Color Scheme
You may have seen reports in local news media that Spokesman-Review Executive Editor Rob Curley, who is also the founder of Comma Community Journalism Lab, has been placed on paid administrative leave while an independent review of a newsroom matter takes place.
Your support for independent, local journalism and for Comma is crucially important, so we want you to know the Comma Board is fully engaged and in support of Rob and his vision for local journalism. We also support the remarkable team of journalists and other staff at The Spokesman-Review.
Taking the time needed for a fair and independent review is important to us.
Comma and the Cowles Company, which currently owns The Spokesman-Review, remain committed to the plan to transition The Spokesman-Review to a community-operated news organization. An incredible number of people and local institutions have agreed to invest in growing community news and engagement here. With your support, we have built a strong foundation for the future. Nothing about this situation changes that.
The Spokesman-Review’s transition to Comma is on track for Sept. 30, as announced Sept. 10 by Comma Board Chair William Simer at the Northwest Passages Book Club.
We are available to you for a conversation any time. Please reach out if you’d like to talk. Regardless, we’ll be back in touch with updates when we have them.
Thank you for believing in our mission. It’s more important than ever.
Sincerely,
Bill Simer
Comma Board Chair
bill@comma.cm | (509) 994-0950
Scott de Rozic
Comma Board Member & Comma Co-Founder
scott@comma.cm | (310) 907-6310
Yvonne Esquibel-Smith
Director of Development & Community Engagement
yvonne@comma.cm | (509) 220-0454