TWN
THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER February 2016
Key Award winner named Page 3
Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Struggles turn to miracles at Asian Weekly
REGISTER NOW FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY
Publisher finds building company and community go hand in hand
By Assunta Ng Will newspapers last? Bill Gates said no to a group of features editors in 1994 at the Edgewater Inn (now called the Edgewater Hotel). “I will give you guys 12 to 15 years,” said Gates, who Assunta Ng was keynote speaker for an editors conference. For the past two decades, print newspapers have been dying all over the U.S. and overseas. The thought of which is next is an ever-present one. As the haunting trend continues, the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association sent us good news recently: Newspapers are actually rebounding. In November 2015, newspapers saw a 16 percent gain in ad spending in the previous month, the biggest gain in half a year, according to Media Life Magazine. However, that particular rebound didn’t make our own struggles lighter. Every week, I still feel like I’m raising a
sunken ship, fighting merciless ocean currents to get our papers published. But nobody pays much mind to these difficulties because the Northwest Asian Weekly, the only English weekly for the Asian community, has been appearing on stands for 34 years —never having missed an issue. My friends say, “You have done a good job in holding up the papers.” While riding out the storm, it’s astonishing that my staff and I haven’t lost an inch of passion, nor have we lost our commitment to the community. I build, build, and build the company and community simultaneously — continuing to give back and still having fun while doing so! Perhaps I am a bit quixotic! Or perhaps not? One of my competitors has said, “I like your paper better than ours.” Wow! That unexpected acknowledgement and sincere compliment delight me with gratitude and exhilaration. Every Thursday morning (publishing day), I read the Asian Weekly and its sister paper, the Seattle Chinese See Asian Weekly, Page 3
WNPA members have the chance to hear directly from state elected officials on legislative progress at Legislative Day in Olympia.
WNPA descends on Olympia Feb. 11 A full day of meetings with state elected and appointed officials and dinner with Gov. Jay Inslee is on the agenda for this year’s Legislative Day, sponsored by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association and Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington. Events kick off at 10 a.m. Feb. 11. “We have worked hard to put together a meaningful and educational day for WNPA members,” said Marcia Van Dyke, WNPA’s executive director. “Rarely will you have the opportunity to meet with so many of our elected and appointed state leaders.” The day begins with a legislative report from Rowland Thompson, a lobbyist for Allied Daily Newspapers. At 11 a.m., elected representatives from across the political spectrum make presentations and answer questions. After lunch, attendees meet with state elected department heads. Invited to address attendees are: Bob Ferguson, Attorney General; Kim Wyman, Secretary of State; Jim McIntire, State Treasurer;
Troy Kelley, State Auditor; Peter Goldmark, Commissioner of Public Lands; Mike Kreidler, Insurance Commissioner; and Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction. Invited to speak in mid afternoon are Brad Owen, Lieutenant Governor; Lynn Peterson, Secretary, Department of Transportation; Vikki Smith, Director, Department of Revenue; John Batiste, State Patrol Chief; and Dan Pacholke, Secretary, Department of Corrections From 4 to 5 p.m., a reception hosted by Barbara Madsen, Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, is held in the reception room at the Temple of Justice. Dinner with Gov. Jay Inslee follows that from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Governor’s Mansion. Photo identification is required for entrance to the Governor’s Mansion. “Don’t miss this opportunity,” Van Dyke said. “This is going to be a great program.” A registration form is available at www.wnpa. com. Registration deadline is Feb. 4