Color Scheme
I want to thank you personally for your generosity, encouragement and steadfast support as we work diligently on the successful transfer of The Spokesman-Review. That commitment was on full display Wednesday night when a sold-out audience joined us at the Bing Crosby Theater for an inspiring evening with bestselling author Michael Connelly. So many of you shared your continued support for transforming The Spokesman-Review into one of the nation’s first community-owned newspapers.
We are immensely grateful to the more than 3,000 of you who joined us for book talks, live journalism events and candidate forums this fall. Thank you also to the readers and Comma donors who reach out every day by phone, email and in person to express your support, concerns and hopes for the future of our newspaper.
We recognize that many of you have wanted more information in recent weeks. Our public comments have been measured as we respected the integrity of the Spokesman-Review’s internal investigation, avoided adding to speculation and remained focused on completing the transfer to community ownership.
Yes, the pace has been slower than any of us wanted. Change is hard and we understand that our newsroom is not immune to concerns about the future. Comma’s leadership is listening closely to all who have reached out to share questions and ideas for moving forward. KHQ reported recently, and the Inlander this week, that the newspaper’s extensive internal investigation found no evidence of harassment or discrimination by Spokesman-Review Editor Rob Curley, who has been on leave since August.
We are not able to comment on the details of this matter. But we want to assure our readers and generous donors that Comma is steadily moving forward, in coordination with Publisher Stacey Cowles, who has reaffirmed his commitment to transfer The Spokesman-Review to community ownership and Comma’s stewardship. We expect to have a final agreement and begin the transfer in early November.
We will share more information soon as the transition progresses. We recognize the importance of keeping you informed, and we take that responsibility seriously.
As we shared Wednesday night, Northwest Passages turned nine this month. Our in-person events continue to bring this community together every month to share the stories, issues and ideas that matter most to Spokane and the Inland Northwest. It’s also the foundation of the nonprofit Comma Community Journalism Lab and our successful $2 million fundraising campaign this past year, made possible by the extraordinary generosity of this community.
The transition of The Spokesman-Review to nonprofit ownership is the next important milestone. And that’s just the beginning as we work together to build a sustainable future for local journalism.
So many communities have lost their local newspapers. Your trust, generosity and determination have brought us this far. We are deeply grateful for all you have made possible and remain committed to completing this historic transition.
With gratitude,
George Brunt
Comma President and Board Chairman
george@comma.cm
P.S. The Comma team is easy to reach:
Yvonne Esquibel Smith
Director of Development and Community Engagement
yvonne@comma.cm | 509-220-0454
Scott DeRozic
Co-Founder, Executive Director
scott@comma.cm | 310-907-6310