The Washington Newspaper, October 2021

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THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER

Newspaper to launch in Bellingham Page 6

October 2021

Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association

Annual meeting kicks off Oct. 8 in cyberspace

Grab a libation & make some noise

Officers to be elected; awards for Community Service given The 134th annual meeting of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association will take place at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 8.

Like last year, this year will be an all virtual affair. Links to the meeting are emailed to members and also can be found on the home page at wnpa.com. Feel free to share the link and invite anyone who wants to attend.

The meeting will include a brief report on WNPA’s standing and some information on our programs. We also will hand out our Community Service Awards.

Community Service Awards will be given to the Northwest Asian Weekly, Caralyn Bess and Dana Moreno of the Columbia Basin Herald, and Roger Harnack and staff at Cheney

Free Press.

Officers up for election are: for President, Steven Powell of the Bainbridge Island Review; for 1st Vice President, Michelle Nedved of the Newport Miner; and for 2nd Vice President, Donna Etchey of the Port Townsend Leader.

WNPA was founded in 1887 following completion of a railroad link that allowed regular travel between Western and Eastern Washington State. At the time, Washington was still a territory.

It was important to stand together then and it is important now to do the same thing. Please join us in celebration at this historic meeting to honor our achievements.

This photo by Patrick Shelby of the Sunnyside Sun is among the winners in this year’s Better Newspaper Contest. The contest goes live online Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.

The 2021 Better Newspaper Contest awards ceremony is an online affair again this year.

The awards go live at 7 p.m.

Oct. 8. A link to the ceremony is emailed to WNPA members and available online at wnpa. com.

The contest was judged by the Kentucky Press Association.

In the Advertising Division, the contest received 177 entries; in Special Sections, 63 entries; in News, 980 entries; in Photography, 163 entries; and in Digital, 17 entries.

General Excellence entries totaled 48 and the Number of Participating Newspapers was 51. Tune in and join us in congratulating all the winners.

Auction open until 6 p.m. Oct. 8; lots of great items

If you haven’t yet logged on the WNPA Foundation Auction, you are really missing out.

There are some really nice items there: a two night stay at Semiahmoo Resort, a weekend in Coeur d’Alene and a cruise up the St. Joe River, a private suite for 12 to watch the Harlem

Globetrotters do their thing on the basketball court -- always an entertaining evening.

And that’s just a small sampling. In additon, original art, historic newspapers, wonderful treats and gifts are also up for auction. A link to the auction site in on wnpa.com.

The annual Foundation auction funds internships that are awarded each year to Washington State college students.

Interns cover the state Legislature for WNPA papers, sending stories of legislative action out as events happen.

Interns also work during the

summer at WNPA papers in their hometown or near where they will live during the summertime.

Year after year, students report that these interships are the among the most valuable experinces they have in their college careers.

If you visit the auction site

and don’t find anything you want to bid on, or if, sadly, you are outbid by someone else, the site also allows for a straight donation to help the Foundation achieve its goals.

So logon and help young journalists gain real world skills.

WNPA joins effort to release SPD names

Supreme Court agrees to hear case Last week, WNPA joined dozens of other news organizations in supporting a “friend of the court” brief filed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in a case that argues for the release of the names of Seattle police officers who attended the Jan. 6 protest in Washington D.C. The Washington Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case. Eric Stahl, of Davis Wright Tremaine, is assisting as local counsel.

The six Seattle officers were in the nation’s capital to attend President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally.

Their trip became public after one officer posted a photo on Facebook of herself and another officer at the demonstration. Four other officers later admitted they were

there, too, but said they were not involved in the riot.

The officers filed a lawsuit in February against a list of people who filed public records requests seeking the officers’ identities and information about the investigation by the Office of Police Accountability into their activities.

A judge ordered the release of their names in March and the officers appealed. Sam Sueoka, a law student named in the suit, asked the Washington Supreme Court to decide the issue.

Locally, in addition to WNPA, Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington, the Washington Coalition for Open Government and the Washington State Association of Broadcasters signed on to the amicus brief.

Officers: Caralyn Bess, President; Steve Powell, First Vice President; Michelle Nedved, Second Vice President; Patrick Grubb, Past President.

Trustees: Roger Harnack, Scott Hunter, Teresa Myers, Rudi Alcott, Sean Flaherty and Donna Etchey.

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.

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 2021

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Newspaper steps up to keep tradition humming after COVID-19 cancellation

By Caralyn Bess Happy October! Entering the final quarter of 2021, I thought this year would be much different than it has turned out to be, especially with the continuation of COVID and the variants, the mandates for masking and vaccinations, the challenging recruitment environment along with the supply chain issues that Bess have affected virtually all businesses.

I thought most of this would be behind us, yet here we are, continually pivoting due to rising cases – canceling events and in-person meetings again (or at least pivoting to virtual), wearing masks regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not, and hospitals are at or nearing capacity.

Definitely another tough year.

We had to make the difficult decision to cancel our WNPA conference again this year. Despite our best planning, we felt it prudent in light of the previously stated challenges, to cancel the in-person event and move the annual meeting, awards, auction, and Better Newspaper Contest to virtual as we did last year.

I had planned to share a community service idea during one of the sessions that also generated revenue, a win, win for our paper, nonprofit organizations, and our community.

I’m sharing that with you here in my last column serving as your president.

In November 2020, our Tree Lighting and Ag Christmas Parade was canceled.

These are events that our community looked forward to as farmers decorated their combines and tractors and many businesses and organizations entered floats.

There was so much negative chatter I felt we had to do something to keep the parade in some way, shape, or form and drive business to our downtown to help businesses through the Christmas season.

I happened to see a post where a local business owner said it would be nice if we had a lot of Christmas lights so I took that idea, reached out to several community leaders and “Light Up Moses Lake” was born.

Here’s what we did: • Created a Christmas light sightseeing drive and contest inviting people to decorate their homes and businesses, and the agricultural community to decorate their tractors/combines or build floats.

• Built a website www.lightupmoseslake.com with voting platform (& Facebook page).

• Charged an entry fee and sought sponsors • Sold an advertising promo (ads surrounding content about the promotion/event).

• Secured grand prizes and launched the contest. There were three categories: best-decorated stationery parade entry; best decorated local business and best decorated home with a grand prize winner in each category.

• Pulled in the radio station to do a live remote playing Christmas music at the fairgrounds where we placed all of the stationary floats the night of the event (would have been the night of our Ag Parade).

• Created a map where people could follow a hard copy that published in the paper (also had copies available at the downtown drop), or they could use their phones to follow an interactive map while they drove throughout our community enjoying the beautiful lights in a safe environment. What better enjoyment at a time when people were basically

shut-in due to the pandemic than to be able to go for a family drive checking out the awesome Christmas decorations.

• Had two drive-by stop & drop stations where we asked the community to bless others by bringing an unwrapped toy or nonperishable food item.

We ended up collecting cash donations in addition to food and toys so all in all, we were able to bless all three nonprofits with a pretty significant cash donation plus toys and food to go to families in need.

And, our community had a map the could follow and check out the lights all throughout the holiday season.

What a way to take a negative and turn it into a positive! To keep it going year after year, we will hold the launch of Light Up Moses Lake the night after the annual Ag Parade.

The floats will park at the fairgrounds after the downtown parade, allowing those that can’t make it to the parade due to weather, etc. to experience the parade in a drive-by setting.

This also allows them the opportunity to vote on their favorite float. ​Again, a real win, win!

I’d like to end with a huge thank you to each and every one of you for allowing me the privilege to serve as your president. It has truly been an honor! Keep up the good fight.

We have a lot to look forward to as we continue to serve as guardians of our communities while evolving our business models, allowing us to continue to serve and protect local journalism.

Cheers to a bright future.

Caralyn Bess is the Publisher of the Columbia Basin Herald and this year’s WNPA President.

This is her final column as WNPA President.

New publisher named on Whidbey Island Pacific Northwest native RJ Benner has been named the publisher of the Whidbey News-Times and the South Whidbey Record.

Originally from Coos Bay, Oregon, Benner began his newspaper career in 2013 at his hometown paper, The World, where he served as advertising director and general manager. He also served as regional advertising director for Mid-Valley Media Group in Albany, Oregon, which is owned by the same parent company, Lee Enterprises.

Benner replaces Keven Graves, who began his journalism career with the

Benner Whidbey News-Times as an intern. Graves accepted a position with Island County’s health department as a public information officer.

“I am thrilled RJ chose to join our talented team at the Whidbey News

Group. He is a tremendous leader and truly understands the deep connection between our business and the communities we serve,” said Terry Ward, vice president of Sound Publishing.

“I am confident in RJ’s ability to continue building the legacy of these quality newspapers and websites,” he added.

Benner said he has always been passionate about local news and understands the role local media play in keeping an informed public.

“Our role in the community is as important as ever,” he said. “In today’s climate, echo chambers and feedback loops can

easily distort truth. Our responsibility to our citizens is to be a beacon, a trusted source of information and a voice.

I look forward to serving an active role in doing just that.”

Benner also believes accessibility is the key to success for local media.

“I am very excited to get to know members of the community,” he said.

“From our subscribers and readers to community decision makers, I will always prioritize my availability to discuss our editorial positions, direction and goals.”

Benner plans on writing a regular column and holding a “coffee with the

publisher” opportunity every month.

Before moving to Whidbey Island, Benner served as an officer of the Coos Bay Lions Club, a board member of the Bay Area Chamber political action team, a founding board member of Travel Southern Oregon Coast and board member of Fort Smith Education Committee that oversees the Junior Leadership Academy.

He said he looks forward to serving an active role in local service groups here as well.

Benner and his wife of 21 years, Cassandra, have two children. One is an adult and the other is entering second grade.

Listserv connects WNPA 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.

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.

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 October 2021 3

Give events a regional boost and get $50 As we slowly emerge from our pandemic cocoon, the opportunity to get business rolling again will be everywhere.

That means events will restart and people will want to travel – but how will the public know who is once again welcoming travelers? The answer is a WNPA Impact Ad. 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 an affordable regional ad opportunity.

And for the next few months, you can get an extra $50 direct from WNPA for selling an ad.

Who has money for ads? Governments do!

They collect a tax on hotel and motel rooms and hand money out to cities and counties to promote themselves. Impact ads are a perfect match for this program.

If you have not already, you should ask your city and county governments (each has separate funds) for a report on where the hotel-motel tax money is going.

In most cases, nonprofit organizations that receive this money are

supposed to spend it in outside markets that will draw people to your town.

Although most events have been limited, some are slowly returning. If anything, people will be itching to get out this summer.

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 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 and $50 direct from WNPA. • 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 price to the client affordable by asking all member newspapers to publish the ads sold by other newspapers for free.

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, 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 organiz-

ers or others who receive hotel-motel tax money from local governments, and let’s start planning our comeback.

Questions? Call Member Services Director Janay Collins at 360-344-2938 or email ads@wnpa.com.

Earn $50 plus your usual commission by selling WNPA ImpactAds • ImpactAds are 8 column inches max.

• They run in WNPA papers statewide or by region.

• Great for events, real estate, recruitment, festivals, fairs, golf courses, wine tours, casinos, car shows, whale watching boats, tourism activities.

• Sell as a stand alone ad buy, or as an upsell for an ad you are selling locally.

• Sell any time. Commission is paid when the ad runs.

• Full price of the ad is split between your paper & WNPA. • See wnpa.com under Advertise Statewide for full details.

Questions? Call 360-344-2938 or email ads@wnpa.com

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

4 The Washington Newspaper October 2021

JOB BOARD

REPORTER The Anacortes American is looking for an entry-level reporter to join its award-winning staff.

We are a small group that works hard to cover the important news relevant to the lives of Fidalgo Island residents.

First and foremost, we want to know how local governments spend our money, how schools teach our children and what decisions are made on behalf of the people and the beautiful place that is Anacortes.

We keep our finger on the pulse of our small but thriving business community, our working waterfront, our many community service organizations and the interesting people who live here.

We print weekly, but we cover news every day.

We post news online as it happens, share it on social media and then put together a print edition for community members mid-week. We also take

our own photos and video.

In our world, entry-level means you have done these things at the college level and have studied media ethics and media law.

If you are sharp, eager to learn more on the job and aren’t afraid of jumping in head-first, we invite you to send us a cover letter, resume and at least three samples or links to your published work. This will be full-time with benefits and accrued PTO. Send by Monday, Oct. 4, to Editor Colette Weeks at cweeks@skagitpublishing.com. Please put American in the subject line.

REPORTERS Bring your drive for news to Moses Lake at the Columbia Basin Herald and cover big stories and hometown events.

We need a sports writer who can also do features. We also need a news reporter to cover a variety of beats and write features on local

people and happenings.

The Herald is a “small but mighty” team, we like to say, that won a couple of dozen awards in the Better Newspaper Contest last time, including first place in general excellence for our category.

If you want recreation opportunities, we have those in every direction. Send your letter of interest, resume and work samples to Managing Editor Dave Burgess, dburgess@columbiabasinherald.com.

able to write about a wide range of issues and cover multiple beats. The ideal candidate is comfortable covering government issues and writing hard news stories primarily for publication in the Port Orchard Independent and Central Kitsap Reporter, and online in the Kitsap Daily News.

Weekly or daily newspaper experience is preferred, although time worked on student publications and internships will be considered.

This is a full-time posiREPORTER tion that includes excellent The award-winning benefits: medical, dental, Kitsap News Group has life insurance, 401K, an opening for a general paid vacation, sick, and assignment reporter to holidays. EOE. No calls, cover community news in please.

South and Central Kitsap To apply, please e-mail County, WA. to careers@soundpublishApplicants must be ing.com and be sure to able to work in a teaminclude GenRep Kitsap oriented, deadline-driven in the subject line; (1) a environment, be selfresume including at least motivated and resourceful, three professional referpossess excellent writing ences; (2) three or more skills, have knowledge of non-returnable relevant community news, and be work samples in PDF or Text format (and/or a link to them); and (3) a cover letter addressing the

specific job requirements we’ve outlined.

Please also include your salary requirements.

Sound Publishing, www. soundpublishing.com, is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

health, dental, vision and retirement benefits.

Send cover letter, resume to: Frank DeVaul, DeVaul Publishing, Inc., 429 N. Market Blvd., Chehalis, WA 98532.

Or respond by e-mail to fdevaul@devaulpublishing.com

EDITOR If you embrace community journalism at its core, this position is for you.

Nestled between the natural rural beauty of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier, you are 90 minutes from skiing, the ocean, the Seattle or Portland metro areas and much more.

The hands-on editor of The East County Journal covers city governments, school boards and area business from Morton as part of a family-owned, growing community weekly newspaper group in beautiful, Lewis County, Washington.

You will get satisfaction from covering the community as no other media can or does. Salary DOE, including PTO,

REPORTERS Free Press Publishing is looking for several journalists for different newspapers in Eastern Washington. We’re looking for journalists in Cheney, Colfax, Ritzville and Spokane Valley. The successful candidates will cover local news and sports, work with journalists in our other nearby newspapers, and keep tabs on public records including land transactions, court reports and the police blotter.

Each of our communities has an abundance of news to chase, from water and agriculture, drought and wildfire, to highway crashes and shutdowns, to local government, festivals and sports. These are not remote positions.

Continued on Page 6

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The Washington Newspaper October 2021 5

JOB BOARD What happens to your archives when newspapers consolidate?

Sometimes the selling publisher will retain ownership, sometimes the archives are passed on to the new owners. In either case, it is important that all parties agree and understand what is going to happen with the bound, loose or microfilm archives.

Historical stakeholders will continue your stewardship!

There’s no downside to scanning your newspaper's archive but there is a singular hurdle so daunting that most publishers simply cannot foresee any way to overcome it – cost. Luckily, there are organizations determined to help. ArchiveInABox works with historical societies and museums who can provide funding to digitize and index small-town newspapers, while publisher retains all ownership and rights.

ArchiveInABox can help you: Carry on Stewardship Mission Maintain Ownership of Copyrights Digitize Archives for Community Access

ArchiveInABox.com 6 The Washington Newspaper October 2021

Continued from Page 5 From high plains desert to rolling hills, our newspapers cover five counties across Eastern Washington’s “wheat country,” where small-town living is at its best.

Our readers are fiercely loyal, with more than 80% of homes getting the printed newspaper each week in most of our core markets.

If you think you have what it takes, we’d like to hear from you. Email a cover letter, resume and references to Publisher Roger Harnack at Roger@cheneyfreepress. com. No telephone calls.

Newspaper launch in Bellingham planned

A new newspaper company is planning to launch a new publication in Bellingham this January.

It will be called The Cascadia Daily News.

Leading the effort as Executive Editor will be long-time Seattle Times columnist Ron Judd who has been busy hiring. He still has an editor job to fill, he says.

Judd says he is planning to launch with a fulltime newsroom staff of 8, plus three rotating interns, with a live website and a weekly print edition on Wednesday or Thursday.

The enterprise is being funded by David Syre, a former developer turned artist in Whatcom County.

Syre, 80, is a former lawyer and businessman known for developing the Bellis Fair Mall and Semiahmoo Resort.

He now devotes his time to abstract art and has a Bellingham gallery.