The Spokesman-Review has announced a shift to nonprofit status to enhance its commitment to community journalism amid declining financial returns from traditional newspaper models. Owner Stacey Cowles is donating the paper to the Comma Community Journalism Laboratory, contingent on raising $2 million in donations. This strategic pivot aims to partner with local educational institutions to engage younger audiences and leverage philanthropic support, emphasizing the importance of community journalism for sustaining the newspaper's legacy.
Newspapers won't offer much financial return for investors going forward, particularly given the need to grow digital subscribers; the model of partnering with local colleges and school districts fits extremely well with our need to engage younger audiences; we're convinced there is strong philanthropic support for saving newspapers that practice community journalism.
Having twice as much gives the paper some cushion and some real ability to face a down year and invest in systems that will improve its ability to reach digital-centric audiences.
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