Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
As a member of the “Fourth Estate,” our newspaper staff regularly comes in close contact with people from all walks of life. Knowing that, we are doing our part to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, colloquially dubbed “Wuhan flu” and “WuFlu.”
Like you, we are washing our hands, covering coughs and sanitizing everything in sight. We’re also taking the unusual step of closing our offices to public access, in an effort to protect the staff that is keeping you informed as well as protecting you from potential exposure to the virus.
That doesn’t mean we’ve stopped interacting or listening to you, our readers and advertisers. But it does mean we’ll be communicating in a slightly different manner.
Our offices are remaining staffed, with employees manning the phones, reading emails, monitoring government activities and scouring social media.
Here at the Whitman County Gazette, new editor Jana Mathia and reporters Victoria Fowler and Garth Meyer are more-than-accessible ― albeit at a distance. Feel free to call them at 509-397-4333, email them at wcgazette@gmail.com or message them on Facebook.
Our main office staff is available, too.
As publisher, you can reach me directly by emailing Roger@cheneyfreepress.com.
Advertising Manager Angie McDonald, Graphic Designer Justin Slayton, Office Manager Lisa Burnett and Bookkeeper Nancy Ross are all available by telephone at 509-397-4333 or email wcgazette@gmail.com.
As for news coverage, our staff will continue to be out and about.
Our newsroom folks will attend meetings, cover spot news and keep bringing you local features. Count on them to be your eyes and ears. They will be writing for the Daily Bulletin and providing up-to-the-minute updates on our webpages, in addition to putting together the best coverage you can get delivered to you at home each week in the Gazette.
Indeed, all of our eastern Washington newsrooms will be sharing coronavirus updates. So don’t be surprised to log onto http://www.wcgazette.com and find related stories from communities in Lincoln, Spokane and Adams counties, as well as Whitman County.
Next week, we’ll be publishing a special section outlining the things you need to know about COVID-19 and its effects across our coverage areas. I encourage you to watch for it and pick up a copy.
Our news team will also be your voice. If you see or hear something that needs to be shared with government officials or the public, let us know. Our staff will chase down the facts on your behalf.
We know these temporary changes may be inconvenient for some readers and advertisers. For that, we apologize in advance. Hopefully these measures are short-lived.
Be safe, stay healthy and keep calm. We’re all in this together.
―(Roger Harnack is the publisher of Free Press Publishing, with newspapers in Adams, Lincoln, Spokane and Whitman counties. Email him at Roger@cheneyfreepress.com.)
Roger Harnack is the co-owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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