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THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER December 2023
Happy holidays to all!
Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Privilege claim for legislators upheld again In a blow to transparency at the Washington State Legislature, a Thurston County Superior Court judge has ruled the law allows state lawmakers to withhold records that are “privileged.” Just what is privileged and what is not remains a murky question under the ruling, but lawmakers appear to be winning in the tug of war with open government advocates. The courts have now ruled twice in favor of some kind of privilege for lawmakers. “It’s a sad day for transparency in Washington state,” said Juli Bunting, executive director of the Washington Coalition for Open Government, one of the petitioners in the case, “when legislators can decide what information they’re going to give to the public and what information they’re not going to give to the public.” In the latest case, Judge Anne Egeler said lawmakers
may withhold “records revealing internal legislative deliberations concerning bills contemplated or introduced in either house of the Legislature.” At the heart of the issue is the claim that the state Constitution’s protection for “words spoken in debate,” applies to legislative records. Egeler said other states have ruled similarly. “State and federal courts recognize that this serves an important public interest by allowing legislators to engage in candid deliberations,” Egeler said. The rulings establishing a privilege come despite the 2019 ruling by the state Supreme Court that lawmakers were subject to the state Public Records Act. Egeler’s said the privilege “does not shield every legislative document” and does not extend to acts outside the legislative process.
State tax notice explained A notice sent by the state Department of Revenue to newspaper publishers contains some confusing language. The notice, intended to help implement Senate Bill 5199, asks “Are there any
exceptions?” and then explains that you need to reduce your tax preference by any “expenditure.” It then goes on to say that an expenditure “means an amount provided in RCW See TAXES Page 2
Michael Dashiell of the Sequim Gazette took a first place in the portrait category for this holiday scene in the 2023 Better Newspaper Contest.
Annual Legislative Day is Feb. 15 Our annual Legislative Day in conjunction with the Washington State Association of Broadcasters and the Allied Daily Newspapers will begin at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15 in the John A. Cherberg Building, rooms A, B, and C. The day will begin with a discussion of legislative issues facing the news media. A brown bag lunch meeting begins around noon with transportation and general budget panels of legislative leadership followed by a panel of Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, House Republican
Leader Drew Stokesbary and Senate Republican Leader John Braun. Statewide elected officials will speak followed by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste and selected agency directors. Following the briefings is reception with the Supreme
Court, where we will hear a report from Bench Bar Press. From there, attendees go to the Governor’s Mansion for a dinner at the Governor’s Mansion with Governor and Mrs. Inslee and selected guests. This event should wrap up at 7:30 to 8 p.m. Lunch, refreshments and dinner will be served at this event. A registration fee will be determined after arrangements have been finalized with the Governor’s Mansion and registration will be handled online at wnpa.com. Watch for the announcement that registrations are open in early January.
TAXES: Form question FROM THE PRESIDENT about exceptions won’t apply to many papers Ringing in the holidays & looking Continued from Page 1 42.17A.005, the definitions of political expenditures in the campaign finance statutes.” This language was inserted into the bill in the last session because the Seattle Times Company actually purchased a political ad in its own newspaper to support an item on the ballot. A Seattle Senator who felt this was highly inappropriate and wanted to make sure revenues in that category didn’t get a tax break. The language prohibits you from enjoying the tax preference for any funds that you might use to internally purchase advertising space, inserts, or digital views in your own publications or web sites. It also applies if you purchase a myriad of other services
meant to influence the outcome of an election. If none of this applies to you, you can feel free so say there are no exeptions. In a related matter, Rowland Thompson, Executive Director of Allied Daily Newspapers, is having discussions with DOR Director Drew Shirk and Tax Policy Director Gil Brewer about the necessity of a tax guidance letter stating that grants and donations to your newspaper are newspaper income and will be subject to the 0.00% Business and Occupations Tax exemption, rather than some other rate for unrelated business income. Thompson says he expects this issue to be resolved soon. If you have any questions for Thompson on these issues, you can call him at 360-951-3838.
Officers: Donna Etchey, President; Sean Flaherty, 1st Vice President; Matt Winters, 2nd Vice President; Michelle Nedved, Past President. Trustees: Roger Harnack, Teresa Myers, Rudi Alcott, Staci Baird and Bob Richardson. 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: execdirector@wnpa.com Janay Collins, Member Services Director: 360-344-2938. Email: ads@wnpa.com 2 The Washington Newspaper December 2023
for answers as the new year dawns By Donna Etchey When I became president, I thought how hard can it be writing a monthly column? I am a social person. I would have so much to write about. Then I received the dreaded email from Fred sending me his friendly reminder that the column is due in a week. Of course, this month I am past due, but I have 10 more months to figure it out. Etchey Have you ever asked yourself why you got into this business in the first place? What motivated you to get into the media business? After all, who wants to get yelled at for getting a name misspelled in a story, an incorrect phone number in an ad, or an angry reader who does not want to pay the increase in subscription rates? But then there are the phone calls and emails we receive thanking us for our efforts in covering the city council, school board meetings, or one of the many events that we cover daily. In the end, I think it does balance out. It is not easy to do more with fewer resources, I get it. But I still believe in the power of who we are
and what we do. We are recording history, we make a difference in people’s lives, and they turn to us when they want their voices heard. But how do we get them to pay for the service we provide? One of America’s biggest mistakes was making the Internet free in the first place. The news was never free. Someone somewhere was almost always being paid to write the news that appears online for free. I guess my question to you this month is: what is the answer? How do you convince people that what you offer has value? If you have a great answer, please share your secret sauce with me. Here in Kittitas County, the holidays are moving ahead full force. Our small towns are decorated with lights, Santa had time to visit each town, and downtown merchants have pulled out all the stops with cheerful holiday window displays. In years past, this was always a good month for newspapers, with holiday ads and gift ideas, and it is still good, but more challenging than in the past. Here’s what we’ve been doing here at the Daily Record: we put together our holiday guide and distributed it in the paper and around town over Thanksgiving weekend. In December we are busy building pages that we can offer to our clients. We offer holiday greet-
ings pages, giving pages, shop local pages and special worship pages. These past few weeks I have been up to my eyeballs putting together our 2024 budget. Budget time is always a time to reflect on the past 12 months and look forward to the next 12 months. What worked in the past, what did not work? What can we create for the new year, and how can we grow readership and increase revenue. So many questions and not enough answers. Here’s my newspaper version of the 12 Days of Christmas: 12 Days of Christmas 1 happy reader 2 perfect delivery days 3 more writers 4 additional advertisers in our Holiday Pages 5 Golden stories 6 elves shooting photos 7 happy readers 8 fewer council meetings 9 more advertisers 10 more minutes for deadline 11 happy readers 12 subscribers each day Happy holidays, I look forward to hearing from you. Donna Etchey is the publisher of the Daily Record in Ellensburg and this year’s WNPA president.
Upload your legals to our statewide site More than a decade ago, WNPA, in partnership with Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington, established a statewide legals website after some legislators began discussing moving legal advertising from printed newspapers to a statewide website. Similar proposals are being made all across the country, and we didn’t want it to happen here so WNPA and Allied told state legislators that the newspapers of Washington
would create their own statewide website at no cost to the state if legislators left in place that requirement that legals continue to appear first in print in the state’s newspapers. WNPA members believe it is imperative newspapers remain the primary provider of vital government information. That’s why it asks all newspapers in the state of Washington to upload their legal advertisements to this statewide site.
There is a small charge to help support the site – 15 cents per legal. But that is a very small price to keep legal advertisements in our print newspapers where readers expect to find them. Other states are beginning to lose this battle. Please help us keep those forces at bay. If you have questions about the site, or need help in uploading your legals, contact WNPA and help us protect legals in print newspapers.
Florek retires in Cathlamet She worked for three publishers over three decades Geri Florek, who spent 30 years in many roles making sure the Wahkiakum County Eagle made it to subscribers doorsteps, has decided to retire. A Northwest native, she grew up in Longview, Kelso and Castle Rock. She quit school when she was young, later earning her GED through Lower Columbia College and an associate’s degree in industrial maintenance pipe fitting. For a number of reasons, she never became a type fitter and instead worked as a bartender, taxi driver and grocery clerk. “I was kind of an overachiever,” Geri said. “I want to do a good job. I’m not proud of myself if I don’t give it the full effort.” After moving to Cathlamet with her husband John, an acquaintance encouraged her to apply for a job at the local newspaper. “I didn’t think I was going to get the job,” Geri said. “I told them I’d never touched a computer before, that I knew nothing about them and that I’d taken typing once in summer school on a manual.” Despite that lack of experience, in 1993, she was hired as a typesetter, joining Bob Nelson who was the publisher at the time, and his son Rick, who was working as a reporter and news editor. Along with all the typing, Geri was immediately enlisted in production. Every week she helped with layout, putting the paper together. “It took some learning and getting used to, but right away I really liked doing it,” Geri said. It was
the art of it, the language, and the people, three things it turns out, that come pretty naturally to Geri, a reader and a serious crafter who made ornaments for her coworkers every year. “Working for Bob was fun,” Geri said. “He was really a hoot. He was just the sweetest teddy bear. He was the best boss I ever had until Rick bought us air conditioning,” she said, laughing. “That elevated Rick to the best boss.” Rick took over as publisher for his father and for many years kept the paper going. Then, after battling cancer for several years, he passed away in June. “I didn’t get a chance to
grieve for him. I just had to put my head down and keep going. There was no time for me to fall apart or take a day off or two.” The rest of the staff stepped up as well, and Geri took on a lion’s share of what Rick did every week. “The only thing I knew how to do was make a paper, so I made a paper. I concentrated on making Rick’s paper,” she said. “I had to make what Rick would be proud of. That’s the way the paper had to go. I had a hard time letting go of that.” Geri retired earlier this fall. “I wanted to go before, but I wouldn’t leave Rick,”
she said “I’ve got my house, I want to enjoy it,” she added. “I like to decorate for the seasons and I have my craft room now and I can do my crafts.” “I feel like it was my privilege to work at the Eagle,” Geri said. “It was a job that was important. I could be proud of it. It was such an honor and I’m so thankful for what Bob and Lois and Rick did. They treated me very well.” This is a condensed version of a story from the Wahkiakum County Eagle by staff writer Dianna Zimmerman.
Geri Florek works in her craft room, where she plans to spend a lot more time in the months and years ahead.
Washington State Archives, Washington State Library, and Legacy Washington
Recording, preserving, and sharing Washington history. • Digitized government records
• Genealogy and history research support • Community digital archives online
• Historic Washington newspapers online • Traveling exhibits and publications
Visit sos.wa.gov for more info.
The Washington Newspaper December 2023 3
MAKE AN
IMPACT IN WASHINGTON STATE
Washington
IMPACTADS
• ImpactAds are small ads placed in community newspapers throughout the state. • You can buy the whole state or target Western or Eastern Washington. • Choose either small display ads or classified word ads. • Deadline is 5 p.m. the Tuesday prior to the week you want the ad to run.
Call today! 360-344-2938 WNPA PO Box 389, Port Townsend, WA 98368 ads@wnpa.com • www.wnpa.com 4 The Washington Newspaper December 2023
READERS 660,000
CIRCULATION 264,000
IDEAL FOR: Festivals Car shows Concerts Recruitment Wineries Resorts
Counties, cities have cash for tourism
Go get your share to bring visitors When you are looking for ways to bring in new revenue, spend a few minutes learning how your WNPA co-op ad network can help your bottom line. People are itching to get out and mingle and community events are filling the streets. But extra effort is necessary these days to let people know your town is open for business and welcoming tourists. Many just trust in online notices, but with ad blocking software and distrust of social media growing, it isn’t the solution it used to be. In this changing environment, trusted community newspapers across the state serving a highly educated, affluent and involved readership are a perfect place to get a message out. Every ad salesperson knows it is wise to identify the entities in your community with fat ad budgets. At this moment in time, don’t overlook the folks with hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend – your local governments! Every city and county in the state has a pool of money generated by local lodging taxes, and that money is supposed to be used to reach beyond local markets and bring people to town. If you have not already, you should ask your city and county governments (each has separate funds) for a report on where the lodging tax money is going (usually chambers of commerce and local non-profits) and then propose a marketing plan that reaches out across the region. WNPA ads are a perfect match for boosting community events because you can choose to advertise region-
Continued on Page 7
Ad network: Fairs & fests, golf courses, wineries, resorts all can benefit
STANDARD SIZE
Continued from Page 6 ally or statewide. Here’s how the WNPA program works: • You sell the ad to a local organization. • 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 salesperson 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 price to the client affordable by asking all member newspapers to publish the ads sold by other newspapers for free. The ads are small – just two columns wide by either two or four inches tall. One column by four or eight inches is also OK. They need to be produced in two different widths, to accommodate different column widths. 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. Need more information? Contact WNPA by emailing ads@wnpa.com or by calling 360-344-2938.
STATEWIDE..................$1,600 WESTERN......................$1,300 EASTERN..........................$700
SUPER SIZE NOTE
Produce ads in two sizes,‘Version A & Version B,’ to accommodate different page sizes.
STATEWIDE..................$3,200 WESTERN......................$2,600 EASTERN.......................$1,400
CLASSIFIEDS
STATEWIDE......................$325
The Washington Newspaper December 2023 5
Newspapers in education can help grow readership
If you don’t have a Newspapers in Education program going, it is a good way to introduce young readers to your paper and boost your circulation at the same time. Here are some frequently asked questions on NIE programs that can help you get started.
cational program must be accredited by either a state or national government. Home schools may qualify if they are accredited.
HOW MUCH MUST I CHARGE? To count as paid circulation, the newspaper must be paid at least 25% of the base rate for the newspaper. For WHAT QUALIFIES a single day delivery, AS AN NIE COPY? the base rate would be For most copies, the the cover price. A single basic rule requires that the copy rate of $.50 would newspaper be used in a mean the NIE copy must “classroom setting.” That be paid at a minimum has been defined as grade of $.13 ($.50 X .25 level kindergarten and rounded up.) For more above. Day care centers than one delivery the and nursery schools do not home delivered rate may qualify as classroom setbe used. Following the tings. To qualify, an edu- example already quoted,
the home delivered price might be $.37 so the NIE minimum price would be $.10. ($.37 X .25 rounded up.)
school. When soliciting funds from others, keep the following in mind: • All donations to the NIE program must be volHOW CAN SCHOOL untary and must be above COPIES BE FUNDED? the cost of any goods or There are many ways services that are involved. the newspaper that is Many newspapers add delivered to a classroom the opportunity to donate may be funded but the to their regular subscriprules about third party tion billing provided that funding are very precise. the donation to the NIE Direct sales to schools program is over and above or teachers do not need the normal cost of the any special rules other subscription, is voluntary than setting the basic and is listed separately as price as listed above. a donation. Your curHowever, many NIE rent subscribers already programs have chosen to believe reading newspasolicit funds from third pers is important, and so parties so newspapers they are some of the best can be delivered to the people to ask to support schools at no cost to the the program.
• Corporate/business sponsors: Sponsor donations must be over and above any other business transaction and must be independent of outside influences. If tied to an advertising contract, the donation must be over and above the regular cost of advertising and must be voluntary. • Vacation donation programs: Subscribers going on vacation may donate the money associated with the vacation term to the NIE program, provided the subscriber specifically permitted the money to be donated at the time the subscriber calls in the vacation stop and records are maintained to verify this election.
• Credit Balances: Frequently a subscriber’s account may have a credit balance left after delivery of the newspaper has stopped. The customer may have cancelled the newspaper, moved or died. It is acceptable to contact the subscriber, or the estate, and ask if the money may be donated to the NIE program. The subscriber must be given an opportunity to have the money returned to them. There must be a positive response from the subscriber before the money can be used for NIE. If the subscriber cannot be found then the unrefunded liability laws of the state determine what happens to the money.
Building Healthier Communities Local newspapers are working to provide access to high quality news coverage. Local dentists are working to provide access to high quality oral health care. We’re both working to build a stronger community. Thank you for everything you do.
wsda.org 6 The Washington Newspaper December 2023
The Washington Newspaper December 2023 7
JOB BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR The Washington Coalition for Open Government a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works to preserve access to government records and meetings, is looking for an administrative Director. The position will start as a part-time position with the possibility of going fulltime within two years. This is a contract position. At this time we are not able to provide benefits. The job is located in Redmond, Washington with possibilities for remote, hybrid work as well as in-office time. Salary: $37.50 per hour; $3,000 per month. Duties include answering phones, organizing files, updating listservs, scheduling and recording all meetings, and maintaining calendars. Also, assisting the Executive Director in planning and managing annual events and fundraisers. We require three or more years’ experience providing administrative/office support or 2-3 years experience in government or journalism. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Executive Director Juli Bunting at info@washingtoncog.org.
sional sales experience is a big plus and media experience is a definite asset, but neither are mandatory! We will train! We offer a base salary of $35k, with unlimited commission opportunity! We also have a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, life insurance, a 401k retirement plan with company match, and paid time off including vacation and sick leave. To apply please email your resume to careers@ soundpublishing.com with a subject line of “ATTN: MMSCWHIDBEY”
for digital media and journalism, working knowledge of AP Style, a strong understanding of current web technologies (responsive design, WordPress themes, PHP, etc.), experience creating wireframes with Figma, Freeform or other similar tools, experience with HTML, Adobe Creative Suite, CSS, JavaScript, experience with audio and video editing, experience with newsletter builds and sends, demonstrable digital design skills with a strong portfolio of mobile and desktop designs and at least two years’ professional experience. Preferred skills and SALES CONSULTANT qualifications include a (ENUMCLAW) Bachelor’s degree in design, Come work with us journalism or related field as an outside multimeand experience in web dia sales consultant at production, digital illustrathe Enumclaw Courier tion skills, home base in, or Herald. This is a full-time, within driving distance, of salary PLUS commission Whatcom County, Washingposition (55k-65k total ton. Some remote work will compensation) with an ini- be approved. tial three-month commisPay ranges from $65,000 sion guarantee, and a six to $70,000 DOE. Commonth sales performance petitive benefits include full bonus! health, vision and dental We offer Medical/Viinsurance, holiday and sick sion/Dental/Life/AD&D, leave pay and generous and LTD insurance, EAP 401(k) plan. & Wellness plans, 401k To apply: Send a letter retirement plan with com- of application, resume and pany match, paid holidays, work samples to Managvacation & sick leave. ing Editor Rhonda Prast, -Must have a valid WA rhondaprast@cascadiadaily. SALES CONSULTANT driver’s license with accom (WHIDBEY) tive vehicle insurance and Come work with us reliable vehicle OUTDOORS COLUMNIST at The Whidbey NewsPlease email your Does your love for the Times and South Whidresume to careers@ outdoors burn alongside a bey Record, divisions of soundpublishing.com passion for writing? CasSound Publishing, Inc. with the subject line of cadia Daily News is on the We are looking for an “ATTN:ECHSALES” lookout for an additional Outside Salesperson for contributor to write about our office on Whidbey DIGITAL PRODUCER/ the outdoors once a month Island to generate sales DEVELOPER in our print and online for our print and online Cascadia Daily News in editions. We’re open to products. Bellingham needs a digital a broad range of activiMust have a valid WA ties, but particular needs State Driver’s License, ac- producer/developer to help are for mountain biking/ tive vehicle insurance, and build our products. You will need a passion kayaking columns and a reliable vehicle. Profes8 The Washington Newspaper December 2023
profiles. Basic photo skills are a bonus. You won’t get rich, but maybe semifamous, and it’s a paid gig. Interested? Contact Ron Judd, executive editor at ronjudd@cascadiadaily. com.
sica@chronline.com.
Company, publisher of the award-winning commuREPORTER nity newspapers Lynden Sound Publishing Inc. is Tribune and Ferndale seeking general assignment Record, has an immediate reporters-photographers opening for a full-time for the city of Bainbridge news reporter. Island. The successful appliExperience is preferred cant will be responsible REPORTER but will consider recent col- for covering community The Reflector, a comlege graduates. The schednews and features in north munity newspaper based ule may require evening Whatcom County. The out of Battle Ground, and/or weekend work. ideal candidate will be cuWashington, is hiring for a We offer a competitive rious in nature, work with full-time general reporter hourly wage and benefits a sense of urgency, bring a position to join our news package including health good command of English team. insurance, paid time off (va- and AP style, a journalism Candidates should have cation, sick, and holidays), degree, a willingness to a bachelor’s degree in and 401K with employer immerse into civic, culjournalism, communicamatch, and $18 per hour tural, business, education, tions or a related field, or starting wage. Part-time and and agriculture. Applicant equivalent experience full-time positions available. must be familiar with The Reflector offers Email us your cover let- photography, InDesign medical and dental cover- ter, resume, and include five and social media. age.The position is for 40 examples of your best work Lewis Publishing offers hours per week and starts to careers@soundpublisha competitive compensaat $19 per hour. ing.com with a subject line tion and benefits package To apply, send a cover of “ATTN:BIRREP” including health insurletter, resume and exance, paid time off (vacaamples of your work to REPORTER tion, sick, and holidays), Continued on Page 9 Editor Jessica Keller, JesLewis Publishing
With over 60 years of experience, we know journalism. From public records to protecting journalists, from defamation claims to business needs, large and small publishers turn to us. DWT.COM • Anchorage • Bellevue • Los Angeles • New York • Portland • San Francisco • Seattle • Shanghai • Washington D.C.
Continued from Page 8 and 401K Profit Sharing Plan. To apply send or email your cover letter, resume and a variety of published clips (3-5) to: Publisher Michael Lewis (mdlewis@lyndentribune. com) or to P.O. Box 153, Lynden, WA, 98264.
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
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Award winning community newspaper in Pend Oreille County, is looking for an associate editor. We’re located in Newport on the Washington/ Idaho border, in the very Northeast corner of Washington. The perfect candidate is an experienced reporter/ editor. Knowledge of AP style and competency in photography is required. InDesign/Photoshop knowledge and layout experience desired, but not required. Email resume, cover letter and writing samples to michellenewportminer@ gmail.com. ADVERTISING MANAGER Free Press Publishing is looking for an advertising manager. The successful candidate will personally handle a local client list, manage preprints and oversee advertising in multiple newspapers and websites in northeast Washington. The position is based at the Cheney Free Press in Cheney, home of Eastern Washington University. Salary is negotiable and includes a base plus commission. We offer six paid holidays per year, sick leave and vacation after a year. To apply, submit a cover letter, resume and references to Owner/Publisher Roger Harnack at roger@ cheneyfreepress.com.
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