Gazette changes hands

Gordon Forgey, publisher of the Whitman County Gazette and Colfax Daily Bulletin, has announced the sale of the papers to Free Press Publishing based in Cheney.

Forgey, publisher since 1985 and owner since 2001, said the new owners will take over operations on March 1. Roger Harnack, publisher, and Bill Ifft are the owners of the Free Press group.

Forgey encourages support for the new owners and predicts an easy transition.

“They know the region and the people,” he said. “Most important, they know the value of local, independent news.”

“Despite all the talk and gloomy predictions about newspapers, local news is vital to rural communities. Whether that is delivered on paper or electronically, legitimate news is an engine of the survivability of every community. Its importance cannot be overstated,” he said. “That is why it was important to get the right caretaker for the Gazette and Bulletin.

“It is with profound gratitude that I was able to lead the Gazette and serve Whitman County over the years. I thank everyone who helped, whether staffer, subscriber, advertiser, tipster, correspondent or dedicated free-lance photographer.”

“We’re excited that the Whitman County Gazette and Daily Bulletin have joined our family of eastern Washington newspapers,” Harnack said. “The newspaper and its outstanding staff are a good fit.”

Other Free Press Publishing newspapers are the Ritzville Adams County Journal, Davenport Times, Odessa Record, Cheney Free Press, West Plains Extra, Fairchild Extra and Spokane Valley News Herald. With the Gazette and Daily Bulletin, the eastern Washington-owned and operated company will reach about 30,000 homes across four counties.

“By clustering with other newspapers, the Colfax-based publication will benefit from economies of scale,” Harnack said. “That is expected to help boost digital and other advertising and readership products available in Whitman County.” Harnack stated it will also help give rural eastern Washington a stronger voice.

“Most of our staff has grown up or lived in eastern Washington for years,” he said. “As a result, we want to preserve our rural culture, heritage and way of life. That means preserving the Gazette as the voice of Whitman County, and Colfax.”

Harnack credited Forgey for putting together a top-notch staff that continues to thrive and represent the community, despite the downturn of much larger publications in metropolitan areas.

“Community newspapers are not dead, as demonstrated by the Gazette,” Harnack said. “We’re excited about the future of local media in our part of the world.”

The imprint of the new owners will be gradual. At first, the biggest difference will be that the Gazette will be printed in Cheney where the company press is located. This change alone, they say, will dramatically alter the financial picture of the Gazette and help to ensure the continuing success of the paper.