By QUINTON SMITH/Lincoln Chronicle
Three years ago two University of Oregon journalism professors set out to draw a picture of the condition of local news in Oregon.
Their report documented the declining number of news outlets in Oregon and highlighted some newly emerging local news providers like YachatsNews, now Lincoln Chronicle. The report also shared insights from dozens of journalists and civic organization leaders who were unanimous in their concern that the diminishing amount of quality local news negatively impacts public life in Oregon.
The UO’s Agora Center professors recently updated their 2022 report by stating “Two years later, the picture is even more concerning.”
Since the 2022 report was published, the professors wrote “the urgency of the local news crisis has deepened — nationally and here in Oregon. A report from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University found local newspapers around the country closed at a higher rate in 2023 than the year before, for an average of about two closures per week —for a total of almost 2,900 newspapers lost since 2005.
Since 2022 in Oregon, the report said, a number of newspapers have closed including the Medford Mail Tribune and a county-seat newspaper in St. Helens owned by Salem-based Country Media. Two large Oregon-based newspaper groups were told to a Mississippi-based chain, which immediately began newsroom cuts.
Although it launched 6½ years ago as YachatsNews, the newly renamed Lincoln Chronicle is one of the growing digital news sites trying to buck that trend.
Lincoln County has 50,000 residents and thousands of others interested in what goes on here. There are seven cities, a county government, a countywide school district and dozens of special service districts for fire, water, sewer, recreation and other services. There are busy ports, small and large businesses, and an ocean to the west and national forest to the east all with lots of stories that need telling.
While oftentimes we feel we are just scratching the surface, our small staff of two reporters, one editor and 3-5 freelancers are busy trying to bring the community just a handful of the most important and hopefully interesting stories each week. Here are some very recent examples of local stories that you are not seeing anywhere else:
- The chaos and dysfunction at Siletz Valley School that’s leading to budget cuts and staff layoffs;
- A trip to sea with a Waldport High School biology class to demonstrate the efforts of Oregon Sea Grant to interest students in science;
- The threat of closure by the Trump Administration of the Angell Job Corps Center north of Yachats and what that uncertainty means;
- The potential effect of diminishing Canadian tourism on the coastal economy this summer; and
- And several stories this budget season about cities, the school district, the county and even the local hospital system struggling with finances.
We do these basic, civic stories because we believe that an informed community is a better community.
And that’s why every June for the past four years we ask readers to help fund our operations.
Last year, readers provided 64 percent of our monthly operating funds. As stated in our initial fundraising story June 6, our 2025 budget of $150,000 is substantially higher this year because of the addition of a Newport-based reporter to our staff and the resulting salary, health insurances and expenses that position carries.
We think that expense is worth every dime for better coverage of schools, county and Newport government, housing and social services. We hope you do too.
So far this month, we’ve received $13,000 in tax deductible donations toward our fundraising goal of $40,000 to 50,000. Just last week we announced that a generous (and previous) supporter is matching all donations up to $50,000 – giving you a chance to double the impact of your giving.
We hope you take advantage of that by the end of the month.
So, here’s how to help.
- Some readers just like to write a check and be done with it. If you are one of those people, please make the check out to Lincoln Chronicle/YachatsNews and mail it to P.O. Box 284, Yachats, Ore. 97498.
- Others prefer to donate electronically — either one time or via smaller, monthly amounts. Our PayPal account can handle both methods. Simply go here (link here) to make a one-time donation or set up an automatic monthly donation.
- This year we also have available a new way to give – the gifting of stock to an account we have set up at Fidelity Investments. If you are interested in learning more about that, contact me via email at YachatsNews@gmail.com or call me at 503-970-3867.
- Or, if you own a business or head an organization, you can support us and help yourselves by advertising and getting your message in front of 170,000 readers a month. Our ad director, Tiffany Sullivan of Blue Sprocket Brokerage can be of great help. Here is a link to our advertising rate card and Tiffany’s contact information.
Community meetings begin
A reminder that the Lincoln Chronicle staff is holding two community meetings this week in Newport and Yachats to introduce our staff, explain our operations, plans for the future, the state of local news in Oregon and take any and all questions.
- The Newport meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, in the main meeting room of the Newport Recreation Center, 225 S.E. Avery St. Light refreshments will be available.
- For south county residents, there is also a community meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 19 in the Civic meeting room of the Yachats Commons.
- A second Newport-area community meeting is planned for 3 p.m. Thursday, June 26 at the Newport Public Library, 35 N.W. Nye St.
As always, if you have questions, concerns or ideas please email me at YachatsNews@gmail.com
Thank you for reading and for your support.
— Quinton Smith/editor & board chair
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