TWN
THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER
FCC chair mocks the need for printed legals Page 5
February 2018
Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Open legislator records, judge rules Case now headed to the Supreme Court
Washington state lawmakers are subject to public records laws, a Thurston County Superior Court Judge ruled Jan. 19.
Judge Chris Lanese found that legislative leaders violated Washington’s Public Records Act by declining requests for records. “The plain and unambiguous language of the Public Records Act applies to the offices of senators and representatives …,” Lanese wrote in his ruling.
Proposal could push periodical rates up 40% in five years
The News Media Alliance reports publishers could see an extreme rise in their mailing costs in the next five years because of recently proposed changes to the current price structure for Marketing Mail and Periodicals. On Dec. 1, 2017, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) concluded a year-long review of the current system for regulating rates for market-dominant classes of mail, including Marketing Mail (Total Market Coverage products) and Periodicals (both in and outside county). Most importantly, the PRC ruled that the current Consumer Price Index (CPI) price cap system has not ensured the financial health of the Postal Service, and has allowed rates to cover costs for some classes or fostered high-quality service standards. To fix these failures, the PRC proposes major changes to the current price cap system, which has largely kept rates reasonable and predictable over the last 10 years. First, it would allow the
Postal Service to raise rates by a “supplemental” 2 percent above the CPI price cap per mail class per year for five years. Second, it would allow an extra 1 percent “performance-based” increase per year indefinitely based on certain measures of operational efficiency and service quality standards. Third, for mail that does not cover its costs — which is the case for both in and outside county periodicals — an additional 2 percent would be allowed any time they are still “underwater” when rates are increased. If adopted, the total cumulative increases could be imposing. Assuming CPI stays at 2 percent per year for the next five years, after five years the proposed 2 percent increase would result in a 21.67 percent increase after compounding (more than twice the increase allowable under today’s price cap). Add the separate 1 percent for efficiency and service, and the cumulative increase after five years could be 27.6 percent.
See RATES Page 5
However, the law does not apply to the administrative offices of the state Senate and House, the judge ruled. Attorneys for the Legislature announced three days after the ruling that they would appeal to the state Supreme Court. In a curious development, some lawmakers are putting record requests
on hold until the Supreme Court hands down a ruling, and attorneys are asking for a stay of the Lanese ruling until the Supreme Court Rules. Michele Earl-Hubbard, the attorney for the media organizations that brought the suit, is opposing a stay, saying no
See LAWSUIT Page 2
Sun News reporter first woman mayor of Sunnyside
Colleen Smith Armstrong of the Island’s Sounder took home a first place award in the Color Feature Photo category in 2017 Better Newspaper Contest for this classic shot of a watermelon eating contest.
By Ted Escobar A Daily Sun News community news reporter is the first woman to be named mayor of Sunnyside. Julia Hart, 65, was selected to lead the city, the 11th largest in Eastern Washington, during a meeting Monday night in a contested 4-3 vote. “I want to thank my fellow councilmen for this honor,” Hart said after her selection. Hart replaces Jim Restucci, who has served as mayor for the last eight years. “It’s a big deal,” Hart said. “I’m excited about it.” Restucci decided at the City Council meeting not to seek the post, again. Immediately following his announcement, new Councilman John Henry said: “I nominate Julia Hart for mayor.” Former Mayor Pro Tempore See HART Page 4
LAWSUIT: Legislator exemption struck down
Allied Daily Newspapers of other government officials get Washington, The Spokesmana reprieve from providing reReview, Sound Publishing and cords and neither should state Tacoma News Inc. Legislators. Apparently, since As part of the legal chalthe decision, more requests for lenge, the news organizations documents are being filed with filed requests for records from Legilslators. If the Supreme all 147 Washington lawmakCourt rules they are subject to ers. Among the records being the Public Records Act, Legsought are any complaints islative offices will owe fines of sexual harassment against for noncompliance. legislators. The suit was filed Sept. While some lawmakers 10 by a consortium of news complied and provided docuorganizations led by the Associ- ments, many did not. ated Press. Also participating in the suit are the Washington In addition to original Newspaper Publishers Assources, parts of this story sociation, The Seattle Times, were gleaned from stories by public radio’s Northwest News the Seattle Times and the AsNetwork, KING-TV, KIRO 7, sociated Press. Continued from Page 1
Thanks for publishing Pulse ads; research results coming soon Most of you published ads from Pulse Research over the last several months that urged people to take a shopping and readership survery. We’re pleased to say that the results of that statewide survey should be available soon. All our member papers will
receive a summary report of each question asked of Washington respondents. The report will contain data on local readership, shopping habits and intentions, website usage, preferred media outlets, and demographics that can be used in sales and readership presentations.
Officers: Sandy Stokes, President; Michael Wagar, First Vice President; Donna Etchey, Second Vice President, Don Nelson, Past President. Trustees: Tom Mullen, Patrick Grubb, Colette Weeks, Eric LaFontaine and Scott Hunter. THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER is the offical publication of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. It is published monthly by WNPA, PO Box 389, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Staff Fred Obee: Executive Director: 360-344-2938. Email: fredobee@wnpa.com Janay Collins, Member Services Director: 360-344-2938. Email: ads@wnpa.com 2 The Washington Newspaper February 2018
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Bustling Olympia bureau delivers high quality stories to members By Sandy Stokes For the past several weeks I have had the honor and pleasure of working with three excellent journalists in the WNPA Olympia News Bureau. During the month of January, our news team produced 45 news stories Stokes for free use by our member publications. When I was a publisher in La Conner, I used to pay $50 for most freelance news stories. At that rate, each publisher in our state had access to at least $2,250 worth of professional quality news stories at no charge last month. While our three reporters are technically news interns because they’re finishing up their senior year at University of Washington, they’re all adults and not one of them is a novice in our industry. All came to us as published writers, and one interned for a member newspaper last year. Making all of this possible are donations to the WNPA Foundation. Two of the internships this year are funded by generous contributions in memory of Kris Passey, former publisher of the Marysville Globe, and Wallie Funk, former publisher of the Anacortes American, Whidbey News-Times and South Whidbey Record. Funk and Passey both died last year. We are grateful to all who made funding of these internships possible and we are pleased they carry the names of important WNPA members from the past. It’s never too early to think about supporting this work with a contribution to the foundation or a donation to our annual auc-
tion each October. You can contact the WNPA office for details. This month the legislative session will start winding down as bills that haven’t passed through committees begin to drop off the calendar. As our pace slows, I expect that publishers will start to see the individual talents of our reporters showcased. You’ve already seen photos by Taylor McAvoy, who has a strong eye for news from behind the camera, both with still and video. She focuses much of her reporting on human rights and gun legislation, two big issues in our state. When she has time away from the many bills she’s following, you’ll see more of Taylor’s visual art coming your way. One of Josh Kelety’s strengths is dissecting complicated issues, like school funding, and packaging them into stories that are readable and understandable. He thrives digging into legislation regarding taxes, housing and healthcare including the opioid crisis. Look for him to give us in depth stories on laws with real impacts on our wallets and lifestyles. Another strong reporter is Alex Visser, who can always ferret out the humorous side of government reporting – he recently brought you the nuclear attack and Sasquatch stories. But mostly he meticulously researches stories on environmental issues like water availability and salmon farming. You’re going to be delighted when you see what he has in the works. Many of our publishers have commented on the volume of copy coming out of our Olympia News Bureau this year. As a cohesive team, we’re running the bureau like a newsroom. The reporters helped plan
this operation and they’re invested in making it work. They have defined their beats and developed their sources. They love the daily churn and work to scoop other capitol news bureaus with breaking news. To keep up this pace, we had to streamline the operation – instead of having each reporter work with an individual mentor, with copy going back and forth a few times before it’s moved, the stories are edited in real time with the reporter. We usually ship them out the day they’re written so our dailies have fresh news. UW instructor Meg Spratt and I co-edit every story you see. Since our reporters are so prolific, we need backup. When copy piles up, we pull in Nisqually Valley News Publisher Michael Wager or Sound Publishing’s Mark Baumgarten or former journalist James Gelulso to do the first read. The reporters have learned our individual editing quirks and write accordingly, which makes the editor’s job easier. But they want to experience different editing styles and editor temperaments. So, if you aren’t afraid of being out-smarted by a millennial and might be able to give us a couple of hours to help edit from time to time, please contact me at sstokes.onb@gmail.com. If you attend Legislative Day this year, you’ll get a chance to meet our news team. I am sure you will be as impressed as I am. Our reporters will graduate in a few months with degrees in journalism. Each is a versatile reporter who would be an asset in any busy newsroom. Sandy Stokes is the Bureau Chief of WNPA’s Olympia News Bureau and this year’s WNPA President.
OTHER VOICES
Seattle Times: Lawmakers don’t need special treatment By the Seattle Times Editorial Board The Jan. 19 court ruling was clear and decisive: Elected legislators must follow Washington’s Public Records Act, just like other government officials throughout the state. But legislative leaders are continuing to fight to keep their emails, calendars, disciplinary records and other working documents secret from the public. On Monday, just three days after Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese ruled lawmakers routinely violated the state’s public-disclosure laws, attorneys for the Legisla-
ture announced they will appeal the case to the state Supreme Court. Appealing this ruling is not only a misguided enterprise, it is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Between August and November alone, the Legislature paid four private lawyers more than $55,000 to argue that legislators are entitled to special treatment under the law. That sum doesn’t include money the Legislature spent on the case in December and January. The 10 media organizations that brought the lawsuit, including The Associated Press and The Seattle Times, contend legislators are
bound by the same transparency rules that govern nearly all public officials from city council members to state agency heads. Earlier this month, the state Attorney General’s Office agreed. But rather than accept the opinions of the trial court and the attorney general, legislative leaders intend to spend more taxpayer money defending their illegal tradition of conducting the public’s business in the shadows. This longstanding practice goes against the citizen initiative voters approved in 1972 to increase public scrutiny of all levels of government.
The best thing the Legislature could do is to let Lanese’s ruling stand, ending this costly fight and affirming the public’s right to know what its elected representatives are doing. A few lawmakers have introduced bills purporting to open up the Legislature’s records, but each has its flaws. Proposals from Rep. Paul Graves, R-Fall City, and Sen. Mark Miloscia, RFederal Way, would apply only to future legislative documents, closing off access to older records such as past misconduct complaints against lawmakers. With allegations of sexual harassment
and assault rocking the Capitol in recent months, those records must be made public. The best bill of the bunch comes from Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, as it would apply retroactively. However, Pollet’s proposal would also create troubling special exemptions for lawmakers that don’t exist for other public officials. These include letting lawmakers withhold certain emails and letters they receive from constituents, along with communications they send each other and legislative staff. Lawmakers should abandon the idea that they deserve special
treatment when it comes to how much they have to tell voters about the work they do on the public’s behalf. When it comes to demonstrating legislators’ commitment to transparency, nothing short of following the same standards they demand of other public officials will do. Editorial board members are editorial page editor Kate Riley, Frank A. Blethen, Donna Gordon Blankinship, Brier Dudley, Mark Higgins, Melissa Santos, William K. Blethen (emeritus) and Robert C. Blethen (emeritus).
WITH OVER 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WE KNOW JOURNALISM. From public records to protecting journalists, from defamation claims to business needs, large and small Washington publishers turn to us.
DWT.COM Anchorage | Bellevue | Los Angeles | New York | Portland San Francisco | Seattle | Shanghai | Washington, D.C.
The Washington Newspaper February 2018 3
The Post: Kind of Hollywoodish, but the story is worth retelling
Julia Hart celebrates becoming mayor of Sunnyside with a congratulatory cake. She is the first woman to hold that position.
HART: Taking city reins in Sunnyside
By Fred Obee It is a story that lives deep in the heart of many journalists. After decades of the government lying to the American people about the war in Vietnam, Daniel Ellsberg, a former defense contractor working at the Rand Corporation, leaked a classified history of our involvement in the war to the New York Times. The papers included analyses of the war from every angle, and preserved actual telegrams, memos, policy papers, and meeting transcripts. The history became known as the Pentagon Papers, and their publication by the Times set up a high noon faceoff between the paper and President Richard Nixon, who ordered an injunction be filed to stop further publication of the papers. The Times complied, knowing that the Supreme Court would decide the case in a matter of weeks. The story of how the Pentagon Papers were
leaked and published is now a film called “The Post,” which tells the whole story from the perspective of the Washington Post staff. Tom Hanks plays Post Editor Ben Bradlee, and Meryl Streep plays Katherine Graham, the newspaper’s owner. To a newspaper guy like me, it’s an inspirational story. The Post was badly scooped by the New York Times, and it took many days for its staff to catch up. Ultimately, they too acquired copies of the papers and began publishing their own stories. They too were slapped with an injunction, and appeared with the Times at the Supreme Court. Fortunately, for all of us, the court sided with the pursuit of truth and against governmental censorship. “Any system of prior restraints of expression comes to this court bearing a heavy presumption against its constitutional
validity,” the court ruled. As a film, “The Post” is successful. It is well acted and well written and it lays out the realworld dilemma the Post faced. Katherine Graham was mainly a Washington D.C. socialite who had never worked a day in her life until she was thrust into the role of publisher when her husband committed suicide. In deciding to publish the papers, she put her family’s company in jeopardy. It was a courageous decision. As a newspaper professional, I marveled at the depiction of the technology employed in 1971. It’s hot lead printing, linotype machines, pneumatic tubes and editor’s working over paper copy with a number two pencil. Real deal green eyeshade stuff. Watching “The Post,” it is apparent how far we’ve come in the last 47 years. At times, I think the movie is a little too slick, and a little too Hollywood-
ish. We don’t really learn enough about Bradlee and Graham to give either character real depth, and my telling of the story would have been a little grittier to lend a little more realism. But those are minor criticisms compared to the importance of telling the real-life, historic story that cemented, I hope for all time, the idea that the people of this country are entitled to know the truth, and that a prior restraint order will always be deemed unconstitutional. When I saw this movie, the audience cheered as the Supreme Court decision was handed down and the presses rolled, and that filled my newspaper loving heart with joy. Fred Obee is a former reporter, editor and manager of small newspapers around the Northwest and currently is the Executive Director of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association.
Continued from Page 1
Dean Broersma was also nominated. But Hart won the contest to lead the city that incorporated in 1902. Broersma then lost his bid to retain his mayor pro tempore seat, 4-3, with Hart casting the tie-breaking vote to select Francisco Guerrero. There were some light moments as Restucci coached Hart. Restucci informed her the next action was to seat everyone. “So, that means I should not get too warm in this chair?” she asked. “Yup,” was the answer. She traded chairs with Restucci, and Broersma and Guerrero exchanged seats. In closing the meeting, she also tested the waters of political correctness by saying: “Thank you fellas. I can say that, right?” looking at the six-man council. Not a one objected. One even shouted: “Yes, you can.” Ted Escobar is a reporter with the Daily Sun News in Sunnyside.
The Washington Newspaper February 2018 4
FCC members mock printed legals; PNRC fires back In comments filed last month with the Federal Communication Commission, the Public Notice Resource Center criticized Commissioners who mocked opposition to a recent proposal that would eliminate FCC rules requiring broadcasters to publish a notice in a local newspaper when they file certain license applications with the Commission. “We were struck by the dismissive tone adopted in the statements of (some of the Commissioners) respecting the notion that local newspapers might still serve as the most effective means to deliver notice to the public,” said PNRC in its comments. “How did we reach a point where their consideration of the issue of public notice is so facile they ridicule a longstanding practice without bothering to provide any evidence that the alternative they’re promoting would be an improvement?” The public notice
ments by noting they were approved the same day the Beatles released their first single and the first James Bond movie premiered, as if that was somehow conclusive. Pai also mocked fellow Commissioner Mignon Clyburn that same week after she passion-
Ajit Pai requirement the FCC is now proposing to eliminate was adopted in 1962 to ensure the public knows about applications filed by broadcasters operating in their communities. In his statement supporting the Commission’s proposal, Chairman Ajit Pai mocked the notion that newspaper notice may still be the most effective means of reaching local citizens. “Google it if you don’t agree with me,” he gibed. Commissioner Brendan Carr also made light of current notice require-
MAIL: 40% hike seen over five years Continued from Page 1
even higher rate increases. Thus, in five years, newspa- Again, assuming 2 percent pers that mail Total Market annual inflation, PeriodiCoverage (TMC) products cals rates — both for in could see rates that are 27.6 and outside county — could rise by more than percent higher than today. 40 percent after five years. In contrast, under the curIf the U.S. Postal rent rate cap structure, rates for Total Market Coverage Service uses its new-found authority to raise rates in products (4.0 ounces; HD this way, the proposed Plus; DDU entry) experate-setting system would rienced a cumulative rate be very damaging for decrease of 12.5 percent newspapers that mail TMCs over the last five years. and newspapers. Comments For “underwater” products, such as Periodi- on this proposal are due on cals, the PRC is proposing March 1. 5 The Washington Newspaper February 2018
ately expressed opposition to the FCC proposal on Net Neutrality. The PNRC argued that newspapers still have broad audiences, and are the best option for notifying the public of broadcast applications. “Mocking opposing
viewpoints appears to be a problem at the FCC,” said PNRC Chairman Brad Thompson, president of Detroit Legal News Publishing. “The Commissioners have an ethical and legal responsibility to fully consider positions they disagree with. Yucking it
up during their proceedings is inconsistent with that responsibility and precludes the possibility they might learn something.” PNRC was joined in its comments by WNPA and 34 other associations representing newspaper publishers.
WNPA JOB BOARD GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER The Beachcomber on Vashon Island in Washington State is seeking an energetic, detailed-oriented general assignment reporter. Experience in photography and Adobe InDesign preferred. Applicants must be able to work in a team-oriented, deadline-driven environment, possess excellent writing skills, have a knowledge of community news and be able to write about multiple topics. Island residency is preferred. This is a full-time, 40 hours per week job with some night and weekend work. Position includes excellent benefits: medical, dental, life insurance, 401k, paid vacation, sick and holidays. Send resume with cover letter, three or more non-returnable clips in PDF or Text format and references to careers@ soundpublishing.com. Please refer to VASREP in the subject line. COPY EDITOR IN SPOKANE We’re looking for an experience copy editor to oversee copy editing for our weekly paper, The Inlander, located in Spokane, WA, and our website and group of associated publications. Must be able to juggle an endless to-do list, hit deadlines, spot typos and sniff out errors. Besides having passion for the smallest detail, an ideal candidate would be able to handle some project management and pitch in a story every once and a while. Why work here? Because we’re better than ever. We do real journalism (accountability reporting, narrative writing), and with the highest market penetration of any weekly in America, our ambition for highend, high-impact reporting is only growing. Also, with some 600,000 people between Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the metro area offers many of the advantages of the city (arts, culture, live music, vibrant downtowns), in addition to mountains, lakes and all the outdoor recreation they afford. This is a salaried position with benefits. Send a résumé, cover letter, your five best work samples and salary expectations to Editor Jacob Fries at jacobf@inlander.com. Put “Copy Editor” in the subject line. No phone calls.
PRESS PERSON Press person needed at a Tuesday through Saturday morning newspaper in Pendleton, Oregon. In addition to East Oregonian newspaper, our operation prints an array of weekly, bi-weekly and monthly publications. To join our team, you’ll need web press operation skills, an eye for color, mechanical ability, be a good communicator and work well with others. Must be able to lift 50# and go up/down stairs on a regular basis. Pendleton is near the Blue Mountains, has abundant outdoor recreation and is perfect for someone who enjoys a small-town lifestyle. It is also a farming and ranching center and home to the famous Pendleton Round-Up rodeo. Wage DOE plus benefits. Benefits include Paid Time Off (PTO), insurances and a 401(k)/ Roth 401(k) retirement plan. Send resume and letter of interest to EO Media Group, PO Box 2048, Salem, OR 97308-2048, or e-mail hr@ eomediagroup.com REPORTER IN CENTRALIA The Chronicle in Centralia has an opening for a hard-charging, fearless reporter who enjoys a good outdoors adventure as much as a contentious city council meeting. The successful applicant will take over the city beat for Centralia and Chehalis while covering a geographic area that includes Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier National Park. You’ll join a team of four news reporters (and two sports reporters) in a newsroom of nine. We work hard to cover the news, and we have fun doing it. The Chronicle publishes three editions each week while keeping www.chronline.com and other specialty websites wired with fresh, updated news throughout the day. We pride ourselves on the quality and quantity of the news we produce. This job calls for a hardworking journalist with attention to detail and a desire to tell the stories of our county of 75,000 people and surrounding communities. Recent college graduates are welcome to apply, but we’re hoping for a candidate with at least a few years of experience and the clips to prove it.
6 The Washington Newspaper February 2018
The Chronicle is just a 90-minute drive from Seattle, Portland and the Pacific Ocean, and it boasts some of the best outdoors opportunities in the region. Medical, dental and 401K are offered for full-time employees. Send an application, references and at least three writing samples to Editor Eric Schwartz at eschwartz@ chronline.com to be considered. Tell us why you enjoy reporting the news and what about your experiences would make you a good fit here at The Chronicle. CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Lee Enterprises in Longview, WA seeks a proven leader to oversee our Circulation Department. The Circulation Director will build circulation through sales and promotion programs, the timely distribution and availability of Lee Enterprises Media products, and adherence to service standards and practices that satisfy the expectations of the customers. Qualifications: • Three years previous sales management and/or distribution experience. • Ability to pull and effectively analyze data. • Experience coaching mentoring and developing an enthusiastic staff. • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or related field preferred. Please apply online at www.lee. net/Careers. JOURNALIST, PART-TIME The Anacortes American has a part-time position for a talented, properly trained journalist. This position includes reporting, writing, copy-editing, pagination, photography, videography and multimedia storytelling. Even though we are a weekly newspaper, we cover news every day, so candidates need a professional understanding of how social media and news websites operate. A bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in journalism or a related field with specific training. Recent journalism graduates will be considered. Pagination skills are a plus. Send cover letter, resume and work samples to Editor Colette Weeks at cweeks@skagitpublishing.com.
Have a legal question? Call WNPA first!
If you have a question about access to public meetings or records, or if you need advice on sensitive stories or libel issues, the WNPA staff can help.
Call 360-344-2938 or 360-301-6453 If you are being threatened with a libel suit, or if our staff can’t answer your question, you will be referred for a free consultation with an attorney.