The Washington Newspaper, July 2020

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THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER

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July 2020

Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association

Are courts open to the public in your community?

Court watchers say policies vary widely across Washington

Do you recognize these fine people?

The historic WNPA files go back quite a ways, some to the late 1800s. Most have been handed over to the Washington State Library for safekeeping, but we still have a few old photos to identify. Let us know if you have answers: Top left: We don’t know who this is or what they are up to? Can you tell us?

Top right: The back says, Pete May. Does anyone know the time period or paper?

Middle right: Back of the photo says Walt Wilbur (we presume that’s the middle guy) but who are the other two and what paper are they with?

Bottom right: We know this is Jack and Jerri Stoner. Anyone know the year or office location?

Whether courts in Washington are complying with the requirement that they be open to the public, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a continuing concern among open government proponents.

Although in person attendance at court hearings has not been allowed in many places, the courts, both Superior and District, are supposed to make proceedings visible through video conferencing or some other method.

Informal research by court

watchers reveals a large number of different policies around the state.

It often is not clear what policies the courts are following, court watchers say. Rules and procedures are not always easy to find, either on public websites or elsewhere, and that alone hinders the ability of the public to witness court proceedings.

An informal review of rules seems to range from “come on in, but wear a mask and have your temperature taken,” to See COURTS, Page 2

Silvestri named to lead Relevance Project team

Industry veteran Tom Silvestri has been tapped to lead the Relevance Project, a renewed effort to champion the importance of community newspapers and to celebrate press associations. The project involves a campaign designed to rebrand press association ad services and the papers they represent and position them for relevance in a digitally focused world, says project organizer NAM. NAM is Newspaper Association Managers, a coalition of

newspaper association executives in the U.S. and Canada.

WNPA is a member of NAM. Silvestri steps into the newly created executive director position after having retired in late 2019 as publisher and vice president of BH Media’s Richmond Group, which included the Richmond Times-Dispatch (now owned by Lee Enterprises). He continues to consult there in a contract capacity.

Silvestri will lead planning See SILVESTRI, Page 3

Courts: Jury trials to start again on July 6

Continued from Page 1 “all proceedings will be available on YouTube.”

On June 15, the Washington Supreme Court published an order that allows jury trials to resume again on July 6, 2020, for the first time since they were suspended statewide on March 20, 2020.

The court ordered a number of requirements to be met before jury trials can resume: • Potential jurors at higher risk must have the ability to defer jury service.

• Jury trials must be conducted with the most protective applicable public health guidance in their jurisdiction (e.g. social distancing requirements, PPE requirements).

• The use of remote technology for jury selection is encouraged, though any video or telephonic proceedings must be conducted consistent

with the constitutional rights of the parties and to preserve constitutional public access.

• Parties may stipulate off the record to hardship excusals of potential jurors and hardship excusals may be considered by remote means.

• Jury selection may occur in multiple phases, as appropriate based on considerations of location, facilities, and applicable public health guidance.

Some counties in urban areas are trying to find larger offsite venues to host civil jury trials where social distancing can be accommodated.

Just what decisions smaller jurisdictions will make is an open question.

“This is a story community newspapers should be covering,” said WNPA Executive Director Fred Obee. “It is vitally important that the administration of justice be open to the public.”

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 July 2020

FROM THE PRESIDENT

On pandemics, gamma ray gizmos, working remotely & staying essential

By Patrick Grubb Man, I keep on telling myself, I need to be writing a journal of my pandemic days.

Back in late January, my wife and I were drinking wine and eating salmon with Governor Jay Inslee following Legislative Day – that now seems Grubb like years ago. The first week of March, we were in Las Vegas just as things were getting a little weird. We started to think twice about touching door handles and people standing too close and that guy behind me who was coughing during a Cirque Du Soleil show freaked me out.

We left on the Sunday and by Friday, the town had closed down.

And yesterday Cirque du Soleil declared bankruptcy.

On March 21, the U.S. and Canada closed down their mutual border for probably the first time since the War of 1812. Back then, the British were supporting Indians who were attacking the frontier – now the U.S. is supposedly sending Covid-19 up north.

It makes things tough when you live in Point Roberts, Washington, a small peninsula hanging off B.C., while your office is 23 miles across enemy territory in Blaine, mainland U.S. Unless you have an essential reason for entering Canada, you’re not getting in, even if it’s to hit the Costco in Bellingham.

Doctor’s appointment? Fine.

Picking up prescriptions? Fine, but just you can go, your spouse has to stay here.

Picking up fish just across the line? Nope, eat meat. Anti-U.S. fervor is picking up in Canada as well. Last week on the highway, some guy in a muscle car yelled at me to go home and pointed

the way with his middle finger.

Local newspapers across the line are full of letters asking why Americans are allowed to come north. What these writers don’t seem to realize is that mostly all cross-border travelers are essential workers and many of them are health professionals living in one country and working in the other.

Journalists are considered essential even though sometimes we feel people use the word essential as a synonym for sacrificial.

No, crossing the border isn’t fun. You’ve got loads of border guards with nothing to entertain themselves.

So even though this would be the worst time possible to smuggle something across the line, the guards figure otherwise.

Coming south, they make you go through some kind of gamma ray gizmo that makes your wedding ring spark like it would in a giant microwave, but they say it’s safe as they slowly back away from the machine. It’s ok in the SUV but going through in a convertible makes my scalp itch.

Going north, for a while we had not only the Canadian Border Services officers, we also had to go through a provincial checkpoint staffed by the Conservation Officer Service, the B.C. equivalent to WDFW officers. They carried sidearms and I always wanted to ask if anyone in the history of the Service had actually pulled a gun out of its holster – they were unfailingly polite and pleasant. God forbid you brought an invasive mussel on your boat coming north, though.

And work – how that has changed! I’m working three times harder than usual and spending so much time applying for grants and special programs and all the time I’m worried they’ll come after me for fraudulently describing my company as a for profit concern. At one point, I even checked

into unemployment insurance to see if I qualified for benefits.

Damn, I would have loved to have fired my butt on out of here.

“And don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out,” I would have yelled at myself when I was leaving.

We’ve been successful in getting all of the available grants and programs (with the exception of Facebook, of course) due simply to the fact that we’ve jumped on the applications as soon as they were available.

Thanks to Fred for keeping us abreast of developments. (The SBA opened up the criteria for the EIDL program on June 15, if you didn’t know.)

Working remotely has been interesting, I suppose. Some of the problems I expected never materialized while unexpected ones did. Commentators keep commenting that remote work will be the new way of business even after the coronavirus is muscled to the ground. Don’t know about that – if I had a better sense of the timing, I would short Zoom stock. I don’t know of anyone who enjoys tele-meetings.

The economic devastation continues, and border communities have a different burden to bear – so much business comes from Canadian travelers and we don’t expect to see them for a very long time.

We’ve implemented a grant support program for local businesses and hope that will help everyone make it through until the sun starts shining again. I’m sure everyone in the WNPA have their own stories to tell – is there a Studs Terkel in the crowd who can collect them and save them for posterity?

Start writing a pandemic journal, everybody.

Patrick Grubb is the publisher of The Northern Light in Blaine and this year’s WNPA President.

Silvestri: Hoping to unite community papers

Continued from Page 1

and execution of the project, which was first launched in 2018. Among the project’s purposes are corralling the assets and services of member press associations, most of whom are state or provincebased, and refining the messaging on what newspapers represent, moving their branding toward a “community forum-type concept,” says Silvestri.

High on his to-do list just a few weeks in are establishing an online presence for the Relevance Project and attempting to chat with the designated representatives of all 44 NAM members. “Every time I talk to one of them, they give me something that’s so inspirational and so motivating and helps me focus,”

he says.

Silvestri, who some years ago worked as president of Media General’s Community Newspapers.

“When I hear community newspapers, to me, it’s more of a definition of somebody who really is in touch with their communities, engaged with their communities, worries about their communities, and their livelihood depends on the community, the caretaker of local information as well as local democracy.”

Most specifically, the project serves the approximately 8,500 publications that are represented by NAM members, Silvestri says. NAM members and their members represent “a double ring of membership all wedded toward advancing newspapers

at a time of great change and a time of crisis,” he says.

Silvestri’s press association involvement includes a stint as president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, which merged with Inland Press Association in 2019 to form industry advocate America’s Newspapers. He serves as chairman of the SNPA Foundation, a key financial supporter of America’s Newspapers.

There’s an interest among the associations in sharing best practices and solutions on the revenue side as papers balance subscription, membership and advertising options, he says. He also wants to trumpet publisher success stories outside of the big national papers.

The project was born from the NAM board and members and has great support there, says Silvestri. Silvestri says the project is set to operate as an “agency or hub unto itself,” focused on results for all in the chain. Silvestri credits NAM President Steve Nixon, Layne Bruce, who handles the administration of NAM (director of the Mississippi Press Association in Jackson; NAM’s HQ is also there) and particularly past NAM president Michelle Rea, head of the New York Press Association, for launching the project and letting it find its legs going forward, despite the massive challenge of COVID-19.

Relevance Project materials can be found at relevanceprojectnet.wordpress.com.

Former publisher selling old wood & lead type

Former Eatonville Dispatch owner Vincent Troccoli, now living in Edgewood, Wash., is reaching out to newspaper people to see if anyone wants to buy his large assortment of wooden and lead type he has from his newspaper days.

Vince says he has no idea what the type collection might be worth, but he’s willing to entertain offers. He has a lot of it, he said, in boxes in his garage.

He says he is proud of the job he did at the newspaper, and he remembers fondly his association with WNPA and Jerry Zubrod, long serving WNPA executive director.

If you are interested in the type, or just want to say hi to Vince, he can be reached at 253-841-7828 or email at troccoli4420@comcast.net.

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.

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The Washington Newspaper July 2020 3

Look to WNPA Impact Ads for 2021 tourism Selling statewide or regional 2x2 or 2x4 Impact Ads is a big part of what helps fund your Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, and it’s a great option for advertisers seeking broader reach for their messages.

It also is a perfect match for hotel-motel tax funds distributed annually by cities and counties to local non-profit groups. If you have not already, you should ask your city and county governments (each has separate funds) for a report on where the hotelmotel tax money is going.

In most cases, the non-profit organizations that receive this money are supposed to spend it in outside markets that will draw people to your town.

Although most events are limited right now, at some point we will get back to community gatherings. If anything, people will be itching to get out next spring and summer and these ad dollars are often planned a year ahead of time. It’s not too early to check on plans for 2021.

WNPA ads are a perfect match for boosting community events because you can choose to advertise regionally or

statewide.

Here’s how it works: • You sell the ad to a local non-profit organization to bolster tourism.

• You charge your client for the full cost of the ad, and send an insertion order to WNPA. WNPA then invoices you for half the cost of the ad, splitting the revenue on the ad sale. The advertising sales person gets their regular commission on the sale.

• WNPA uses our share of the money to provide your legal hotline, professional services, Legislative Day, the Better Newspaper Contest and the annual convention.

• We keep the cost to the client affordable by asking all member newspapers to publish the ads sold by other newspapers without cost.

Potential customers include festivals, fairs, resorts, real estate offices, state agencies, statewide or regional political candidates – anyone who desires a cost effective regional or statewide campaign.

Because member newspapers publish these ads for free, we can only promise that they will run as black and white ads. If you include a color version, many papers will use it instead,

The map above shows the regions for Impact Ads. Sell the whole state, or choose a region.

4 The Washington Newspaper July 2020

but there is no guarantee of this.

The ads are small – just two columns wide by either two or four inches tall. One column by four or eight inches are also OK. They

need to be produced in two different widths, to accommodate different column widths.

So talk with local chambers or festival organizers or others who receive hotel-

motel tax money from local governments, and let’s start planning our comeback.

The WNPA 2x2 ad program is an important arrow in your sales quiver and a great way for advertisers in

your area to reach a broader audience at a very affordable price. Questions? Call Member Services Director Janay Collins at 360-3442938 or email ads@wnpa. com.

JOB BOARD

The WNPA Job Board is a partial listing of jobs available around the state and the region.

For full job descriptions and more information, go the the online Job Board at wnpa.com.

and passionate writer who isn’t afraid to tackle meaty news stories. Applicants must be able to work in a team-oriented, deadline-driven environment, possess excellent writing skills, have a knowledge of commuSALES REPRESENTATIVE nity news and be able Do you love being to write about multiple part of the community? topics.

The North County OutExpectations: look is seeking a full- or Produce local news part-time advertising content for digital and sales representative print formats. Shooting to join our hometown photographs and newspaper team! Prefer- video is required. ence is for self-motivatShould be proficient ed, results-driven people at utilizing digital tools who are excited to share and print / digital softthe many benefits of ware in the field. newspaper, online, and Must be adept at niche product advertissocial media and new ing. media platforms.

The North County Will be required to Outlook is locally-owned produce daily breaking and operated since 2007. news, cover some inPlease email resume depth reporting and to sue@northcountyout- other reporting as may look.com. be assigned. A minimum of 3 stories per day is REPORTER required, with an addiThe award-winning tional 2 for our weekend weekly newspaper, Bain- publications. bridge Island Review, Must be able to focus on Bainbridge Island, on issues and content WA, has an opening for reflective our readers a general assignment re- values and their porter. We want a skilled current concerns.

Must have a working cell phone and reliable transportation.

Must have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and at least 2 – 5 years of experience as a reporter for a news gathering entity.

Must have advanced computer skills and a working knowledge of AP style.

This is a full-time position that includes excellent benefits: medical, dental, life insurance, a 401(k) with company match, and paid time-off.

For immediate consideration, send your resume with cover letter, three or more non-returnable clips in PDF or text format and references to careers@soundpublishing.com . Make sure to include “BIR-Reporter” in the subject line.

FEATURES REPORTER Sound Publishing Inc.’s two awardwinning island newspapers, the Whidbey News-Times and South Whidbey Record seek a features reporter to write compelling stories on a wide range of topics.

The reporter will also help to organize and produce special section publications.

Experienced writer needed. A degree in journalism or English and knowledge of Adobe InDesign are preferred but not required.

This is a full-time position with excellent benefits that include medical, dental, life insurance, 401k, paid vacation, sick and holidays. EOE. No calls, please. Send resume with cover letter and salary requirements to careers@soundpublishing. com and include “Whidbey features reporter” in the subject line.

raphy and monitoring social media.

The successful candidate: Has a demonstrated interest in local political and cultural affairs.

Possesses excellent writing and verbal skills, and can provide representative clips from one or more professional publications.

Has experience editing reporters’ copy and submitted materials for content and style.

Is proficient in designing and building pages with Adobe InDesign.

Is experienced managing an opinion page, writing cogent and stylistically interestEDITOR ing commentaries, and Sound Publishing has editing a reader letters an immediate opening column. for an Editor to lead the Has experience with award-winning weekly social media and newsnewspaper, Bainbridge paper website content Island Review, on management and underBainbridge Island, WA. stands the value of the This is not an entry-level web to report news on a position. Requires a daily basis. hands-on leader with a Has proven interperminimum of three years sonal skills representing of newspaper experience a newspaper or other including writing, editorganization at civic ing, pagination, photogand 30 public 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximumfunctions Font Size: pt

venues.

Understands how to lead, motivate, and mentor a small news staff.

Must develop a knowledge of local arts, business, and government.

Must be visible in the community.

Must possess reliable, insured, motor vehicle and a valid Washington State driver’s license.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including health insurance, paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays), and 401K (currently with an employer match.)

If you are interested in joining our team, email us your cover letter and resume to: careers@soundpublishing. com. Please be sure to note ATTN: “BIR EDITOR” in the subject line.

Sound Publishing is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

Check out our website to find out more about us! www.soundpublishing.com.

Continued on Page 6

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The Washington Newspaper July 2020 5

JOB BOARD

Continued from Page 5

NEWS EDITORS Free Press Publishing is looking for editors to lead two of our publications in rural Eastern Washington.

Each will be part of a larger news team that covers four counties, while still overseeing their own local coverage.

As a growing community newspaper company, we’re looking for go-getters who can handle reporting, writing, photography, editing and pagination.

Social media, time management and organizational skills are a must.

Our communities don’t have coffee on every corner, shopping malls or fancy dining.

They do have readers and advertisers who care about their schools, businesses and neighbors.

If you’re a journalist who enjoys life in small towns, where crime is minimal and residents are still neighborly, we’d like to hear from you.

Email cover letter, resume and clips/links to Publisher Roger Harnack at Roger@cheneyfreepress.com. No telephone calls, please.

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. Substantial experience with designing print publications is required. Are you fluent in Adobe’s print production products? 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.

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.

The Methow Valley News is a 116-year-old, locally owned weekly near Washington’s North Cascades mountains. We are a small organization with big ambitions. In 2015, the News won the SPJ Excellence in Journalism national award for deadline reporting by weeklies. Check our website, www. methowvalleynews. com, to see some of the special projects we have done over the past several years.

We also have a very active social media presence and are committed to being a daily news and information source in addition to our print product.

MULTIMEDIA SALES CONSULTANT Love being a part of your community? Come work with us at Sound Publishing, Inc. Washington’s largest community newspaper organization - where every day can be a new adventure!

Enjoy using your consultative sales skills, partnering with local business owners in the Okanogan area to help them grow their business

6 The Washington Newspaper July 2020

through branding, marketing, and advertising strategies and celebrating their successes.

Sound Publishing, Inc., is looking for selfmotivated, results-driven people who are excited to share the many benefits of newspaper, online, and niche product advertising. The sales position

is responsible for both print and digital advertising.

What we offer you: Benefits package including health insurance paid time off, and 401k with employer match A great work environment with a professional sales team If you meet the

above-noted qualifications and are seeking an opportunity to be part of an award-winning media company, we’d love to see meet you!

Please email your cover letter, including salary requirement and resume to careers@ soundpublishing. com and be sure to

include ATTN: MMSCOkanogan in the subject line.

Sound Publishing is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

Visit our website to learn more about us! www.soundpublishing.com.