Weekly News makes news

About 60 La Conner area residents filled the Civic Garden Club Sept. 25 to consider the future of the La Conner Weekly News.

Publisher Ken Stern, 69, has made clear his plans to retire in December, after seven-and-a-half years of ownership. In his efforts to sell the newspaper over the last two years, he's had several nibbles from prospective buyers, but "it hasn't gone very far," he said. None has made an offer for the business, priced at $250,000, which is less than its 2023 gross revenue of more than $280,000.

The paper is profitable, and Stern believes it could bring in $400,000 in annual revenue in the right hands with a full-time managing editor and an ad manager.

"But I'm tired," he said. "I'm toast. I'm burned to a crisp."

Two issues have hampered Stern's vision of new ownership.

He believes mid-career journalists have the skills and energy to take his business plan and run with it. Trouble is, journalism pay is notoriously low, so very few journalists have the money to buy or the credit to finance $250,000. Then factor in the cost of housing. Prospective buyers could buy the paper, or they could move to La Conner, Stern said, but none so far could afford to do both.

June 26, Stern told La Conner Weekly News readers in his seventh anniversary editorial that he wouldn't publish the newspaper beyond 2024 and set a final issue date of Dec. 18. 

Andrew Ashmore and Aven Wright-McIntosh, among others, took notice and started taking action. Ashmore spoke with Stern throughout the summer and researched options. Wright-McIntosh joined forces in mid-September and planned the Sept. 25 meeting.

It's rare in this day and age of corporate publishers and ruthless hedge-fund owners for a community to get a say in preserving the publication that serves as its voice. 

"Do people here want to save the newspaper?" Ashmore asked the audience. Almost everyone raised their hand. "How much does each of us value local news and what are we willing to do?"

Ashmore's research pointed him towards creation of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that could accept donations for community ownership of the paper. About 400 American newspapers are community owned and operated. 

He also cited the Skagit Valley Clean Energy Alliance as a recent example of a successful 501(c)3 organization. Alliance board member Bob Raymond said it took two to three months to create the 501(c)3 and file paperwork with the state of Washington.

The audience seemed to back the idea but spent a good amount of time debating details about a board of directors, its editorial oversight of the Weekly News, how it would pay Stern, who might take his place and whether a 501(c)3 could be formed in time to officially buy the Weekly News before Stern's Dec. 18 deadline. 

"We need the 501(c)3 to start tomorrow," said Tony Harrah, Stern's newspaper distribution volunteer. "The paper still has to come out every Wednesday."

Ashmore agreed that time and continuity are of the essence.

Eventually, longtime La Conner civic supporter Jerry Willins suggested creation of an interim board of directors of a few people who could lay the foundation for the community's purchase of the Weekly News while it creates the 501(c)3 organization and develops a transition plan with Stern. 

Twenty-one people volunteered to serve on an interim or permanent board or expressed some other interest to preserve the Weekly News beyond 2024, including Pleasant Ridge resident and retired journalist Gale Fiege.

As for the final publishing date, she asked Stern, "Can't you be flexible at all?"

He said he could, but the financial transaction "has to be a lock." Stern offered owner financing with 50% down to prospective buyers and would develop a similar payment plan for the 501(c)3 group.

"I need a price that's fair to me," Stern said.

As the meeting wrapped up and the crowd left, Ashmore said he was pleased with the positive reaction and engagement. The turnout exceeded his expectations.

"It was an overwhelming level of support," he said.

Wright-McIntosh printed 50 "Make it Happen" worksheets for the audience and there were none left.

Willins expressed optimism about the future of the Weekly News.

"I'm really jazzed about this," he said.