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THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER
Tourism for 2021? Use Impact ads! Page 4
Sept. 2020
Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Better Newspaper Contest awards go online Oct. 9 The judges have finished their work, the trophies are ordered and the certificates are being readied -- it’s time to get out the noisemakers and your favorite beverage and watch the WNPA Better Newspaper Contest awards ceremony. Because our annual convetion was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus, the awards ceremony will be online only this year. It will go live at 6 p.m. Oct. 9. Stay tuned -- the web address for the ceremony will go out well before the site is live. Better Newspaper Contest certificates will be emailed to the newspaper where the entry was logged and plaques and trophies will be shipped out to winners.
If you are a winner, you will be notified Sept. 9, so stay tuned for that announcement. The Foundation auction, similarly, will be an online affair and we need your donations. People donating an item will be responsible for shipping it out to the winner, so we highly encourage the use of gift certificates to make this all pretty simple and afforable. WNPA bylaws require us to have a business meeting each year in October. That also will be a virtual event. The business meeting will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 9 and will feature a brief report on WNPA’s activities and finances and the election of officers for the coming year. Watch your inbox for call-in information.
New podcasts feature two powerful women writers
Two powerful women writers are now featured on WNPA’s podcast website. The latest addition is Leah Sottile, a freelance journalist who began her career at the Cheney Free Press and the Inlander in Spokane. Today, she is a freelance writer whose features, profiles, investigations and essays have been featured by the Washington
Post, The New York Times Magazine, Playboy, California Sunday Magazine, Outside, The Atlantic, Vice and several others. In this podcast, she talks about her investigations of far right activists and what she has learned in that pursuit. Also featured is Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Jacqui See PODCASTS, Page
FROM THE BNC
This photo by Evan Caldwell of the Stanwood-Camano News is among the entries in this year’s Better Newspaper Contest. The newspaper awards ceremony will be online this year. Watch your inbox in the weeks to come for the web address.
Cuillier, Riley, Ingalls honored by WCOG for outstanding work
Open government awards ceremony is online Sept. 18 National Freedom of Information Coalition President, Dave Cuillier (University of Arizona), Seattle Times Editorial Page Editor, Kate Riley and Chris Ingalls and his colleagues at KING 5 News will be honored by the Washington Coalition for Open Government when the Coalition presents the 2020 James Madison, James Andersen and Ken Bunting awards at 8 a.m. Sept. 18.
The presentation will be online only and is free, but you need to register to attend. To register, go the coalition’s website and follow links to the events page. WCOG Executive Director Juli Bunting says James Madison award winner Cuillier, President of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, has a long history of advocating for open government and transparency both
in the Pacific Northwest and nationally. “This award is for life time achievement in the area of advocating for open government. Dave fought for transparency as a reporter and editor in Washington and now leads this very important national movement. NFOIC could not have more dedicated leadership.” Cuillier responded to news of the award by saying See WCOG, Page 3
PODCASTS: Two women talk writing
Continued from Page 1 Banaszynski, who spent 30-some years as a reporter and filed stories from all seven continents, including Antarctica. Her 1988 Pulitzer Prize winning story, “AIDS in the Heartland,” followed a gay farm couple from diagnosis to death. In this podcast, Jacqui talks about how she approached that story.
She adds that reporters should always be on the lookout for events that lend themselves to good story telling. While you are visiting the site, check out the other interviews with journalists from every walk of life, talking about the way they approach their reporting, and how you can make your journalism more meaningful.
Use listserv to ask peers how they handle problems WNPA members 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. The service can be used to ask questions
about any aspect of newspaper operations, from ad sales, to mail problems, to circulation and news, employee relations or carrier policies. 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.
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 September 2020
FROM THE PRESIDENT
This difficult year should underscore the importance of a local newspaper By Patrick Grubb Despite the challenges newspapers are facing during this pandemic, it doesn’t seem to have slowed down the newspaper selling and acquisition business much. News releases from media brokers continue to list multiple purchases across the country. J. Louis MulGrubb len appears to be particularly bullish on newspapers as he adds two papers from North and South Dakota to join his stable of papers stretching from Michigan to Washington. Mullen has been quoted as saying, [Newspapers] help “make and keep a cohesive community. As long as that holds true, community newspapers will continue to be a valuable asset for me and your town.” His confidence is something we should all be sharing with our readers, our employees and our advertisers. While the impact on our bottom lines has been substantial and on-going, the pandemic has also highlighted the value of accurate and comprehensive reporting. Many of us on the editorial side have had to engage in a self-taught crash course
learning about medical, infectious disease and government issues. We’ve had to navigate through conflicting accounts and outright frauds in order to present news that has been vetted for accuracy and relevancy. By doing so, we have been reminding our readers why a local newspaper is still integral to the life of a town and a community. We know this because our readers and our advertisers are telling us pretty much every day and week. No one knows when this pandemic will recede and life will begin to seem more and more normal but when it does, I won’t be surprised to find that our industry as a whole will be stronger and more valuable. Speaking about valuable, I’d like to turn to the issue of public notices. WNPA has been a strong force in reminding our politicians about the importance of public notices in our newspapers. WNPA currently uses a platform developed by the Illinois Newspaper Association to provide a way for newspapers to post legals to a statewide website where they are all searchable. Contractors, government watchdogs, interest groups and just plain citizens find this a very valuable thing – they can easily search for calls for bids and other announce-
ments beyond the borders of their own counties. From an industry perspective, this helps our industry stave off arguments made in some states that legals should all be posted on a state-owned website and not in printed newspapers. Other companies are also trying to enter this market. Axios recently reported on a company called Column which hopes to streamline the placement of public notices for both newspapers and local governments. Previously known as e-notice, it is taking a self-service approach to legal notices and is hoping to convince publishers their system will save them time and money. Regardless of platform, legal notices continue to be important to the local press and its readers. Newspapers get revenue from legals, to be sure, but they also serve the public by providing proof that governments have met their obligation to adequately advertise important projects and issues. In Washington state, the entire newspaper community is dedicated to keeping legals in printed newspapers, where access is assured and in a place where most readers expect to find them. Patrick Grubb is the Publisher of The Northern Light in Blaine and this year’s WNPA President.
Louie Mullen acquires Iowa newspapers J. Louis Mullen, the owner of several weekly newspapers in Washington State, recently announced the purchase of another newspaper company, this time in Iowa. On Sept. 1, Mullen acquired Harlan Newspapers, owned by the Mores family for 81 years. Co-publishers Alan Mores and Steve
Mores said they are confident that Mullen’s organization will carry on the news and advertising coverage that the community has come to expect from the Harlan Newspapers. “We are excited to see the positive changes that will come to the paper with fresh ideas and technology. Although the newspaper industry and the dissemination of news
continue to evolve, the role that newspapers play in their local communities remains extremely important,” said Alan and Steve Mores in a joint statement. Mullen said: “I’m humbled and honored Steve and Alan would give me this opportunity. The Mores have run an amazing business. They’re a testament to our industry.”
Effective immediately, Mullen named veteran journalist Joshua Byers to the publisher position. Mullen owns or has an interest in three Washington State weeklies – The Port Townsend Leader, The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle and the Newport Miner. He also owns papers in North and South Dakota, Michigan, Wyoming and Oregon.
WCOG: Coalition’s highest honors bestowed online Sept. 18
Continued from Page 1 transparent, accountable government is more important than ever and the nation can look to Washington state for inspiration. “We saw in recent years citizens fight back against attempts to exempt the Legislature from the state public records law. We’ve seen recalcitrant public agencies held accountable through hefty fines. It’s this special frontier attitude that reminds the elected who is in charge. Washingtonians are lucky to have been served by dedicated, tireless volunteers, working two decades through WCOG to ensure that
people know what their government is up to. I can say definitely from the research and data, that WCOG’s work has made a difference in people’s lives, and that its influence radiates throughout the country. It makes me proud to be an Evergreen State native and fortunate to have been shaped by such amazing transparency warriors in WCOG. Together, we will hold the line.” Seattle Times Editorial Page Editor, Kate Riley is being honored with the 2020 James Andersen award for her relentless pursuit of government accountability, and for
questions of elected officials. That’s why it is even more important Cuillier Ingalls Riley that all commueducating the public on the editorial pages of the nity members are able to Seattle Times. Riley says access information that rightly belongs to them. the cause of open govWCOG is a great ally of ernment has never been the people in this regard. more important. I am humbled to receive “In times of controthis award and will versy, even the best-intentioned elected official continue to do my part to might be tempted to skirt shed a light on government.” open-government laws. The Washington CoAs traditional news organizations struggle, fewer alition for Open Government is recognizing journalists from fewer the work of broadcast newspapers are asking
journalist Chris Ingalls and his colleagues at KING 5 News with the annual Kenneth F. Bunting Award. Ingalls and KING 5 used state public records laws and other reporting tools to shed light on the extent and duration of mold infections in operating rooms at Seattle Children’s Hospital. At least seven of the hospital’s young patients have died from mold infections since 2001. “The Board is very excited to honor these outstanding individuals who are such strong advocates for transparency at all levels of government, says Bunting, who
noted the awards will be presented during a virtual event Sept.18. Also being honored with a Key Award for reporting using public records will be Jacob Jones of Whitman County Watch. Jones is a veteran reporter for daily and weekly newspapers in Washington and is a former advisor to the WSU student newspaper. Key Awards are presented throughout the year to people who do something notable for the cause of open government. To suggest somone for a Key Award, go to the WCOG website and submit a nomination.
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 September 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 September 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
JOURNALIST Skagit Publishing seeks a journalist to fill a position as reporter and editorial assistant at the Anacortes American. This is a combination position, with about half the time dedicated to reporting local news for the weekly Anacortes American. The other half will involve editorial assistant duties that most typically involve processing event information, press releases and letters to the editor for several Skagit Publishing products. While this is an entry level or early career position, it requires a bachelor’s degree with some formal journalism training and examples of previously published work. It also requires basic visual journalism skills and page layout experience using InDesign. Please send cover letter, resume and clips by Sept. 12 to Colette Weeks, Director of Content, at cweeks@skagitpublishing.com. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
REPORTER The Columbia Basin Herald seeks a full-time reporter. We publish a daily five days a week, plus a weekly, a monthly, a basket of slick magazines, plus three websites and social media. Our offices are in Moses Lake, the center of Washington. Here in the Columbia Basin, the weather is mild and dry. Our community is built around an 18 mile lake with 3,000 acres of sand dunes and plenty of trails for hiking and outdoor activities. The successful applicant will be a multitalented writer and photographer who is dedicated to excelling at local coverage, identifying and producing enterprise stories, and contributing to special sections. Must be organized and committed to accuracy and fairness. This person reports to the managing editor. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or equivalent experience. Strong writing and photography skills. Experience with use of
computers and cameras. Multimedia experience. Understanding of journalistic ethics. Proficiency with grammar and AP style. Able to work some nights and weekends. Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license. Essential functions: Cover assigned beats and produce accurate news and features. Develop leads and story ideas as well as produce assigned stories. Prepare content elements for publication online and in print on deadline. Send your cover letter, resume and work samples to editor@columbiabasinherald.com. EDITOR The Columbia Basin Herald seeks an experienced journalist to join our news team. Under direction of the managing editor, the local editor will help guide news coverage online and in our newspaper, published five days a week. We also publish a weekly, a monthly and several an-
nual magazines. We are mar and AP style. based in Moses Lake, in Daily newspaper expethe center of Washington, rience preferred. where the weather is dry Computer skills. and outdoor recreation Experience with InDeis abundant. Our region sign. is noted for world-class Ability to work nights agriculture, but some and weekends as needed. well-known companies Reliable transportation are also prominent in the and a valid driver’s area. license. The successful appliMaybe you are an cant will be committed to experienced reporter with accuracy and fairness and hands-on experience in have a drive for engaging page design and proofcommunity journalism. reading or websites and Must be organized and social media. Maybe you able to juggle work on are a city editor or an multiple publications on experienced copy editor different schedules. We and designer who enjoys are looking for a wide being involved in the skill set for this responwider news operation. We sible position. It includes want to talk with you. working closely with Send your cover letter, reporters, and it may inresume and work samples clude writing opportunito editor@columbiabasinties and helping increase herald.com. audience engagement The Columbia Basin through social media. Herald is an equal opQualifications: portunity employer.We Bachelor’s degree in are a part of Hagadone, a journalism or equivalent family-owned company experience. with news organizations Strong writing, editing also in northern Idaho and and proofreading skills. Montana. Multimedia experience. EDITOR Understanding of jourExecutive Director nalistic ethics. & Editor, Senior News, Proficiency gram- Thurston County 3.5” x 2.5” |with Maximum Font Size: 30Council pt
on the Aging. Salary range: $48,000 – $65,000 depending on qualification and includes employee benefit package. Target start date: Feb. 10, 2021 This is a unique opportunity to oversee the general daily operations of the Thurston-Mason Senior News and the Medical Equipment Bank. Hours will vary dependent on activity schedules. This position is responsible for the managing and editing functions of the Senior News, including but not limited to content creation of the newspaper (including collecting submissions from authors, writing, photography, layout, and design of the publication) and full oversight of editorial content. This includes any applicable website and/ or social media updates. Candidate must demonstrate good written communication skills, including impeccable spelling, punctuation, grammar, and attention to detail. The Editor is responContinued on Page 6
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The Washington Newspaper September 2020 5
JOB BOARD
Continued from Page 5 Job qualifications include: a Bachelor’s sible for overseeing the degree in communicaprinting and distribution of the paper, all phases of tions or public relations or equivalent experience; production and recruitFive years minimum ment and management experience in design for of volunteer delivery printing, writing, editing, drivers. This includes the collection of subscription layout and photograadditions and list changes, phy; proficient in Adobe In-Design, Photoshop, which are communicated to a list service vendor for Illustrator, PDF subscription maintenance, conversion; experience with advertising sales, as well as working to billing, and working increase the mailing list. Duties will also include with a bookkeeper, as the advertising sales, working continued success of the newspaper depends on with the bookkeeper to develop sound policies for revenue generated through ad sales; willing and able prompt payment, submitting timely reports to both to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, the bookkeeper and the board, and attending board weekends, and holidays as needed and must have meetings of the Thurston reliable transportation County Council on the and provide proof of car Aging (TCCA). insurance. The Medical EquipTo be considered, ment Bank (or MEB) is a service of the Thurston please submit a resume, references, and portfolio County Council on the electronically to: thurstonAging and is located in masonseniornews@gmail. Lacey, WA. The Excom or by mail: TCCoA ecutive Director will be responsible for managing Board, Re: Executive Director Position c/o Joyce the MEB, which is run Wilms, PO Box 7184, by volunteers. The EdiOlympia, WA 9850. tor must be prepared to respond to situations that may arise in the operation CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Seeking Chief Finanof the MEB, such as accidents, incidents, injuries, cial Officer for familyowned media company or other such instances. The editor will also work based in Bend, Oregon. EO Media Group is a with volunteers in collecting donations, fundraising fourth-generation, familyowned company with a efforts, and will publish portfolio of newspapers, MEB information and magazines and digital updates in the paper and products. We’re proud of on correlating websites. our 109-year heritage of The Executive Director will be responsible for publishing and the creativity of our managers and developing appeal and drafting and managing the employees. To guide the finances production of fundraising of the company in the efforts at the approval of future, we are seeking the board. Also included a Chief Financial Ofis the expectation to expand fundraising pros- ficer with the education, background and leaderpects and grow outreach ship to guide finances in methods, which will include but not be limited the coming years. The Chief Financial Officer to writing grants. 6 The Washington Newspaper September 2020
will oversee the corporate accounting team, monitor and implement internal financial controls and be responsible for financial reports and budgeting. This is a hands-on position, working alongside a team of 4 staff members. You will need a education in accounting or finance, CPA or MBA
preferred, five + years of management experience and a firm grasp of GAAP. Strong analytical skills, regulatory knowledge, experience in the media field and a passion for streamlining functions through technology are also required. To apply, go to https:// eomediagroup.applicant-
pro.com/jobs/1428348. html SALES REPRESENTATIVE Do you love being part of the community? The North County Outlook is seeking a full- or parttime advertising sales representative to join our hometown newspaper
team! Preference is for selfmotivated, results-driven people who are excited to share the many benefits of newspaper, online, and niche product advertising. The North County Outlook is locally-owned and operated since 2007. Please email resume to sue@ northcountyoutlook.com.