Next generation steps up to take management reins in Wahkiakum County

Just two months after the death of publisher Rick Nelson, the Wahkiakum County Eagle has new bosses.

They are Rick’s son Jacob and his husband Brandon J. Simmons.

Both are enthusiastic about playing leadership roles while preparing for the retirement of Geri Florek, the Eagle’s longtime production manager. She stepped up as acting publisher during Nelson’s cancer battle.

The family will continue to own the paper. Jacob will continue to work for Microsoft as he lends his skills to the task; Simmons will continue his theater career, too.

“I have always been committed to continuing the legacy of keeping the paper and serving the community in the way it has done, connecting people in the community,” Jacob said. “We are at the start of a journey to do that in a sustainable way.”

One move being considered is hiring a full-time editor.

Simmons, a creative force in the Seattle theater community as an actor, director and writer, is drawing on varied skills including financial acumen.

“I was going to shadow Geri for a while as I figured I could ‘buy some time’ by learning that job,” Simmons said. “The first day I spent at the paper, seeing how it is put together, and how the staff all work together, I absolutely fell in love with it right away.”

He said local reaction has been positive.

“People from the communi- that we show state officials we are engaged and interested.

Saturday night Oct. 7 is the gala awards dinner.

The full schedule is available at wnpa.com. Click on the homepage tile to get to the registration and information page. Once there you can download the convention program. There are a limited number of hotel rooms reserved for us, so register for rooms early to get our rate.

You can call the hotel at 509783-0611 and use group code NEWS1005.

Presenting workshops will be nationally recognized newspaper consultants Kevin Slimp and Bill Ostendorf. They will get you reimagining how to approach publishing in this new era. We hope you can join us in Kennewick!

Reporting fellowship to start with eight positions

A fellowship program funded by the state Legislature last session will fund eight jobs for journalists starting next year. Administered by Washington State University, the Murrow News Fellowship offers early-career journalists the opportunity to report on civic affairs in underserved communities, both rural and urban.

The state-funded initiative will pair eight fellows with Washington newsrooms for two-year, full-time reporting positions beginning in early 2024. A new cohort of eight fellows will join the program

See FELLOWS, Page 2 See EAGLE, Page 3