The Salem Reporter staff in the office. From left: Rachel Alexander, Jake Thomas, Saphara Harrell and Troy Brynelson. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) My inbox and social media feeds almost daily pile up with accounts about the fate of news in the United States. The theme is the same: the news[Read More…]
Tag: COMMENTARY
Uncategorized Thanks for getting coffee with us, Salem
The Salem Reporter staff in the office. From left: Rachel Alexander, Jake Thomas, Saphara Harrell and Troy Brynelson. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) It’s been too long since the Salem Reporter crew took a break from the newsroom to talk with our readers and the community. On Friday, we held a[Read More…]
National reports underscore urgency to sustain local news in places like Salem
Les Zaitz, editor and CEO, Salem Reporter (Photo by David Zaitz) Last week was not a good week to keep up with news about my profession. Headline after headline, tweet after tweet, told the same story: Local news is in trouble. More layoffs. More consolidations. Less news. Most of the[Read More…]
Uncategorized COMMENTARY: Digging into high-profile Salem story takes patience, care
Reporter Saphara Harrell of Salem Reporter. I was there the day police taped up the parking lot to Goodwill in west Salem. I rushed over as cop cars filled the lot and bystanders stood on the sidewalk, still in shock after a man was shot and killed on the floor[Read More…]
Trust is stronger in local media, and that’s good for Salem
NOTE: Reader reaction added below. As the country readies for nationally televised impeachment hearings, America’s trust in the press is more in doubt than ever. For those of us in the profession, that’s deeply troubling. If readers don’t trust what we report, the hard work of ferreting out the truth[Read More…]
On Salem Reporter anniversary, columnist explains interest in sharing with the Salem community
Mary Louise VanNatta, Salem Reporter columnist Growing up in the public relations business, I have been around a lot of journalists. I’ve known Les Zaitz for a number of years and when I heard he was starting an online news publication, the Salem Reporter, I was very intrigued. Many of[Read More…]
Uncategorized For reporter, finding the unique in Salem is her quest
I’m a relatively new face here at the Salem Reporter. I took the job here in June, refreshed to see a group of people so passionate about the information they were providing to the community. I’m hoping that my reporting here serves as a balance. Yes, you need to hear[Read More…]
Uncategorized Watchdog work balances with Salem slice-of-life stories to keep reporter going
Rachel Alexander, reporter at Salem Reporter. (Fred Joe/Special to Salem Reporter) The past year has been something of a whirlwind – moving to a new state, starting a new job and getting to know a new community as a reporter. Salem Reporter has been one of the most fun and[Read More…]
Uncategorized Getting story behind the story provides strong journalism for Salem
Troy Brynelson, reporter at Salem Reporter. (File/Salem Reporter) It’s hard for me to believe it’s been a year at Salem Reporter. As a reporter, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily churn — with news seemingly breaking at all hours — and forget how it’s turned and rolled[Read More…]
After a year in Salem, reporter’s faith in the power of journalism is revived
Aubrey Wieber of Salem Reporter. (Salem Reporter/file) When I started at Salem Reporter, I was confused and disheartened with journalism. The declining financial condition of the profession had left me unemployed. As I was planning my next step, I often thought about the growing, anti-journalism sentiment in this country. Everywhere[Read More…]
