Duo buying Washington state papers dedicated to ‘rejuvenating local journalism’

The following excerpt was sent out from yoursourceone.com:

In a heartening turn for local journalism, the Seattle Times reports five newspapers in north-central Washington, that were on the brink of closure, have found new hope. Carol Forhan, the publisher of the Leavenworth Echo and its four sister publications, managed to keep these weeklies afloat against significant odds, especially during the devastating business impacts of the pandemic.

“This has been a journey of perseverance, both for my family and the community,” Forhan told the Seattle Times. Forhan recently decided to sell her papers to a passionate Port Townsend duo.

The acquisition by Terry Ward and Amy Yaley, the minds behind Ward Media LLC, includes the Leavenworth Echo, Cashmere Valley Record, Lake Chelan Mirror, Brewster’s Quad City Herald, and the monthly Wenatchee Business Journal.

For Ward, a seasoned newspaper manager, and Yaley, this acquisition is an exciting opportunity. Ward, with a history stretching back to his high school newspaper days in 1989, emphasized the potential of these papers. “Our focus will be on rejuvenating local journalism. I believe there’s much room for growth, and we intend to invest accordingly,” he commented.

The papers currently have a modest team of five full-timers, two part-time circulation employees, and five correspondents. Ward plans to increase this workforce, emphasizing hiring reporters for each publication, bolstering the digital side of the business, and incorporating account executives to drive advertising.

Read more here.