The Washington Newspaper, October 2019

TWN

THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER October 2019

Former Mother Jones Magazine Editor is latest podcast Page 2

Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association

132nd annual gathering ready to roll

Membership will vote on new slate of WNPA Board officers

The 132nd Annual Meeting of the Washington Newspaper Publisher’s Association is set for Oct. 10-12 at Hotel RL in Olympia.

A new slate of officers for the WNPA Board of Directors will be presented to the membership for a vote. Nominated are: Patrick Grubb of the Northern Light in Blaine,

Institute sues to get OLC opinions

The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit to enforce a request for formal written opinions issued by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) prior to February 15, 1994.

The request was filed on behalf of the Campaign for Accountability and five scholars who believe their work on U.S. history, law, and politics would benefit from a more complete understanding of the legal opinions that have bound policymakers for decades.

The lawsuit seeks to give effect to amendments that Con-

See FOIA Page 4

Grubb

Bess

Powell

This photo of a trailer fire by Don Gronning of the Newport Miner is one of dozens up for possible awards during WNPA’s annual convention Oct. 10-12 at Hotel RL in Olympia.

President; Caralyn Bess of the Columbia Basin Journal, First Vice President; and Steve Powell of the Marysvill Globe as Second Vice President.

The new slate will be voted on at the breakfast business meeting of the association Oct. 11.

Following the business

meeting will be a keynote speech by David Chavern, President and CEO of the News Media Alliance, the news industry’s largest trade organization. Can publishers get a better deal from the big tech companies like Google and Facebook? What about an advertising share? Is

The annual salary threshold for exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act will increase on Jan. 1, 2020 to $35,568 from $23,660, the United States Department of Labor has announced.

What that means to employers is this: No full-time employee can be salaried and make less than $35,568. All full-time employees making less than the new minimum must be paid by the hour and be paid overtime for work that exceeds 40 hours per week.

The announcement officially killed a rule on the books that would have caused minimum salaries to go up to $47,476.

That rule that had been put on hold first by court action and then by the Trump administration in 2016.

The Labor Department said it had considered the petition of National Newspaper Associa-

tion, the YMCA, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and others to allow the increase to be phased in. But the desires of large employer organizations to absorb only a one-time adjustment won the day. The department did say, however, that it was discarding its original proposal to revisit the threshold every four years. Instead, it said, reviews should be dictated by economic conditions.

The announcement was not a surprise to NNA, according to President Andrew Johnson, publisher of the Dodge County Pioneer (Mayville, Wisconsin).

“NNA had concerns and still has concerns that many of our newspapers in economically-distressed areas are going to find this new threshold impossible to meet. They will have no choice but to reduce

See WNPA, Page 3

Threshold for salaries heading up in January

See SALARIES, Page 2

SALARIES: Threshold increasing in January Continued from Page 1

staff and knock some full-time jobs back to part-time,” Johnson said.

Meeting the salary threshold, however, doesn’t automatically make an employee exempt from overtime pay. The employee’s job duties also must primarily involve executive, administrative or professional duties as defined by the federal regulations.

And workers who do not earn at least $35,568 a year ($684 a week) would have to be paid overtime, even if they’re classified as a manager or creative professional.

Nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including commissions) paid on an annual or more frequent basis may be used to satisfy up to 10 percent of the standard salary level.

Outside sales people are exempt from the sal-

ary rules, but not inside telephone sales people.

Whether print journalists can be exempt from overtime rules has been argued about and frequently litigated.

In most cases, print journalists covering beats assigned by their employer are probably not exempt, because their work is not considered “creative” and is subject to a significant amount of control by their employer.

Journalists who are full-time columnists can sometimes can be considered exempt from overtime rules, but because there is no firm rule about who can be classified as “a creative professional” who is exempt from the overtime rules, employers are advised to not create salaried positions unless the position is clearly in managerial or administrative roles and making more than $35,568.

Officers: Michael Wagar, President; Patrick Grubb, First Vice President; Sandy Stokes, Past President.

Trustees: Colette Weeks, Caralyn Bess, Roger Harnack, Scott Hunter, Steve Powell, Teresa Myers 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 October 2019

FROM THE INCOMING PRESIDENT

Looking for new ways to leverage our communal knowledge in 2020

By Patrick Grubb “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

In September, Starbucks stopped selling local and national papers in its 8,600 corporate stores. A spokesperson was quoted as sayGrubb ing, “As part of our continuous efforts to enhance the overall experience in our stores for both partners and customers, we are removing select fixtures from our retail lobby ... In addition to newspaper stands, we have also removed shelving fixtures that display whole bean coffee and different grab and go snacks.”

Were people reading newspapers in Starbucks? Of course they

were – sources inside Starbucks have said the real reason is shrinkage; people were walking out without paying for the newspapers or the other items on display.

Just as the report of Mark Twain’s death was incorrect (and so was the quote), the idea that print is dead is also wrong.

Is our industry challenged? Are there growing news deserts across the country? Are digital challenges proving difficult to overcome? Yes, yes and yes. However, there are things we can do, strategies we can implement and changes we can make that will enable us to continue to provide our communities with the news and information they need for years to come, in whatever form necessary.

That’s why it’s important to come to the 132nd annual WNPA convention on October 10-12 in Olympia. Without fail,

I come back from the conventions charged up and re-energized. If you come back from the convention with one good money-making idea and one good editorial idea, you will have more than paid for the trip.

This convention should be no exception – there is an impressive lineup of presentations that hit all areas of the newspaper business from editorial, design, photography to digital issues. And, of course, there will be lots of time to talk with fellow newspaper folks, most of whom are facing the same challenges as you. Take this opportunity to find out how your fellow publisher or editor is handling the issue that concerns you the most right now.

As this year’s president, I will be looking at ways to leverage our communal knowledge to benefit individual member newspapers throughout the year.

For example, has someone come up with a spreadsheet that inputs campaign contributions and expenditures from the Public Disclosure Commission and spits out attractive graphs and reports for print and online? We don’t have to sit in our little fiefdoms and individually invent the wheel when we can share and benefit as a whole.

Who else benefits besides ourselves? Our readers. They will be given information in a concise and dynamic format which increases the vitality of newspapers in communities.

To paraphrase W.C. Fields, another of America’s greatest humorists, all in all, I’d rather be in Olympia. See you at the convention!

Patrick Grubb is the Publisher of the Northern Light in Blaine and will be the 2020 WNPA Board President.

Former Mother Jones editor is latest podcast Reporters and editors who want to improve their reporting can now log on to WNPA’s podcast site and listen to experts in the field tell how they approach their stories.

Out latest addition is an interview with Mark Dowie, the former Editor and Publisher of Mother Jones Magazine.

Now 80 years old, Dowie is still going strong, has a new book on the press and is widely recognized as one of the best

Dowie investigative journalists working today.

Among many stories, Dowie is perhaps best known for his expose on

the exploding gas tanks in the Ford Pinto and problems with the Dalkon Shield birth control device.

In this interview, Dowie talks about how he got started do investigative work, how the profession has changed over the years and who is doing really great work today.

He also talks about how the residents of Point Reyes Station purchased their weekly paper, the Point Reyes Light, and got it on track and serving the

community.

Also on the site are interviews with Les Zaitz, owner and Publisher of the Malheur Enterprise. Les and his staff are redefining how community papers approach reporting. Also, Eli Sanders, Pulitzer Prize winning writer for The Stranger in Seattle, talks interviewing and narrative writing techniques.

To find the podcasts, go to wnpa.com and click on the podcast tile in the middle of the home page.

WNPA: Annual meeting ready to roll Continued from Page 1

Facebook’s offer to set up a news platform and pay publishers for content a good idea? Chavern will unpack the pros and cons of the quickly evolving digital landscape and how print newspapers can benefit.

Also on the program is Jacqui Banaszynski, a Pulitzer Prize winner for feature writing and the former Associate Managing Editor for special projects at the Seattle Times.

Banaszynski’s workshop will focus on writing profiles. “Our news reports are peppered with names and faces. But a quick bio seldom reveals the depth of a person’s life or the traits that make

them compelling,” says Banaszynski. This lively session will explore ways to go beyond the resume to develop authentic, relevant characters in your community. This will include: brainstorming techniques to help find undiscovered profile potential, interview approaches that go deeper than the usual Q&A and structures built around focus, scene and detail.

This workshop is virtually guaranteed to step up your feature writing game.

Kevin Slimp, a wellknown newspaper guru, tech master and workshop presenter will lead sessions on improving ad design and what you can do to make people pick up your paper. His sessions

will be of equal interest to designers, sales people, circulation folks, publishers and newsroom employees.

Chris Reykdal, Washington State’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, will deliver a program Saturday morning on the state of Washington school funding and what the future looks like for schools now that the Legislature has improved funding for basic education. School coverage is a key part of every community newspaper. Here’s your chance to hear directly from the person who is managing the changes.

We also have sessions on mining the Public Disclosure Commission’s website for candidate de-

tail and a workshop from long-time Skagit Valley photo editor Scott Terrell on how you can take better photos and why that is important. Mix in a lively discussion of the editorial page with legendary editors John Hughes and John Brewer and you have a program that is entertaining and informative and guaranteed to provoke thoughts about the way you approach newspaper work.

After all that learning, we have our dinner and awards ceremony, where the winners of the 2019 Better Newspaper Contest are announced. It’s shaping up to be a great meeting. Hope to see you all there.

This photo by Lloyd Mullen of the Port Townsend Leader is among the photo entries in this year’s newspaper contest.

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The Washington Newspaper October 2019 3

FOIA: Secret opinions ‘curtails understanding’ Continued from Page 1

gress made to the FOIA three years ago.

“The executive branch’s reliance on secret law leaves the public in the dark about the legal framework the government uses to make decisions about national security, war, immigration, civil rights, and more,” said Alex Abdo, the Knight Institute’s Litigation Director. “The OLC’s claim that these crucial documents are beyond the reach of the FOIA is wrong.”

As the executive branch’s legal arbiter, the OLC issues legal opinions governing the full-range of executive powers, policies, and responsibilities. Its formal written opinions constitute final and

authoritative pronouncements of the law within the executive branch.

Nevertheless, only a fraction of its opinions has been published; the rest remain “secret law,” inaccessible to historians and the public alike.

“Office of Legal Counsel opinions not only help shape current policy, they serve as precedent for future executive actions,” said Daniela Nogueira, a Knight Institute Legal Fellow. “Without access to these opinions, including those issued decades ago, the American public cannot fully evaluate the legality of current executive branch policies.”

In other litigation, the OLC has taken the position that its legal opinions are categori-

cally exempt from the Freedom of Information Act because they are “deliberative” and also protected by the attorney-client privilege. In 2016, however, Congress amended the Freedom of Information Act to prohibit agencies from withholding as “deliberative” records more than 25 years old. The Knight Institute’s request asks for opinions that are more than 25 years old, and so the litigation will likely focus on whether the OLC’s opinions are

protected by the attorney-client privilege.

“As a historian, I know all too well how this system of secrecy curtails understanding of some of our country’s most consequential executive actions,” said Mary L. Dudziak, the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law and a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

“One presidential action builds on another. The secrecy of this precedent is especially concerning when it comes to the

power to send U.S. troops into harm’s way.”

On February 15, 2019, the Knight Institute submitted a request to the OLC for all of its formal written opinions issued prior to February 15, 1994. To date, the government has failed to comply with the request. Today’s lawsuit asks the court to enforce FOIA by requiring the OLC to process the request.

In addition to Professor Dudziak, the plaintiffs include Matthew J. Connelly, Professor in the Department of History at Columbia University; Megan Ming Francis, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington; Mathew L. Jones, James R. Barker Professor of Contempo-

journalists without fixing this.

Safety and wellness. Post-Annapolis and Donald Trump, newsrooms have to plan for and put into practice basic measures to make sure that journalists’ physical safety is protected.

We have to acknowledge and do something about the fact that both isolated and cumulative exposure to violence and trauma can impact a journalist’s mental, emotional and physical health. And we owe them a workplace with zero tolerance for harassment, in both policy and practice.

Space to be human. No journalist who ever lived was an unbiased robot, able to put aside every circumstance

of upbringing, life, privilege or grievances that colored their perspective. Give journalists the space to be the human beings they are. We can be fair in our coverage, and transparent about where we’re coming from and how we do the work.

We can’t be totally unaffected by who we are and where we came from.

Repudiation of arrogance. The best reporters know what they don’t know, and realize that in many situations they don’t know what they don’t know. The most common reporting mistake, and sometimes the most egregious, is missing context. Genuine listening, including to our fiercest critics, is an antidote.

Rigorous editing. We

owe it to journalists, whether they’re right out of college, or a 25-year veteran of the newsroom, to be merciless and heavy-handed with editing that questions assumptions, insists on rigorous attribution, and aims for the best writing possible under the time constraints at hand.

Endless learning. If today’s journalists are not absorbing new things every day about tech, about social platforms, about the communities and topics they are covering, they are falling behind. Publishers should expect learning, and facilitate it in formal and informal ways.

Branding. Finally, publishers and others with a stake in the health of the journalism business and a vibrant democracy should be

“Office of Legal Counsel opinions not only help shape current policy, they serve as precedent for future executive actions.”

rary Civilization in the Department of History at Columbia University; Hiroshi Motomura, Susan Westerberg Prager Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law; and the Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that uses litigation, research, and advocacy to hold public officials accountable.

Lawyers on the case include Abdo, Nogueira, and Jameel Jaffer of the Knight Institute, and Katherine George of Johnston George LLP. George is a Seattle attorney and a former Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter and assistant city editor. George also is a board member of the Washington Coalition for Open Government.

taking concrete steps to lift up the reputation of the profession of journalism in the eyes of the public, for their safety and the good of the industry. They are teachers. They are artists. They are first responders. They deserve to have a similar place in the American psyche.

Health of journalism linked to news staff treatment Newspapers face a lot that they’ll need in their of challenges these days, next job. and virtually everyone A living wage. Crimiasks the question: How nally low pay has long can we do better? been an elephant in the In some cases, says room for local journalHearst Vice President ism, exacerbated greatly Matt DeRienzo, consciby a decade of wage entious publishers and stagnation since the 2008 others with a stake in recession. It’s not fair or the health of journalism healthy to ask a workbusiness should make force under greater stress basic commitments to and required to have the journalists on their more varied skills than staff. ever to work for such Here are DeRienzo’s low pay. tips for building a stronEquity and incluger newspaper: sion. Our track record Transparency. Bring on giving people of journalists into the loop color and women a seat of revenue and profitat the table and power and-loss discussions. to influence and make Entrepreneurdecisions has always ship. Teach them an been awful and has entrepreneurial mindset, gotten worse in many and the opportunity to places that are under use it. This is important economic duress. We not only for the health can’t say we’re making and growth of your busi- a commitment to the ness, but the skill sets well-being of individual 4 The Washington Newspaper October 2019

Matt DeRienzo is vice president of news and digital content for Hearst’s newspapers and websites in Connecticut.

He has worked in journalism as a reporter, editor, publisher, corporate director of news for 25 years, including serving as the first full-time executive director of LION Publishers, a national nonprofit that supports the publishers of local independent online news organizations.

WNPA JOB BOARD 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 and has abundant outdoor recreation.

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 973082048, or e-mail hr@ eomediagroup.com.

SALES/MARKETING PROFESSIONAL Exciting opportunity for a skilled sales and marketing professional with knowledge of and contacts in the Bend, Ore. area.

The Bulletin is Central Oregon’s leading media outlet. More than just a newspaper, The Bulletin represents the community through events and print and digital products, bringing credible, relevant coverage to readers and advertisers.

Can you be a part of our team? We seek someone who is skilled in business development, contract negotiations, communicates clearly with an internal support team, thrives in

a CRM driven environment and has outstanding proposal and presentation skills. There is a solid book of business, but the primary goal is growth and territory development.

The Bulletin was recently acquired by EO Media Group, a familyowned Oregon company, ensuring a continued focus on state and local journalism that resonates with readers. We are a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer.

This position comes with generous compensation for someone with the drive and determination to succeed. Benefits include paid time off (PTO), a 401(k)/Roth 401(k) retirement plan, expense reimbursement and insurances.

Send resume and letter of interest to hr@eomediagroup.com.

MANAGING EDITOR (MOSES LAKE, WA) Are you the one we are looking for? Do you have a passion for Journalism?

For writing/producing compelling content and design across multiple platforms? Do you believe in FOIA? Are you willing to ask the hard questions and hold public officials accountable? Do you believe in local newspapers and the role they serve in a community? Do you want to make a difference in our community?

We are looking for that special someone that has heart and is not just in it for the job but believes in the purpose of our existence. Someone excited to take us to the next level.

Are you that someone? A bonus is living in the heart of Washington in the Columbia Basin where the sun shines 350 days a year and you are centrally

5 The Washington Newspaper October 2019

located to Spokane and Seattle as well as numerous hiking trails, sand dunes, golf courses and an 18 mile lake.

Key skills/requirements include but are not limited to: ● Proven experience as managing editor or relevant role ● BS/BA in journalism or relevant field and/ or equivalent work related experience ● Exceptional ability in copywriting and editing/ attention to detail ● Solid understanding and application of AP writing styles ● Proficiency in English (Spanish a plus) ● Working knowledge of online platforms like Word Press and SEO concepts Hagadone Media/ Washington is an equal opportunity employer.

Employment requires successful background screening and culture index survey. We provide competitive salary plus bonus and an excellent benefit package. Send resume and letter of interest to cbess@hagadonemedia. com.

MULTIMEDIA SALES CONSULTANT, OUTSIDE (FRIDAY HARBOR, WA) Be a part of the largest community news organization in Washington!

Do you have a proven track record of success in sales and enjoy managing your own territory?

Are you competitive and thrive in an energetic environment?

Do you desire to work in an environment which offers uncapped earning opportunities?

Are you interested in a fast-paced, creative atmosphere where you can use your sales expertise to

provide consultative print and digital solutions?

If you answered YES to the above, then we are looking for you! The Journal of the San Juans, in beautiful Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands, is looking for self-motivated, results-driven people interested in a multi-media sales career. As part of our sales team, you are expected to maintain and grow existing client relationships, as well as develop new client relationships. The successful candidate will

also be goal-oriented, have organizational skills that enable you to manage multiple deadlines, provide great consultative sales and excellent customer service. If you have these skills and enjoy playing a pro-active part in impacting your local businesses financial success with advertising solutions, please email your resume and cover letter to: careers@soundpublishing.com. Make sure to include ATTN: AD REP (Friday Harbor) in the subject line.

TURN ON THE LIGHT…

This position receives a base salary plus commissions and benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, and 401K. Position requires the use of your personal vehicle, possession of valid WA State Driver’s License and proof of active vehicle insurance.

CIRCULATION MANAGER (ABERDEEN, WA) Sound Publishing, Inc. is currently accepting applications for a Circulation Manager for the Daily Continued on Page 6

…OUR TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT BELONGS TO YOU.

DON’T LOSE IT!

Keys to government Accountability Responsibility Accessibility

Washington’s Open Public Meetings and Public Records Acts Preserve your rights to government actions that affect you.

Learn about Open Government – When Records Requests are Denied…

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In partnership with Contact us with your open-government questions

360-344-2938 • wnpa.com

WNPA JOB BOARD Continued from Page 5

World.

The primary duty of a Circulation Manager (CM) is to manage a geographic district. The CM will be accountable for the assigned newspaper as follows: Recruiting, contracting and training independent contractors to meet delivery deadlines, insuring delivery standards are being met and quality customer service.

Position requires the ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner; to occasionally lift and/or transport bundles weighing up to 25 pounds from ground level to a height of 3 feet; to deliver newspaper routes, including ability to negotiate stairs and to deliver an average of 75 newspapers per hour for up to 8 consecutive hours; to communicate with carriers and the public by telephone and in person; to operate a personal computer. Must possess reliable and insured motor vehicle and a valid Washington State driver’s license.

We offer competitive compensation and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance; paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays); and a 401k with employer match.

To apply, please e-mail to careers@soundpublishing.com a resume including at least three professional references. Make sure to include Circulation Manager (Aberdeen) in the subject line. Please also include your salary requirements.

CREATIVE ARTIST (EVERETT, WA) Sound Publishing, Inc. has a Creative Artist position available at the Daily Herald in Everett, WA. The position is Full-time

and the schedule requires flexibility. Duties include performing conceptual design for ads, logos, page layout, marketing campaigns, and collateral. The position will require providing excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.

Experience with Adobe Creative Suite 6, which includes: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat.

Basic understanding of Adobe effect and web layout preferred.

Excellent customer service, organization and communication skills.

Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team, in a fast-paced environment.

Newspaper and agency experience is preferred but not required.

We offer competitive compensation and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance; paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays); and a 401k with employer match.

If you can think outside the box, enjoy collaborative, creativetype brainstorming and would like to be part of a highly energized, competitive and professional team, we want to hear from you! Please e-mail to careers@soundpublishing.com (1) a resume including at least three professional references; (2) three or more nonreturnable relevant work samples in PDF or Text format (and/or a link to them); (3) a cover letter addressing the specific job requirements we’ve outlined.

Make sure to include “CREATIVE” in

6 The Washington Newspaper October 2019

the subject line. Please also include your salary requirements.

GENERAL NEWSPAPER REPORTER (WHIDBEY ISLAND) The award-winning South Whidbey Record, on Whidbey Island in Washington State, is seeking an energetic, detailed-

oriented news reporter.

Reporters work in a teamoriented, deadline-driven environment, possess excellent writing skills and have an appreciation of community news.

Experience in photography a plus. Must reside on Whidbey Island.

The position requires the use of personal

vehicle, possession of valid WA State Driver’s License and proof of active vehicle insurance.

We offer competitive compensation and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance; paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays); and a 401k with employer

match.

To apply, please e-mail to careers@ soundpublishing.com a resume including at least three professional references. Make sure to include Newspaper Reporter (Whidbey Island, WA) in the subject line.

Please also include your salary requirements.