By the News Study Committee, LWV of Washington

As they begin the task of writing their report, members of the LWVWA committee studying the impact of the decline of local and regional newspapers in Washington state note that at last count they had interviewed 32 elected officials, scholars, civic and public health leaders, journalists, and researchers. They have also reviewed more than 400 articles, ranging from formal academic studies to newspaper accounts and podcast transcripts.  

“We’ve had some great interviews with people across the state, from editors of small-town weeklies to federal- and state-level elected officials,” said Dee Anne Finken of the Clark County League, who chairs the committee with Kittitas County League President Delores Irwin. “People have been very interested in sharing their insights with the group because they believe local and regional news operations are important to the health of our democracy.” 

Before the committee completes the research for its initial submission, its members expect to complete a few more interviews, including with Senator Maria Cantwell, who has sponsored a key piece of legislation to support local news operations. 

The committee is specifically studying newspapers because studies show the bulk of local news that television, radio, and other venues report originates with local newspapers. Finken said the committee is working to look at the situation in Washington state and how the decline of local and regional news operations impacts civic engagement, political participation, partisanship, and public health and government oversight, including oversight of publicly financed projects. “There have been a number of national studies that draw some direct links to these developments, all of which impact our communities.”  

The situation in Washington state isn’t as dire as it is in many states in terms of newspaper closures. "We have only one county where no newspaper is published, compared to other states, where upwards of a handful of counties have no publication to call their own,” Finken said. “Still, Washington has been hit hard in terms of staff cutbacks and layoffs, and newspapers that have been dramatically reduced in quality and size.” 

The project will also report on responses to the reduction in news operations, including an uptick in nonprofits, community outreach efforts, and legislation. 

“We’ve had good interest in our study,” Finken said, noting that committee members have presented brief overviews of their study work to two local Leagues this year. The committee will submit its report to the reading committee June 1 and plans to make a presentation about its findings at the LWVWA state council in Everett in June. 

Reading committee members include Lucy Copass of the LWV of Whatcom County, Carolyn Maddux of the LWV of Mason County, Karen Raymond of the LWV of Kittitas County, Beth Erickson formerly of the LWV of Clark County, and Judie Stanton of the LWV of Clark County, who is also the committee chair.