about local activities that interest them. We will focus on more photos of river rafting, skiing, mountain biking and high-energy activities, but we will need to present those in new and different ways. Keeping up with the changing technology is a diversification strategy that needs to be addressed, but the trick here is we need to be on the leading edge, not the bleeding edge. It seems that as soon as you develop a web offering that is current, the technocrats have “improved” it and your offering is now out of date. Just watch the ads for the latest cell phone – they’re all about who’s got the best “app.” The faithful stand in line to have the latest and greatest but are willing to throw it all away next week for the next innovation. Many Gen Y have abandoned their computers and even their iPads for their phone, so you need to be thinking about how to make your offerings mobile enabled. We are working also on how to make our web offerings more flexible in order to adapt to
the ever-changing screen sizes. Finally, I believe we need to be looking at our advertising rate structure. Selling ads by the inch or line is becoming increasingly problematic. And our ad staff is often confused by the increasingly complex nature of our rate cards with display, classified, inserts, web tiles, etc., etc. Years ago many of us talked about developing package rates. Well, it now appears to be more necessary than ever. Our advertising customers are buying results. They aren’t buying inches. That is why the concept of selling impressions and click throughs is so popular. It gives them a way to measure response no matter how well that really causes the cash register to ring. We are beginning to develop new rate cards that sell print, web, mobile packages for a simple flat rate per month. I don’t know how well that will work, but if you have some ideas of your own let me know. By networking and sharing ideas, we have been able to sustain our industry through decades of change and avoid that last strategic decision.
Petraeus affair reminds us little is private
Officers: President: Bill Forhan, NCW Media, Leavenworth l First Vice President: Keven Graves, Nisqually Valley News, Yelm l Second Vice President: Lori Maxim, Sound Publishing l Past President: Jana Stoner, Northern Kittitas County Tribune, Cle Elum l Secretary: Bill Will, WNPA, Seattle Trustees: Mike Dillon, Pacific Publishing Co., Seattle l Josh Johnson, Liberty Lake Splash, Liberty Lake l Eric LaFontaine, Othello Outlook l Imbert Matthee, Waitsburg Times l Stephen McFadden, Ritzville-Adams County Journal l Fred Obee, Port Townsend Leader Staff: Executive Director: Bill Will l Editor/Manager of Member Services: Mae Waldron
Officers: President: W. Stacey Cowles, The Spokesman-Review l Vice President: Mike Shepard, Seattle Times Company Board: Rufus Friday, Tri-City Herald l Jill Mackie, The Seattle Times l Dennis Waller, Chronicle, Centralia Executive Director: Rowland Thompson THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER is the official publication of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. It is published monthly by WNPA, 12354 30th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125, phone (206) 634-3838. Email: mwaldron@wnpa.com; URL: www.wnpa.com, in conjunction with Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington, P.O. Box 29, Olympia, WA 98507, (360) 943-9960. Email: anewspaper@aol.com.
N
ational attention to the Petraeus affair is driven by everything from morbid curiosity to concern for national security. But for most of us, issues of privacy and the First Amendment also should take center stage. As shown by the FBI’s relatively quick trip through the online missives of Gen. David Petraeus’ trysts, not much – if any – of our electronic communication is genuinely “private,” not even for the director of the world’s largest spy agency. No matter what assumptions, promises or e-mail ploys we might rely on, the one safe approach today is to assume every Internet search, each e-mail, any tweet or Facebook post is at least a discoverable whisper to the world, if not an outright shout. The implications of that online reality go well beyond personal discomfort or professional disgrace, all the way to First Amendment principles underpinning free speech, free press, petition and the right to associate freely. Anonymous speech and freely associating with others clearly enhance our ability to seek change in government policies without the chilling impact of “Big Brother” taking names – and, at least potentially, punishing citizens. We have only to look at the start of the nation to see the value the Founders placed on
TOPPENISH
anonymity. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison used the pen name “Publius” in circulating the 85 essays Gene and articles of Policinski the Federalist Vice President/ Papers in 1777 Executive Director, and 1778, First Amendment discussing Center what became the principles of the U.S. Constitution. More than a century later, the core value of individual privacy was declared in an 1890 law review article, “Right to Privacy,” co-written by Louis Brandeis, later a renowned Supreme Court justice. Noting that “recent inventions and business methods” were fueling an unprecedented increase in gossip and that “to satisfy a prurient taste the details of sexual relations are spread broadcast in the columns of daily papers,” the article called for legal protection of the right “to be let alone.” In 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court tied privacy directly to the right of groups not to disclose the names on their membership lists. In NAACP v. Alabama, the Court specifically supported the idea that such groups could shield their members from potential reprisals. But fast-forward to 2011,
when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of requiring Washington state to disclose the names of those who signed petitions to overturn a gay-marriage law. The signers’ fear of being targeted was an acknowledged part of the legal debate. So much for anonymous speech in that one. The tools of privacy from years past seem as inefficient as they do quaint in today’s era of electronic transparency. Where once lowering the window shades, closing an office door, or sealing a letter for the mail might suffice, a tsunami of data-mining from online official records, and the global, instantaneous and apparently eternal cache of Facebook photos, tweets and e-mail trails, makes closing the e-door or sealing an archive all but impossible. Under the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, federal prosecutors can simply issue a subpoena to get e-mails and such more than six months old. A recent Associated Press report said that’s usually enough to get Internet companies “to reveal names and any other information that they have that would identify the owner of a particular e-mail account.” The AP story said a Google report showed it “complied with more than 90% of the nearly 12,300 requests it received in 2011 from the U.S. government for data about its users.” In the Petraeus matter, the FBI was able to track strings of
e-mails with his ex-mistress – and in a related search, obtain what some reports call “30,000 pages” of e-mails between another general and a second woman linked to the scandal, all in a matter of weeks or months. For those of us tempted not to worry about privacy because we “haven’t done anything wrong,” there’s a non-criminal Pandora’s Box to stress about: aggregation of private information. This includes everything from our use of supermarket discount cards and online health information to lists of videos we rent and websites we visit – all maintained by someone, somewhere, available to others and all of it largely without our knowledge. Be that as it may, the First Amendment’s role is to forestall government intrusion and abuse – so that we may write and speak freely, and gather with others of like minds, perhaps to seek a change in direction by our government. We cannot be distracted by the tawdry details of infidelity involving a few people from seeing yet another signal that all our lives are more open than ever to agents of government. Gene Policinski is senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center, 1207 18th Ave. S., Nashville, Tenn., 37212. Web: www.firstamendmentcenter.org. E-mail: gpolicinski@fac.org.
from page 1
moved to a new location, 218 W. First Ave. in Toppenish, and changed its phone number to (509) 314-6400. In addition to the ReviewIndependent, the company purchased the Spanish-language weekly Viva, the weekly Central Valley Shopper, the monthly Yakima Valley Business Journal
and the annual Yakima Valley Visitors Guide. The visitor’s guide will be produced and distributed early in 2013 and the business journal has been merged into Smith’s Yakima Valley Business Times. The plan is to restart Viva in the first or second quarter of next year, and the shopper’s
future is uncertain. “Our commitment is to do things right, not fast,” said Smith. “We want to get the Review-Independent up and going in the next couple of weeks and then to deliver a high quality visitor’s guide in the next couple of months. Then we’ll look at the other products.”
FIND YOUR 25-HOUR DAY
My 50 years on 15 small publications can help you: • sell more ads & subs • simplify operations • avoid bricks through your window • start/improve your website
Jay Becker
Community Consulting
jaybecker@aol.com - (206) 790-9457
TWN
3
DECEMBER 2012
OPEN ACCESS & LEGAL ISSUES
Curiouser and curiouser State pays open-government coalition $65,000 to settle unusual records case Seattle Times
T
he state Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Corrections have each paid an open-government coalition $32,500 to settle an unusual public-records lawsuit, the coalition announced Oct. 22. In the 2010 lawsuit, the Washington Coalition for Open Government argued the state agencies violated the Public Records Act in an attempt to cover up evidence that they had assisted a group of corrections officers who sued to stop the Department of Corrections from disclosing public records about them to an inmate. In other words, the coalition claimed the state was secretly helping a group of state employees sue the state. The settlement was not an admission of guilt, officials said. Dan Sytman, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office, called it a “risk management decision” to prevent
what would happen if the court “found even a minor violation of the Public Records Act.” But the president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government called the case “troubling.” “State agencies should not help people sue an agency just because the agency doesn’t want to release records,” said Toby Nixon, a member of the Kirkland City Council. The case dates back to a 2004 public-records request by convicted arsonist Allan Parmelee seeking information about corrections officers — presumably as a means of harassment. Parmelee’s persistent requests eventually led the Legislature to limit’s inmates’ access to use of the Public Records Act. But back then, without that law on the books, the Department of Corrections was reluctantly considering releasing the information. So the employees filed suit to stop
it from doing so. Even though the Attorney General’s Office was representing the Department of Corrections in the case, an employee with the Attorney General’s Office emailed the corrections officers a sample document to help them with their suit. In the email, she stated that she “provided this form for informational purposes only,” not as legal advice. That email eventually came out in a public-records request by the open-government coalition, but not before the state tried to avoid releasing the records, the coalition said. So in 2010, the coalition sued, leading to the $65,000 settlement reached in May. The timing of the coalition’s announcement — five months after the settlement and two weeks before a gubernatorial election featuring Attorney General Rob McKenna — may raise eyebrows. But Nixon, of the coalition, called it a coincidence. The McKenna campaign declined to comment, referring questions to the Attorney General’s Office.
Ex-Skamania auditor cuts deal
The Columbian, Vancouver
I
n a case that has dragged on for three years, Skamania County’s former auditor, accused of racking up questionable expenses and shredding public documents, pleaded guilty Oct. 25 to a gross misdemeanor. Initially charged with two felony counts of injury to public record, J. Michael Garvison, 41, pleaded guilty to attempted injury of public record. Clark County Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson sentenced Garvison to serve 168 hours of community service and ordered him to pay Skamania County $62,000 in restitution. Garvison also is not allowed to serve in a governmental finance management position again, Johnson ruled. The judge noted the seriousness of the case, how Garvison violated the public’s trust, but assured the dozens of Skamania County residents who attended the hearing: “Fortunately, these things are rather rare. I can’t remember ever having an elected official appear before me.” Garvison was investigated for using thousands of dollars in public money for unauthorized travel, education and office equipment expenses during four years as the county’s
SCHOLARSHIP in the face of intense local opposition. Gay won numerous awards, including the Master Editor/ Publisher Award from WNPA, awards from the ACLU and a top editorial award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Gay’s children, led by Charlie Gay, continued
elected auditor. The unauthorized expenses included 13 out-of-state trips, including two conferences in Florida and one in Las Vegas. He resigned his position in November 2009, shortly after news of the unauthorized expenses broke. Garvison’s case was examined by the state’s Attorney General’s Office and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office for the possibility of theft or embezzlement charges; however, no such concrete evidence was found, said defense attorney Jon McMullen. Assigned the case in 2010, an assistant attorney general offered Garvison a plea bargain to a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct. But Skamania County’s commissioners were unhappy with the plea bargain and asked the assistant attorney general to return the case to the county. A special prosecutor from Spokane charged Garvison in December 2011 with shredding public documents. The case was moved to Vancouver from Skamania County upon the request of the defense because of the extensive pre-trial publicity in the county to the east. The charges allege between
from page 1 publishing the Journal for a decade after his death. Further contributions to the Wilson-Gay Scholarship fund are welcomed. Contact Mae Waldron for details: mwaldron@wnpa.com. Donations for WNPA Foundation scholarships are tax deductible.
Jan. 1, 2009, and Feb. 28, 2009, Garvison ordered his staff to destroy the records that were vouchers that showed his expenditures in 2003 and 2004. McMullen said that while Garvison was never charged with any theft-related crimes, the restitution amount that was agreed on by the prosecution and defense reflected “what (Skamania County residents) feel they had lost.” Garvison will be allowed to make monthly payments. McMullen said his client lives in Oregon City, Ore., and is currently unemployed, so he doesn’t have the means to make large payments. Johnson ordered minimum payments of $250. A review date of Oct. 4, 2013, was scheduled to check on the status of the payments and Garvison’s community service, which is to be performed in Skamania County. Several residents spoke before the judge, decrying the plea bargain. Gloria Howell of Stevenson, the county seat, called it “not acceptable,” saying the case appeared larger than what the charges indicated. “This case is about a whitecollared official who violated the public’s trust,” she said. “What more could we have revealed without the destruction of documents?” When it was his turn to speak, Garvison apologized to the residents of Skamania County. He admitted to asking his staff to shred documents, but stopped short of any other admissions. “There were things I did in my office that, in retrospect, were not the greatest things to do,” he said.
Details on executive session remain scarce The Daily World, Aberdeen
L
ast month’s mystery motion by the Grays Harbor County commissioners will have to stay a mystery a while longer. The results from a public records request from the Daily World seeking more information or documents leading to the decision by the county commissioners turned up three pages that shed no light whatsoever on the action the county commissioners took last week following an executive session. On Monday, Oct. 29, the county commissioners conducted a 30-minute executive session. After, they emerged and approved the following motion: “Counsel is authorized to institute proceedings relating to certain public officers.” The commissioners declined to give any further details, providing the following statement: “There will be no public comment on the topic due to confidentiality requirements by law.” Documents provided by the county commissioners include the official minutes from the meeting, which started at 10:08 a.m. and lasted until 10:38 a.m. The commissioners then made the motion and the vague statement and recessed the meeting. There is also a document
noting that Special Deputy Prosecutor Tom Fitzpatrick was at the meeting to discuss litigation “and gave legal advice to the county commissioners.” And there is a third document noting that the commissioners were closing their office during the executive session. However, there are no documents providing context to what exactly it is the commissioners approved or what kind of proceedings they agreed to start against a mystery party. The Daily World had sought hand-outs distributed during the executive session, emails sent before or after the meeting dealing with the motion and other documents relevant to the action. But none of that was turned over because apparently they didn’t exist. Deputy Attorney General Tim Ford, who is the state’s open government ombudsman, feels that the county’s action lacks the detail necessary to comply with the state’s Open Public Meeting Act. However, to enforce the act, a third party would need to sue the county. And even if a judge were to find the county commissioners in violation of the act, each commissioner would only be personally liable for a civil penalty in the amount of $100, according to statute.
Judge upholds injunction blocking release of videos The News Tribune, Tacoma
A
judge has barred a former student at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment from releasing more materials belonging to the school. The ex-student posted videos showing Ramtha leader JZ Knight making derogatory comments about Mexicans, Catholics and others this year, igniting a political firestorm before the Nov. 6 election. The reposting of the videos by a local conservative think tank, the Freedom Foundation, prompted Republicans to call for Democratic candidates to give back campaign contributions they had received from Knight. A number of Democrats gave away Knight’s donations before the election. As of early November, they had given away about $70,000. During a court hearing Nov. 14, Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon ruled that the preliminary injunction will remain in effect until a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by the school’s attorneys is settled. He emphasized that the injunction merely preserves the “status quo” and does not allow the school to be further damaged if its lawsuit succeeds. The lawsuit alleges that Virginia Coverdale breached a contract she signed upon enrolling when she posted videos of Knight channeling Ramtha in 2012. Knight claims to channel
Ramtha, a 35,000-year-old warrior. In 1988, she founded a school in the Yelm area to teach others about her beliefs. The school has tens of thousands of followers. Dixon also ordered that Coverdale must ask her Internet service provider remove any videos belonging to Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment that she already has posted, in violation of a contract. Dixon emphasized that the order doesn’t apply to other groups that might have reposted the videos. Spokesman Glen Morgan said that the Freedom Foundation has posted many videos of Knight that didn’t come from Coverdale. “We’re not taking them down,” he said. “In fact, we should probably post more, it looks like. At this point in time, it’s public domain.” School attorney Jeffrey Grant said that Coverdale has “25 to 30 hours” of additional materials that were in danger of being posted if the injunction was not granted. Coverdale’s attorney, Shawn Newman, has argued that the suit is designed to stifle Coverdale’s free speech and intimidate her into not criticizing the school. Grant argued that Coverdale can say whatever she wants about Ramtha or Knight, as long as she does not use Ramtha’s proprietary materials.
4
DECEMBER 2012
Ferndale publisher leaves for Langley Winjum wraps up nearly two decades at Record’s helm Ferndale Record
K
imberlly Winjum, longtime publisher of the Ferndale Record, wrapped up nearly 20 years at the newspaper when she was hired as associate publisher of the South Whidbey Record in Langley. She noted that the paper, like Ferndale, had seen plenty of changes over the years. “When I started, it was such a different paper. Cal Bratt was the editor. There was a part-time guy and a sports guy,” WInjum said. Winjum was hired in 1993 by new owner Mike Lewis, whose family is the third generation publisher of the Lynden Tribune.
“At that time, we were the Westside Record-Journal, covering Blaine (as well),” she said. Blaine coverage at one point finally became just a monthly insert. Winjum acknowledged that her first days at the job were trying, partly because she was a single mom with two little girls. “Mike Lewis had heard about me through my work with the Ferndale Image Group,” she said. “He called me out of the blue and we had a meeting at Bob’s Burger & Brew. I knew nothing about newspapers.” Winjum’s first job was to help the struggling paper back into the black, and she was given six months to try, or the paper likely would have closed down. “I had a horrible first experience with attempting to sell ads. But I decided I had no other option than to succeed. I needed to learn everything I could about
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Jan. 11
WNPA Board Meeting, Olympia
Feb. or March Legislative Day April 25
WNPA Board Meeting, Bellevue
May
Better Newspaper Contest Entries due
July 18
WNPA Board Meeting, Leavenworth
Oct. 3
WNPA Board Meeting, Olympia
Oct. 3-5
126th Annual Convention, Olympia
newspapers,” she said. Winjum did help the paper back onto its feet and earned the co-publishing job. Within three years, it was in the black and several investors were paid back with interest. Winjum’s time in Ferndale has included leadership stints in a number of organizations, including the community’s Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls Club, Food Bank and Image Committee. She is especially happy with the success of El Periodico, Whatcom County’s first duallanguage newspaper, which she helped create in 2009. Winjum said that while she will miss her years in Ferndale, she is certainly excited about the new experiences and friendships ahead of her. “I definitely want to acknowledge Michael Lewis for giving me, a young single mom, a chance, along with flexibility to be a mom and help make the Ferndale Record a success,” Winjum said. Rachael Dawkins succeeds WInjum as the advertising and office manager. Dawkins has four years’ experience at the Record. First hired for ad sales of the paper’s special sections, she then also served as an account manager and in various office roles. More recently, she was a graphics intern while working toward her visual communications certificate from Whatcom Community College, where she also obtained an associate of arts and science degree.
TWN
Great Scot: Shaw earns region helm Sound promotes Issaquah resident on his track record Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter
W
illiam Shaw, a longtime resident of Issaquah, has been named Regional Publisher of the Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter and the Snoqualmie Valley Record. A print media advertising consultant for a number of local community newspapers since 1986, Shaw’s professional focus has been on the local retail, major, national and real estate advertising categories. From 2002 to 2006 he was special projects manager for Horvitz Newspapers (the former King County Journal) and for Sound Publishing, where in 2007, he was designated as Marketing Director for the newly formed Reporter Newspaper Group division of Sound Publishing. In 2008, he was made Publisher of the weekly Snoqualmie Valley Record and www.valleyrecord.com. Overseeing the operations of the now 99-year-old publication, in 2010 Shaw and his team increased distribution of the Record by 300 percent, and together the Valley Record staff remain instrumental in facilitating the continuance of the paper’s strong position within
Press Forward We applaud the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s commitment to advocating for community newspapers, freedom of the press and open government. We are honored to continue serving as a resource in these valuable efforts.
Anchorage. Bellevue. Los Angeles. New York. Portland. San Francisco. Seattle. Shanghai. Washington, D.C. | dwt.com © 2012 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. All rights reserved. 877.398.8417
the residential and business communities of the Snoqualmie Valley. Shaw is a fourth generation Eastside native. William “I love my Shaw hometown. I have lived here 30 years and my family has 100 years of history in and around Issaqah,” Shaw said. “I’m pleased and honored to be able to tell the continuing story of Issaquah and Sammamish.” Shaw and his wife, Mary Beth Haggerty-Shaw, raised two children, Liam and Mora, both of who are Issaquah High School graduates. In 2002, Shaw was recognized in the Scottish Court of the Lord Lyon as the 12th Shaw of Easter Lair, the Representer of his clan sept in Glenshee and Glenisla, Scotland. Shaw serves on the Board of Directors of the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Rotary Club of Snoqualmie Valley. Shaw also formerly served on the Issaquah Sister Cities Commission. Established in late September 2007, the Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter reaches 24,000 Issaquah and Sammamish households and local businesses every Friday.
TWN
5
DECEMBER 2012
PASSINGS
Former Brewster co-publisher passes at 83
D
oris L. Vallance of Brewster died Sept. 29, 2012, at age 83. With her husband, Ivan “Ike” Vallance, she was co-publisher of the Quad City Herald in Brewster for 35 years ending in 2007. Doris was born in Omak to William and Hilda Pulsipher, pioneers of the south Okanogan Valley. She attended high school and college at Holy Names in Spokane, where she met Ike. They married in 1951.
While raising their six children, Doris helped Ike with the family’s apple orchard. When the couple bought the local newspaper in 1972, she served first as office manager. Later she wrote a column, “From the Desk Behind the Editor,” about the Vallance’s family life and local community events, and it became a must-read for many in the Quad City area. She and Ike co-chaired the Brewster Bonanza Day Parade for many years, and
Doris was active in local clubs, in bowling, and as a member of the local Catholic Church and Catholic Charities. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Ivan; six children, Cathy, Helen, Deanna, William, John and James; 15 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Doris L Vallance, was co-publisher of the Quad City Herald, Brewster, with her husband, Ike, for 35 years. Quad City Herald, Brewster
Former Times executive editor King dies at 89 Staff hails him as gentleman, leader and an innovator Seattle Times
T
Courtesy Seattle Times
A 2001 photo posted on Jim Bates’ Facebook page says a lot about the late Times photographer and his enthusiasm for his job, co-workers say.
Cancer claims Times’ Bates
Seattle Times
Y
ou can tell a lot about Jim Bates, a Seattle Times photographer who died of cancer Nov. 25 at 63, just by looking at a photo he took of himself outside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in 2001. In the shot, which Bates posted on his Facebook page, he’s smiling. He’s working. He’s outdoors. He’s wearing a Seattle Times ball cap. And he’s out on a big story — the Huskies at the Rose Bowl. “He loved his job, his photo subjects and his fellow journalists,” said Times photo editor Angela Gottschalk. “He was a big guy with a tender touch in everything he did.” Bates, a Bothell resident diagnosed in 1996 with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, was a lifelong Seattle-area resident and an award-winning Seattle Times photographer for more than 20 years. Family, faith, friends and his career were the cornerstones of his life, and he gave himself generously to each, said his wife of 38 years, Annette. His struggles with his disease, the ups and downs of remission and relapse, heightened his appreciation of life and those around him, his wife said. Each time his illness abated, he returned to work as soon as possible. His resilience—along with his professionalism and his hearty, contagious laugh—earned him the respect and affection of co-workers. “He took on the challenges related to his illness with an incredible spirit of determination, a great sense of humor and few, if any, complaints,” Gottschalk said. James Lewis Bates was born in Renton on Jan. 22, 1949. He graduated from Evergreen High School in White Center in 1968, and attended Highline Community College and Brigham Young University before serving a two-year mission in Australia with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He returned to BYU, graduating in 1976 with a degree in communications and photojournalism.
His first photo job was at the Daily World in Aberdeen, and he worked at several other newspapers before being hired by the Times, first on a temporary basis in 1988 and then permanently in 1991. He had a particular skill and interest in an area some news photographers might find less than glamorous: high-school sports. Times photographer Dean Rutz enjoyed teaming up with Bates on sports events, knowing Bates would be willing to explore any angle for a telling photo. Part of the fun, Rutz said, was that even though Bates was a fan of local teams, his upbringing and manner prevented him from using curse words when those teams did poorly. “It left him little creative means to express his frustrations,” Rutz said. “It would always be ‘those ding dongs’; or ‘those fetching Huskies.’” In addition to sports, Mr. Bates photographed a wide range of news and feature assignments. He received numerous awards for his work from the National Press Photographers Association, the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists. He helped the Times win a spot-news photography award in 2006 with a photo of young people consoling one another after a gunman killed six people at a Capitol Hill house. Bates was a participating photographer in “One Day In Washington” (1985), and was picture editor for two books featuring Seattle photographers. Away from work, his interests included gardening, fishing, golf, camping and hiking, and a variety of home-improvement projects. “He was mostly self-taught,” his wife said. “If he didn’t know how to do something, he’d find someone to ask or look it up in a book.” In addition to his wife, Annette, Bates is survived by three sons, Matthew, of Garden Ridge, Texas; Samuel, of Springville, Utah; and Nathan, of Bothell; by a daughter, Holley Lennebacker, of Woodinville; and by eight grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center or the LDS Humanitarian Aid Fund.
alk to people who knew Jim King, retired Seattle Times executive editor and senior vice president, and a portrait of a gentleman emerges. “He was easily the most decent person I’ve ever worked with—maybe that I’ve ever known,” said Michael Fancher, retired Seattle Times editor-atlarge. The newspaper’s current executive editor, David Boardman, said, “Jim taught me it is possible to be both a formidable journalist and a gentle human being.” King, who moved from Seattle eight years ago to Vancouver, Wash., died Oct. 17, a few days after suffering a stroke. He was 89. His retirement in 1986 capped a 38-year career that started with covering a sororityhouse fire and led to positions of increased importance at the Times and in the newspaper industry. He boosted the role of women and people of color on the news staff, hired an ombudsman to serve as an advocate for readers, and took a chance on publishing animal-themed cartoons by a quirky young artist, Gary Larson, creator of “The Far Side.” “I couldn’t have dreamed of a better life 38 years ago,” King wrote in a farewell piece when he retired. “And I’ve always been good at dreaming.” James Bruce King was born in Enterprise, Ore., and grew up in Longview, where, in elementary school he was editor of a mimeographed school newspaper. He also held editing positions on student papers in high school, and at Lower Columbia Junior College and Whitman College. After serving three years in the Navy in World War II, he completed his journalism degree at the University of Washington in 1948 and came to work for the Seattle Times. Bob Haiman, former executive editor of the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, met King through newspaper-industry functions nearly 40 years ago, and has remained a close friend.
“He has a wonderful disposition, but with a wicked sense of humor that made him fun to be around. He could lay a barb on you, but do it with a smile on his face.” Colleagues said much of King’s success lay in the way he contributed to the success of others. “He made a point of hiring women into the newsroom and I always appreciated that,” said former Times reporter Sally Macdonald, who was hired in 1976. Before the mid-1970s, most women on the news staff worked on what was considered the women’s section, not hard news. Macdonald, who was a single mother when she applied at the Times, said, “The only thing he asked was could I do the job, cover the night meetings, go to the places I need to go and do what I needed to do.” Fancher said he remembers King as “an idea guy. He liked to try new things,” even—or especially—if it meant completely remaking the newspaper’s front page on deadline, between editions. “He would tell us, ‘Try some things and let your people try things ... If it doesn’t quite work out, well, we’ll put out another paper tomorrow.” King was also known for a calm demeanor, a deep authoritative voice, and always, a fundamental humanity. King’s hopes for a pleasant retirement were derailed by the diagnosis that his wife, Betty, suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. “From then on, he was a full-time caregiver for her, with absolutely amazing devotion,” said King’s daughter-in-law, Julie King, of LaCenter, Clark County. King continued to be a sports fan and still held season tickets to both Husky and Seahawks football games, though in recent years, the number of games he attended declined. Betty King died in 2007. Two years later, the couple’s only child, James Bruce King II, died of cancer at 58. Besides his daughter-in-law, King’s survivors include his second wife, Opal King, of Vancouver, two grandsons and two great-grandchildren.
6
DECEMBER 2012
TWN
On the Record: Changes made Woodses of Wenatchee
Offices move back to Langley; staff moves announced
T
he South Whidbey Record moved back to Langley in November after sharing space in Coupeville with Oak Harbor’s Whidbey News-Times for the past two and a half years. The new office at 211 Second St., Suite 8, is in Langley Village. Plans for a homecoming celebration are under way. “My aim is to make sure Whidbey Island’s community newspapers are engaged and connected with the communities they cover,” said Kasia Pierzga, publisher of the three newspapers. “Returning the Record to
its home community in South Whidbey is a step toward achieving that goal.” In conjunction with Megan the move, Hansen Pierzga announced two staff changes. Megan Hansen, formerly assistant editor of the Nisqually Valley News in Yelm, was hired as editor of the Whidbey News-Times and the Whidbey Examiner in Coupeville. “She brings not only her experience in news reporting and editing, but also a commitment to being involved with the community,” Pierzga said. Hansen spent more than five years on the staff of the Yelm
weekly and holds a degree in print journalism from Central Washington University. Jim Larsen will Jim return to his Larsen role as editor of the Record. Larsen has been editor of the Record for most of the past 30 years. Most recently he served as editor of both the News-Times and the Record. While the News-Times’ advertising staff has a small office in Oak Harbor, Pierzga’s goal is for the paper to have a stronger, more visible presence in Oak Harbor in the future.
Teamwork in Vancouver Vancouver daily, college paper share business stories
T
he collaboration started in September between The Columbian in Vancouver and The Independent at Clark College, a community college in Vancouver, has benefited both newspapers. Nearly every other Wednesday, The Columbian has a fresh business story written by students and edited by Columbian Business Editor Gordon Oliver. For their part, the students get their stories edited by a professional and read by students at school as well as by the larger Columbian audience. “They appreciate the editing,” Oliver said. “The practical issues are that they are edited
PIONEER
by the students, not the adviser, and they’ve had to adjust to being edited by an outsider. But the trade off is they get professional editing.” “It helps the entire staff get better,” said Kyle Yasumiishi, a 19-year-old Clark College sophomore and Editor-in-Chief of The Independent. The Independent publishes on alternate Wednesdays during the school term, with a staff of about 15. The requirement for joining the staff is a C or better in Journalism 101. Yasumiishi believes few, if any, have experience from their high school newspapers. At a September planning meeting, Oliver and the students talked about story ideas in business, careers, and money management, as well as the logistics and deadlines. “Usually we have the story
idea, and we write it for our paper,” Yasumiishi said. “If we think that it might be of interest to a wider readership, then we talk it over with him. If he likes the idea, we work on a collaboration.” Among the first were a story about plans for a new building on the Clark campus and one on the Running Start program, which allows advanced high school students to take classes at Clark and earn college credits. The challenges for Oliver have been getting the same version of the story published in both newspapers on the same day, and the time he spends editing. But with a slim staff he appreciates having stories for his section, particularly those of interest to younger readers. And working with students passionate about journalism is heartening.
honored for their giving
World owners earn recognition from state association The Wenatchee World
T
he Woods family, owners and publishers of the Wenatchee World, have been named Outstanding Philanthropic Family for Washington state by the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Washington Chapter. The honor was presented at the 24th National Philanthropy Day Luncheon Nov. 7 at the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle. The Woodses were among six philanthropic leaders, businesses and organizations named for the honors in separate categories. The award celebrates three generations of the Woods family, beginning with Rufus Woods Sr., a “Pacific Northwest titan” who used his newspaper to promote the economic advancement of North Central Washington. Woods, who published the paper from 1907 until his death in 1950, was instrumental in the creation of the Columbia River dams and the hydroelectric and irrigation projects that shaped the region. He worked tirelessly on civic projects and established his family’s role model of public service, according to the announcement. His son Wilfred continued those contributions. With his wife Kathy, Wilfred helped start the Community Foundation of North Central Washington. Through funding and advocacy, they helped develop and contribute to Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee, the Woods House Conservatory of Music, Icicle Arts, United Way, Wenatchee Valley YMCA
and many other programs that have furthered NCW economic development, arts and recreation. At age 93, Wilfred still works at the paper five days a week, volunteers with several groups and leads tours for the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center. “My folks really set the tone,” said Rufus G. Woods, the paper’s current publisher. “Their involvement is really the cornerstone. The rest of us just try to fill in around the edges.” His parents furthered many community interests as their own — especially in music and arts — because they were their personal interests, he said. “You have to wonder what the local art scene would be like without them.” The association also cited Rufus G. Woods for helping establish the Neighbors Care Fund, chairing the United Way campaign and volunteering on numerous boards. His wife Mary has led several local non-profit groups. Sisters Kara Woods Hunnicutt and Gretchen Woods carry on the family’s musical legacy through teaching, performing and volunteering. “There are few people in our region that have not been touched by the generosity of the Woods family,” said Eric Nelson, executive director of Wenatchee Valley YMCA. The Woods family was nominated for the award by the Community Foundation of North Central Washington. The Association of Fundraising Professionals has more than 26,000 members in 172 chapters around the world. The Washington chapter is one of the oldest and largest in the country.
from page 1
all agreeing that outside help was needed, writing and sending rfps to three ad agencies, having face-to-face meetings with them, and asking hardnosed questions. Flying Horse was selected and campaign conceptualizing began. “We agreed the campaign had to be portable to all our locations, in multimedia, and customizable by each location,” Gugliotto said. “It had to go far outside the newspaper to radio, TV, billboards, digital, guerilla marketing.” This year’s media campaign budget of $750,000 is threefourths in trade and one-fourth in cash and covers all eight markets. While Flying Horse developed phase one of the external campaign, Pioneer developed an internal branding campaign to communicate to employees. Its goals were to clearly distinguish fact from fiction, be on the offensive, and instill pride, confidence and attitude. The first phase of the external campaign, February-June 2012, included displaying new images on company vans, movie theater screens, and billboards, as well
Flying Horse Communications, Bozeman/Pioneer Newspapers, Seattle
These new images on the Ellensburg Daily Record’s delivery vans are part of Pioneer Newspapers’ multimedia advertising campaign. as activity in social and traditional media. “Those guys did a good job,” he said. “It’s quality work, and got a lot of positive feedback (in the survey).” Each phase of the campaign is followed by an independent phone survey on key areas of focus: how people use the newspaper, the diverse ways its products are available to them, its role in the community, as
well as general business questions. (A pre-campaign survey was conducted to generate a base for measuring results.) The surveys include 100 samples in six of Pioneer’s eight markets. Outcomes answer the question of whether the campaign is changing people’s minds, so they will stay with the newspapers in print and digital form and use them.
After the post-phase-one survey, the importance of completely following the campaign plan was clear. “We moved the needle more in areas where media buys happened as predicted,” Gugliotto said. Problems arise when media partners don’t run ads when they say they will, the newspapers lose track of established plans, or some other unforeseen issue
crops up. Publishers track what ran by media outlet and location each month and compare that to budgets, then provide the details to the corporate office, which sends them on to the agency. To evaluate phase two, conducted from July to November 2012, a survey will be done in late January. Phase three, February to May 2013, will be surveyed in June. After all the surveys are completed, the company will reassess and decide what to do next. “Ideally we keep doing something. Somebody’s got to turn the tide, to stand up and say ‘Here’s the real story,’” Gugliotto said. “It’s an essential reinvestment to our business.” Pioneer and Flying Horse Media co-presented a session about the campaign at an Inland Press Association event in late October. To their surprise, a number of attending companies approached them about buying the campaign. A discussion with one group is under way, and may result in a test this spring.
TWN
7
DECEMBER 2012
SCHOLARSHIP LEADERS
P
Intern deadline Feb. 8
Seven internships open; publishers urged to nominate
W
NPA publishers who would like to host a journalism intern this summer through the 2013 WNPA Foundation Internship Scholarship program are urged to nominate their candidate by Feb. 8. Up to seven internships are available, including the newly established Wilson-Gay Internship Scholarship (story on page 1). Your nominee may be a high school student, college student, or simply someone in your community who you would like to have as an intern at your newspaper this summer. The internship is a 240hour commitment and must be served in the newsroom of a WNPA regular-member newspaper. In response to comments in
exit essays from recent interns, the Foundation board at their September 2012 meeting adopted new guidelines for host newspapers. l Keeping in mind that the internship has an educational purpose, the host editor should preview assignments with the intern and carefully review stories after publication, especially in the opening weeks of the internship l There should be at least one “job shadowing” opportunity for the intern, scheduled in the early days of the internship if possible l Each week the editor should have a brief one-on-one meeting devoted to the intern’s professional development In addition, the board will assign interns a contact person and provide that person’s contact information to the host newspaper’s editor. The board member will check in with the intern at the mid-point of the internship, and both the intern and the editor will be free to
contact the board member at other times. The board’s goal is to ensure that our scholarship students and their host newspapers obtain a solid benefit. To nominate an intern, by Feb. 8 please send the following by hard copy or email to Mae Waldron at the WNPA office address or mwaldron@ wnpa.com: l Letter of nomination from the publisher, including the proposed duties for the intern and the name and title of the person who will supervise the intern l Essay (up to 300 words) from your nominee about their interest in a career in community journalism l Up to five examples of your nominee’s work, if available (pdf, url or hard copy) Winners will be announced by March 9. If you have questions, please call Scott Wilson at (360) 3852900 or Mae Waldron, (206) 634-3838 ext. 2.
ublishers and their families who create named scholarships are the leaders in funding WNPA Foundation internship scholarships. These include $10,000 donations to fund: l Wilson-Gay Internship Scholarship (see page 1) l Zubrod Legislative Reporting Internship established in 2005. Jerry Zubrod, who retired in 1988 after serving for 23 years as executive director of WNPA, died in 2001. This endowment was funded by donations from many of Zubrod’s former colleagues. l Jim and Kay Flaherty Internship Scholarship established in 1993. The Flahertys published the Beacon Hill News and South District Journal in Seattle. Jim Flaherty died in 1980. l Richard W. Gay Internship Scholarship, established in 1990. Gay succeeded his parents, Robert and Olga Gay, as publisher of the Prosser Record-Bulletin in 1949 and, with his wife Martha, purchased the Grandview Herald in 1970. He died in 1990.
l Verizon Northwest Internship Scholarship, established in 1990 as the General Telephone Journalism Internship. This fund was created when Howard Voland, then publisher of the Monroe Monitor and Valley News, was Foundation president. l Bruce and Betty Helberg Internship Scholarship, established in 1988. The Helbergs were publishers of the weekly Bellevue American, which later merged with the Kirkland Eastside Journal to become the daily Bellevue Journal-American. During the past decade a silent auction held during WNPA’s annual convention has been developed as a source of funding. It is well supported by donations and bids from publishers and their staff members. The third source is cash donations from active and retired publishers. In recent years these have grown as $250 donations are pledged by a show of hands during the Better Newspaper Contest Awards Dinner during the WNPA convention. The WNPA Foundation is a 501 ( c) (3) and donations are tax deductible.
Zoey Palmer, left and Kylee Zabel, both University of Washington students, will cover this year’s state legislative session as WNPA Foundation interns.
Foundation’s interns to cover Legislature
T
he WNPA Foundation has for the third consecutive year funded two student interns from the University of Washington journalism program to cover the legislative session for WNPA-member newspapers. Funding is from donations by two WNPA past presidents, Frank Garred, the former publisher of the Port Townsend Leader, and Wallie Funk, former publisher of Whidbey NewsTimes (Oak Harbor) and South Whidbey Record (Langley), as well as the WNPA Foundation and its silent auction. The interns, Zoey Palmer and Kylee Zabel, will report during the UW’s winter quarter. Palmer grew up in the Snohomish area and graduated from Monroe High School in 2003. She enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2005, worked as an intelligence analyst, and left in 2009 to pursue a career as a journalist. Her experience in the military gave her a unique perspective on government as well as national and international politics.
Politics have been her passion since she was old enough to understand how profoundly they affect people’s daily lives, and she is studying social justice and community journalism. Zabel is pursuing a double major in political science and journalism. She is especially interested in how the press shapes public opinion, affecting elections and policy decisions. Her experience includes internships with three Washington state representatives during the 2012 Legislative Session. That experience helped developed her passion for public service, and she believes she can best serve others through her reporting. Garred is again volunteering as the WNPA Olympia News Bureau Intern coordinator and editor. Members should contact him with story requests by e-mail at fpg@olympus.net or call (360) 385-3313 or cell, (360) 808-0648. Provide him with your newspaper name and city, staff contact, phone number and e-mail address
8
DECEMBER 2012
TWN
CAREER MOVES n When John Trumbo retired from the Tri-City Herald in October, he brought to a close a 40-year reporting career. He joined the Herald in 2000, and since then earned the 2006 Ted M. Natt Jr. First Amendment Award and three first-place C.B. Blethen Memorial Awards for Distinguished Newspaper Reporting. The newspaper held a public open house and, in the story on his retirement, noted that his many plans for retirement included attending public meetings “to remind public officials that they have a responsiblity not to their agency but to the public.” n Jim Campbell, longtime opinion editor at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton, also retired in October. Editor David Nelson reported that during 37 years at the Sun, Campbell served as a reporter, columnist, city editor, copy editor, features editor, and page designer, in addition to his final role. Campbell recalled some highlights in a farewell column, including the biggest changes in the newsroom: “no smoking and no typewriters. My first desk at the Sun in 1975 was across from a 3-pack-a-day guy,
and probably one third of the news staff smoked. We typed stories on typewriter-size sheets that had been cut from newsprint roll ends. On our desks, each reporter had a glue pot to glue the sheets together before turning them in to the city editor. A roomful of typewriters makes a lot of noise. When we switched to computers, it was unsettlingly quiet.” n Charles Lam has succeeded Tiffany Ran as editor of the Northwest Asian Weekly in Seattle. His experience includes freelancing for the OC Weekly in Orange County and a stint at a design and advertising agency there. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine. n Joel Harding joined the staff of the Douglas County Empire Press in East Wentachee. He wrote articles for the newspaper in Spokane Valley when he lived there, and for 31 years taught history and English years at Mead High School in Spokane. He closed his introductory column with the thought that at age 69, he may be the oldest cub reporter in the state. n Catherine Brewer has been named marketing director at the
Port Townsend Leader. She grew up in Port Angeles and most recently was an advertising representative for Sound Publishing in the San Juan Islands. She has two grown children and three granddaughters. n Kathleen Merryman, who in August retired from the News Tribune in Tacoma after 29 years, emerged from retirement to write a column for the Tacoma Weekly.”Most weeks this column will be about what’s right with Tacoma,” she wrote in her introductory column. Merryman is writing first about the past efforts of eight local Neighborhood Councils and what their plans are for the future. n The Sequim Gazette hired Kim Hughes, a 17-year employee of the local Frick’s Drugs, as an advertising representative. At Frick’s, she had managed the camera department and staffed the home health department. Beth Barrett returned to the Gazette in the customer service department, where she helps arrange classified ads, garage sale ads and answers customer queries. Barrett worked at the Gazette for much of 2011 and recently was rehired.
n Will Livesley-O’Neill is the new lifestyles and arts reporter at the Peninsula Gateway in Gig Harbor. He also wrote for publications in Chicago, where he studied journalism. LivesleyO’Neill grew up in Seattle and is glad to be back in the Northwest, particularly for its mild winters. n Terresa Henriot joined the staff of the Marysville Globe and Arlington Times. She is the office coordinator handling inside sales, legal advertising and obituaries. Her experience includes customer service and sales in the building materials industry. She attended Brooks College in Long Beach, Calif., and The Art Institute of Seattle. n Todd Dybas joined the News Tribune in Tacoma, where he is on the University of Washington Huskies beat. He has covered sports in and around Seattle since 2005, when he was hired by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and seattlepi.com. Most recently he wrote for Sports Illustrated, The Associated Press and major daily newspapers whose local sports teams were playing in Seattle. When Executive Editor Karen Peterson made the
One more round of 10,000 Bellingham Herald
I
t’s four more years and 10,000 more papers for Birch Bay resident Thomas Baldwin. When Barack Obama was first elected in 2008, Baldwin bought 10,000 copies of the Bellingham Herald’s election wrap-up edition. And now that Obama has won his bid for re-election, Baldwin has
put in another order for 10,000 of the Herald’s election papers. “I ordered 10,000 when he got elected and I ordered 10,000 when he got re-elected,” Baldwin, 71, said. “I think it’s an important event in history.” While he figures he might be able to make a profit selling the papers, he also thinks they’re an inspiring reminder of Obama’s
journey to become the first black president. “I think that in general, just for the population of young people, it will give them the incentive that they can reach out and grab any dream,” Baldwin said. “I think that’s really important for our country to keep establishing that particular concept.” Baldwin paid a discounted
announcement, she noted two additional changes on the sports beat. Todd Milles is coordinating high school sports coverage and Ryan Divish will succeed Larry LaRue as the Seattle Mariners beat writer when LaRue moves to TNT’s news side. n Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Bob Bolerjack, former Everett Herald editorial page editor, to Everett Community College’s Board of Trustees through September 2016. Bolerjack replaces Gene Chase, who had served since 2000. Bolerjack left the Herald in June to accept a communications job at the Snohomish County Public Utility District. n After giving commuting a try, Nikkol Nagle left the Daily News in Longview to become a full-time resident of Astoria, Ore., with her new family — her fiance and two teenagers. She had been circulation manager at the News for four years, and was a member of the newspaper’s four-person editorial board. Thomas Baldwin of Birch Bay sees more than history in the Herald’s coverage of President Obama’s election and re-election.
Bellingham Herald
rate of 25 cents per paper, $2,500 overall, and the Herald had to order an extra press run. He said he still has the 2008 papers in storage, tucked away carefully and still in good condition. He hopes to sell the two editions as a package, perhaps online to people who want to mark the historic election. “My wife thinks I’m nuts, but I thought this is an important event,” he said. “She said, ‘What
are you going to do, put up a card table in front of Walmart and sell them?’” He told her he could probably sell them on a street corner and turn a profit, though she told him it would take 30 years to sell all those papers, if he does at all. But he’s not worried about his investment. “At the very least,” he said, “I could probably heat my home pretty cheap.”
S-R, WSU team on journalism workshop T
he Spokesman-Review and the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University will provide a one-day training workshop in February for qualified rural journalists and citizen bloggers in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. The free workshop, which will be held at the SpokesmanReview, is open to 20
citizen journalists or bloggers interested in increasing their knowledge of writing, reporting and photojournalism, as well as to network with other writers and journalists. To be considered for the one-day training, please submit a short essay and work samples to Benjamin Shors, clinical assistant professor of journalism, at bshors@wsu.edu, by Dec. 15.