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THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER
More Legislative Day photos Page 4
February 2020
Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Inslee wants help for homeless; delays transport spending Homeless people are showing up in communities big and small across Washington and the state should step up to help them. That was a central part of Gov. Jay Inslee’s address to members of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association and Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington at the annual Legislative Day event Feb. 13. Inslee initially proposed using money from the state’s Rainy Day fund to pay for programs to help the homelss, but added he is willing to look at other options. He stressed, though, that it is incumbent on residents of the state to help and he rejected a common notion that only the mentally ill and drug and alcohol abusers find themselves on the street. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” Inslee said. A large number of homeless people are on the street after being unable to afford their housing and without resources to find a new place to stay. Transporation funding in the state has been snarled by passage of Tim Eyman’s I-976 which reduces the cost of car license tabs to $30. The whole issue is stalled by a court battle challenging its constitutionality. Inslee said the only fiscally responsible thing to do is to assume that I-976 will be upheld by the courts and the state will need to
find other ways to fund transportation projects. Inslee said he delayed some projects and is looking for money elsewhere to fund transporation projects until the courts rule on the initiative’s validity. Republicans in the Legsilature earlier in the day said they had a plan using money unspent in the last biennium and other budget fixes that would allow the state to go forward with planned projects. They said they hoped Inslee would go along with the idea, rather than delay necessary projects that provide jobs and improve the state’s transportion system. There is no word on whether that plan will win acceptance with Inslee or the majority in the Legislature. Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Hilary Franz said she is hoping to use a tax increase on home insurance to provide a stable revenue stream for her department for fighting and preventing forest fires. She said her department is using Vietnam-era helicopers to fight fires and more needs to be done to remove dead trees and other fuels from state and federal lands. Representatives from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner said they are not supporting the measure, but also are not opposing it.
Gov. Jay Inslee addresses the Legislative Day crowd at the Governor’s Mansion after dinner. Inslee addressed homelessness and transportation funding.
Attacks on legal ads continue in several states
Bills have been introduced in at least seven states so far this year that would move most public notice from its traditional home in newspapers to lightly visited government websites. And at least of few of those bills were introduced by legislators who have had fraught relationships with the newspapers that cover them. The states that appear at present to face the greatest potential peril — Florida, Kentucky, West Virginia and Missouri — have all been down this path before. In Florida, Rep. Randy Fine’s HB7 passed out of its second committee last week, largely on party lines. (All Democrats on both committees voted against the bill, and one Republican joined them.) Rep. Fine’s bill would permit government agencies to publish “storable” and “searchable” notices on their own websites or on government cable access channels. It would also require the local publication of an annual print notice, in a newspaper or other publication, publicizing government websites that are publishing notices and indicating that residents may request notices from each agency via mail or email. It’s the same legislation Rep.
See NOTICE, Page 3
Nominations sought for Bradley award
Nominations are being sought for one of WNPA’s top honors, the Dixie Lee Bradley award. Bradley tirelessly served the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association and its members for 45 years. The Bradley award recognizes newspaper staff members who work long and hard, often behind the scenes, to see that the best possible community newspaper is produced and distributed each week. The selection criteria includes a demonstrated record over a considerable time period of consistent quality work in any facet of the community newspaper industry including production, circulation, or front office support. Professional positions, such as photographer and advertising sales, are not included due to ample opportunities for
these professionals to be recognized through WNPA’s annual Better Newspaper Contest. There is no entry fee at the time of nomination. However, should its nominee win, the sponsoring newspaper must agree to pay the winning employee a $250 bonus which will be matched by WNPA for a total cash prize of $500 for the winner. The winner also receives an engraved clock. To nominate someone, send us a short essay describing why your nominee should win. Be sure to include your contact information and send entries to Fred Obee at fredobee@wnpa.com or mail to Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, PO Box 389, Port Townsend, WA 98368. The deadline for submission is July 1, 2020.
Officers: Patrick Grubb, President; Caralyn Bess, First Vice President; Steve Powell, Second Vice President. Trustees: Roger Harnack, Scott Hunter, Teresa Myers, Pili Linares, Eric LaFontaine and Michelle Nedved. 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 2020
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Officials who toil on public boards deserve some thanks & appreciation By Patrick Grubb On hiring a new reporter or editor, I typically sit them down and give a short talk about how we approach the news in our corner of the world. I always ask them to treat elected Grubb and nonelected community leaders with respect. You may not agree with their opinions or political viewpoint, I say, but they are contributing and giving back to the community for usually little or no pay. On December 31, Patrick Alesse completed his last term as commissioner for the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, a position he has held since he was appointed in 1997. Patrick speaks quietly but forcefully, thoughtfully
and intelligently. A former teacher, he and his wife Patricia founded and ran The C-Shop, an ice cream, candy and childhood summer, memory-making emporium, just steps from the shores of Birch Bay. Twice a month, for 22 years, Patrick has attended board meetings, deliberated with fellow commissioners and steered policy for this critical part of community utility infrastructure. This is not exciting work for most people. One day, as I covered a district meeting, the sound of my pen slipping from my hand and hitting the floor was the only thing that prevented me from falling into fullblown unconsciousness. Man, those meetings could be deadly and yet they represented just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the work that the commissioners did in preparation. And while that on-go-
ing, humdrum stuff drew no attention from the community, let a new tax be proposed to replace aging infrastructure or a sewer line back up and you could be assured the shite would hit the fan. Patrick is not alone in his public service. Carl Reichhardt was a district commissioner for 39 years until he retired in 2017. Don Montfort is still a commissioner and going on his 26th year. In every county in our state and country, there are individuals who are working quietly to make their community better than they found it. Just think about the volunteer firefighters who commit countless hours to protect our homes and businesses. It’s not easy to get people to commit to these positions. Try to get someone who’s still kicking and screaming to serve on a cemetery board and you’ll see what I mean. Our county
Pulse Research state shopping survey now online with video training tools Results of statewide polling of Washington newspaper readers by Pulse Research is available now at pulseresearch.com/results. This year, Pulse has included video trainers that show how you can use the information to develop sales pitches for your clients. The survey shows how many people across Washington expect to seek out services and products in the coming year. The data show 40 percent will buy shoes, 49 percent will buy women’s clothing and that nearly 20 percent decided to
contact an auto dealer for more information after seeing an ad in a newspaper. Nearly half of survey respondents said they would need to buy printer toner or ink, 50 percent said they would visit a dentist and get an eye exam, and 38 percent said they would vaccinate their pets and bring them in for a checkup. There are literally thousands of data points in the Pulse Research data that you can use to make an effective sales presentation. You can reach Brian Knapp at Pulse at 503-781-6873.
auditor had to schedule a special filing period last election due to the number of races where no names were put forward. In this country, we very appropriately thank members of our armed forces for their service whether they are the tip of the spear or a line cook in the canteen. Arguably, it could be said that people like Patrick Alesse make as significant a contribution to keeping our democracy strong and vital. There should be a national holiday called Unsung Heroes Day or Service to America Day where their contributions would be celebrated and honored. In the meantime, to Patrick and everyone else like you, thank you for your service. Job well done! Patrick Grubb is the Publisher of The Northern Light in Blaine and this year’s WNPA President.
Reach out on WNPA Listserv with questions
WNPA member wanting to ask peers a question can use a listserv provided by WNPA. To use the service, simply email your question to wnpapublisher@listeron. com and your email will go out to publishers at WNPA member papers. If you don’t think you are on the listserv and you want to be, just go to https://app.listeron.com/ wnpapublisher@listeron. com and signup.
NOTICE: States fighting threats to legal advertising Continued from Page 1
Fine introduced in 2019. When the Tampa Bay Times published a full-page ad last April opposing that bill, Fine took to Facebook to respond: “Fake News media is scared.” The 2019 version of Fine’s public notice legislation passed the House and died in the Senate. Newspapers in Florida hope the Senate serves as a firewall again in 2020. West Virginia HB4025 would move a broad swath of notices to a “State Central Legal Advertising” website maintained by the state auditor. Any Class II or Class III notices requiring multiple publications would be reduced to a single insertion, and the remaining notice requirements would be fulfilled by publication
on the auditor’s website. The legislation was introduced by Delegate Brandon Steele (R-Raleigh) just a few weeks after the release of a Dec. 16 study by the Legislative Auditor’s Office that recommended moving notices to a centralized website managed by the state to save money. According to The InterMountain (Elkins, W.V.), “The bill also appears to stem from a feud between Steele and his local newspaper.” Steele commented on Facebook in December that “(t)he Register-Herald makes over a million dollars a year off your tax dollars (from public notice ads) and they utilize that money to attack politicians they disagree with and support politicians to push a liberal
agenda like they did in 2016 by supporting and endorsing Hillary Clinton.” HB4025 ran into trouble last week after West Virginia Press Association Executive Director Don Smith noted at a hearing that public records show most county governments in the state more than recoup the money they spend on public notice through publication fees. “Almost every county generates substantial revenue from the publication fees over the costs of the legal ads,” Smith told a legislative committee. After nearly an hour of debate, the bill was moved to a subcommittee to work out some of the issues raised during the hearing. There might be a rupture in the universe if a year
passed without a bill in Kentucky to move public notice out of newspapers. Alas, the cosmos is safe for now because such a bill was introduced on the opening day of the 2020 General Assembly, reports Kentucky Press Association (KPA) Executive Director David Thompson. HB195 would allow local governments to publish notice on their website instead of in a newspaper. It was introduced by Rep. Jerry T. Miller. Miller’s bill is stalled in committee and the associations for cities and counties in the state have indicated they don’t support it, according to Thompson. KPA has two choices, he said: Work out a compromise with the cities and counties, or try to kill the bill now but
worry about having to deal with it again at the end of the session if it gets quietly slipped into the budget bill. For now, Kentucky’s newspapers are working on the former approach. Missouri has also seen its share of bad public notice bills. It will be forced to deal with at least one more in 2020. HB1966 would move newspaper notice in the state to the “front page” of government websites. It would also require the Secretary of State to establish a “Legal Notices Website” so public bodies that don’t have a web presence can publish notices there instead. It’s the same 554-page piece of legislation introduced last year that reached deep into the Missouri code to strike all
references to newspaper notice. That version was killed in committee on a 5-2 vote, but this session the bill has a new sponsor — House Majority Whip Steve Lynch (R-Waynesville). Mark Maassen, executive director of the Missouri Press Association (MPA), said Lynch likes newspapers but he was largely motivated to resuscitate the bill by the closure of the Waynesville Daily Guide, which had served the community he represents for 50 years until it was shuttered by Gatehouse in Sept. 2018. Bills that would move newspaper notice to government websites have also been introduced in the early weeks of this year’s session in Hawaii, New Jersey and Oklahoma.
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3 The Washington Newspaper February 2020
LEGISLATIVE DAY 2020
At top right, Andy Hobbs from Sound Publishing and WNPA President Patrick Grubb of the Northern Light, discuss the events of the day at dinner at the Governor’s Mansion. With her back to the camera is Louise Mugar, also of The Northern Light. At top right, Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens addresses the crowd at a Temple of Justice reception. On the bottom at left, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Hilary Franz talks about a plan to fund fire protection efforts and on the bottom at right, Secretary of State Kim Wyman talks about election security. 4 The Washington Newspaper February 2020
WNPA JOB BOARD FULL-TIME REPORTER The Quincy Valley Post-Register has an immediate opening for a full-time reporter. Our thriving weekly is located in the heart of beautiful North Central Washington, steps away from outdoor recreation and within easy reach of Seattle and Spokane. This position is the primary storyteller for our community, responsible for crafting accurate, engaging stories, photos and other content pieces. Your work may be published in our weekly, online and/ or in one or more of our other publications. You’ll work with the editor to select, write, check and publish articles; with the general public to develop story leads and articles; and assist in managing our digital outlets and print page production. This is a full-time position with full health and retirement benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability and 401(k). Send cover, resume and clips to Washington Media’s managing editor Russ Hemphill, hemphill@wenatcheeworld. com.
on multiple platforms including possible video reporting. To apply, email resume to editorial@lynnwoodtimes.com. You can visit our website at www.lynnwoodtimes.com.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST The largest community news organization in Washington State has an immediate opening for an Information Technology Systems Specialist located in Poulsbo, WA, to support end-users at branch offices both remotely and on-site; support Apple Macintosh, MS Windows, and Chrome OS workstations; promote the utility, reliability, stability, and security of the client platforms and the Adobe Creative Suite of applications at Sound Publishing. Travel is required using one’s personal vehicle. Willingness to work various shifts, able to work five days per week with the possibility of weekends as needed due to vacation coverage or planned weekend upgrades. Strong communication (both verbal and written), problem-solving, and decision-making PART-TIME REPORTER skills. Ability to work with A community newsminimal supervision but paper is expanding and as part of a team. Highly in need of a part-time organized and detail-orireporter. The successented; ability to prioritize ful candidate will gather daily tasks. information, conduct We offer competitive research and write news pieces about various local compensation and a benefits package that includes topics. medical, dental, vision and We are looking for life insurance; paid time someone able to attend off (vacation, sick, and and write about commuholidays); and a 401k with nity events, be a critical employer match. thinker and an unbiased To apply, please e-mail reporter. careers@soundpublishing. The successful apcom (1) a resume includplicant will have good interpersonal skills and the ing at least three profesability to use social media sional references (2) a
cover letter addressing the specific job requirements we’ve outlined, and (3) three references. Make sure to include IT Poulsbo in the subject line. Please also include your salary requirements. Sound Publishing is the largest community news organization in Washington State and an Equal
Opportunity Employer. Visit our website to learn more about us! www. soundpublishing.com DESIGNER The Methow Valley News in Twisp, Washington, is seeking a full-time designer for its publications (a weekly newspaper and several annual
magazines), plus social media and IT manager. Can you keep our Facebook following informed and entertained? And can you wrestle Macs, PCs and printers into submission without losing your cool? If so, we’d like to hear from you. Substantial experience with designing print pub-
lications is required. Send a resume, cover letter and/or portfolio examples to editor@methowvalleynews.com. No calls, please. The position is open immediately, and requires relocation to the Methow Valley. We offer a competitive salary and health insurance coverage.
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