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The Spokesman-Review

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The Spokesman-Reviewis a dailybroadsheetnewspaperbased inSpokane, Washington,the city's sole remaining daily publication. It has the third-highest readership among daily newspapers in the state, with most of its readership base ineastern Washingtonandnorthern Idaho.

The Spokesman-Review
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Cowles Company
PublisherWilliam Stacey Cowles
EditorRob Curley[1]
FoundedJune 29, 1894;130 years ago(1894-06-29)inSpokane, Washington,U.S.(merger)
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane,Washington
CountryUnited States
Circulation56,629 (as of 2022)[2]
ISSN2993-1274
OCLCnumber11102529
Websitespokesman.com

History

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TheReview Buildingand tower was designed byChauncey B. Seatonto make use of the unusually shaped plot and make it prominent in the center of Riverside Avenue. Seen here in 1907 and 2012.

The Spokesman-Reviewwas formed from the merger of theSpokane Falls Review(1883–1894) and theSpokesman(1890–1893) in 1893 and first published under the present name on June 29, 1894.[3][4]TheSpokane Falls Reviewwas a joint venture between local businessman, A.M. Cannon andHenry PittockandHarvey W. ScottofThe Oregonian.[5][6]The Spokesman-Review later absorbed its competing sister publication, the afternoonSpokane Daily Chronicle.[7][8]Long co-owned, the two combined their sports departments in late 1981 and news staffs in early 1983.[9]The middle name "Daily" was dropped in January 1982,[10][11]and its final edition was printed 32 years ago on Friday, July 31, 1992.[7][8]

The newspaper formerly published three editions, a metro edition covering Spokane and the outlying areas, aSpokane Valleyedition and an Idaho edition coveringnorthern Idaho.After a large downsizing of the newsroom staff in November 2007, the paper moved to a single zoned edition emphasizing localized "Voices" sections staffed primarily by non-union employees. The "Voices" section still caters to the three original editions, publishing a Valley "Voices", a North Spokane "Voices" and a South Spokane "Voices".

Owner of both papers since 1897,[9]W.H. Cowles set theChronicleon a course to be independent andThe Spokesman-Reviewto supportRepublican Partycauses.Timemagazine related the papers' success gaining lowered rates for freight carried to theNorthwestand an improved park system and that helped the region. Increasing its reputation for comprehensive local news and by opposing "gambling, liquor and prostitution,"The Spokesman-Reviewgained popularity. The paper's opposition to building theGrand Coulee Damwas not quite so universally applauded, and when it opposed theNew Dealand theFair Deal,it so disturbedPresidentHarry Trumanthat during a visit in 1948 he declaredThe Spokesman-Reviewto be one of the "two worst" newspapers in the nation (Chicago Tribune,the other).[12][13][14]TheScripps League's Pressclosed in 1939, making Cowles the only newspaper publisher in Spokane. Cowles created four weeklies, theIdaho Farmer,Washington Farmer,Oregon Farmer,andUtah Farmer.[15]Cowles died in 1946. When William H. Cowles Jr. succeeded his father as publisher, James Bracken received much more news and editorial control as managing editor.[15]

The Spokesman-Reviewhas been described as moderate-to-liberal, especially in issues aroundhate groupsin the region. In 1997, threeextreme-rightmilitantswere tried and eventually convicted of bombing the Spokane Valley office ofThe Spokesman-Reviewas well as an abortion clinic (seeCitizens Rule Book).[16]

The Spokesman-Reviewis also one of the few remaining family-owned newspapers in the United States. It is owned byCowles Company,which also ownsKHQ-TV/Spokane andThe KHQ Television Group.While the newspaper wins awards, it also draws opposition from local critics and activists who suspect the Cowles family of using its alleged vast local media influence to sway public opinion. In particular, a (1997–2004) issue regarding a public-private partnership wherein the Cowles family may have profited, some claim, up to $20 million. This is referred to as the "River Park SquareParking Garage "issue. The newspaper underwent an independent review by the WashingtonNews Councilregarding its River Park Square coverage and was found to be at fault for its news bias.[17][18]

In 2004, SpokanemayorJames E. Westbecame the target of asting operationconducted byThe Spokesman-Review.[19][20]Some journalists and academics criticized the paper for what they saw as a form of entrapment.[21]West was later cleared of criminal charges by theFBIbut not before the mayor lost arecallvote by the citizens of Spokane in December 2005;[22][23]the following summer, West died of cancer.[24][25][26]

According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, as reported in thePuget Sound Business Journalon April 29, 2010, the newspaper's average Sunday circulation totaled 95,939 and weekly circulation averaged 76,291. That represented a year-over-year decrease of about 10.5 percent; a trend widely reflected during the same year in newspapers throughout Washington state. With the demise of the print edition of theSeattle Post-Intelligencer,The Spokesman-Reviewis the state's third-largest paper, after theSeattle TimesandThe News-TribuneofTacoma.

A 2017 Rotary Club article stated that under editor Rob Curley, hired in 2016, circulation increased from 68,000 to 82,000 in one year.[27]

In April 2020, the paper ceased printing its Saturday edition.[28]

References

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  1. ^"Masthead".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedMarch 2,2017.
  2. ^"The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy"(PDF).League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund.November 14, 2022.
  3. ^Dyar, Ralph E. (1952).News for an Empire: The Story of the Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Washington, and of the Field It Serves.Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton.
  4. ^Kershner, Jim (May 19, 2007)."Bumpy beginning, but quite a ride".Spokesman-Review.RetrievedNovember 17,2016.
  5. ^Reeves, Ian."Review Tower".Eastern Washington University. Spokane Historical.RetrievedAugust 30,2021.
  6. ^"Then and Now: The Spokane Falls Review tower | the Spokesman-Review".
  7. ^ab"It's been great..."Spokane Chronicle.July 31, 1992. p. A1.
  8. ^abBonino, Rick (August 1, 1992)."Chroniclegives way to new era ".Spokesman-Review.p. B1.
  9. ^ab"Paper was part of history it covered".Spokane Chronicle.July 31, 1992. p. H8.
  10. ^"Final fireside edition".Spokane Daily Chronicle.January 9, 1982. p. 1.
  11. ^"Final edition".Spokane Chronicle.January 11, 1982. p. 1.
  12. ^"This Congress history's worst says Truman".Eugene Register-Guard.Associated Press. June 9, 1948. p. 1.
  13. ^Felknor, Rhea (June 9, 1948)."Truman blames 2 newspapers for" worst U.S. Congress "".Spokesman-Review.p. 1.
  14. ^"When Harry Gave Us Hell".Spokesman-Review.Cowles Publishing Company. September 9, 2007.RetrievedNovember 17,2016.
  15. ^ab"The Inland Empire's Voice".TIME.January 7, 1952. Archived fromthe originalon January 8, 2012.RetrievedOctober 28,2007.
  16. ^Morlin, Bill (November 5, 1997)."Spokane Bombers Get Life Terms Barbee, Berry Still Reject Court's Dominion Over Them".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedOctober 7,2020.
  17. ^Pryne, Eric (May 11, 2007)."Report faults Spokane paper for news bias".Seattle Times.
  18. ^Richards, Bill; Rowe, Clifford G. (May 2007)."Reporting On Yourself — An Independent Analysis of The Spokesman-Review's Coverage of and Role in the Spokane River Park Square Redevelopment Project".Washington News Council. Archived fromthe originalon May 16, 2008.RetrievedAugust 18,2008.
  19. ^Smith, Steven A. (May 5, 2005)."Stories result of a 3-year investigation".Spokesman-Review.p. A1.
  20. ^"West tied to sex abuse in '70s, using office to lure young men".Spokesman-Review.May 5, 2005. p. A1.
  21. ^Postman, David (December 2, 2005)."Even the mayor wonders: Who is the real Jim West?".The Seattle Times.RetrievedJanuary 3,2009.
  22. ^Camden, Jim (December 7, 2005)."Voters recall West".Spokesman-Review.p. A1.
  23. ^Wiley, John K. (December 7, 2006)."Spokane Mayor Jim West says he is at peace after recall".Moscow-Pullman Daily News.(Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 4A.
  24. ^"A Hidden Life".Frontline.November 14, 2006.PBS.
  25. ^Wiley, John K. (July 24, 2006)."Former Spokane mayor James E. West dies".Moscow-Pullman Daily News.(Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 4A.
  26. ^"West, James E."Spokesman-Review.(obituary). July 25, 2006. p. C6.
  27. ^Rehberg, Charles (December 18, 2017)."Spokesman Review -- Rob Curley".The Rotary Club.RetrievedDecember 22,2019.
  28. ^"Content will shift after S-R's final day of Saturday home delivery".The Spokesman-Review.April 18, 2020.RetrievedNovember 7,2020.

Further reading

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47°39′28″N117°25′34″W/ 47.6578°N 117.4262°W/47.6578; -117.4262

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