The Behind-the-Scenes Story of Launching the La Conner Community News
Am I really doing this? Starting a print newspaper in 2025?
I’ve asked myself that question countless times over the past year and a half. Ever since I began exploring the idea of buying a small-town newspaper in Washington, it’s been a journey full of unexpected turns. Starting a local paper feels like both a daring leap into the past and a crucial investment in the future.
Many journalists dream of running a small weekly paper—chronicling local issues, celebrating community triumphs and writing the first draft of history. But for me, journalism was a chapter I left nearly 20 years ago. I pivoted to technology, where I embraced the rise of the internet and spent my career helping organizations adapt to digital transformation. I loved it, especially the creative possibilities of artificial intelligence and data.
But when generative AI took center stage, my work changed. The focus shifted from discovery to persuading people to embrace tools that prioritized speed over truth. The journalist in me bristled at technologies that normalized fabrications (hallucinations) and plagiarism (uncredited duplication). I found myself yearning for something real—something grounded in facts and community.
That’s when I discovered that the La Conner Weekly News was for sale. Its pages featured stories of quilt museum birthday parties, community festivals and the everyday lives of its 1,000 residents. It was a stark contrast to the sea of synthetic, AI-generated information I was drowning in. I couldn’t look away.
La Conner is a picturesque town brimming with waterfront charm, its boardwalks and historic buildings offering a glimpse into its rich heritage. The town is gracefully connected to the neighboring Swinomish Indian Tribal Community by the iconic Rainbow Bridge, a bridge that symbolizes the shared landscape and intertwined histories of the two communities. While La Conner is known for its beauty and close-knit feel, it also faces challenges common to small towns—limited housing, flooding risks, and the need to balance growth with livability. Addressing these issues thoughtfully requires inclusive, contextual coverage that reflects the experiences and perspectives of everyone in the region, on both sides of the bridge.
When the La Conner Weekly News ceased publishing in December 2024, the town lost its primary source of news. That’s where the La Conner Community News comes in. I’ve assembled a small but mighty team to champion civic information and community connection through the news: Staci Baird, an educator and lifelong journalist from the neighboring big city; Casey Lynn, a visual designer with roots in weekly newspapers and the rural county; and Bill Reynolds, a seasoned journalist and local who reported for La Conner’s weekly newspapers for decades.
This blog, published weekly, will chronicle our journey to launch the paper, sharing honest, unvarnished accounts of what works, what doesn’t, and everything in between. From nuts-and-bolts details about publishing to our triumphs and inevitable mistakes, we’ll document it all.
We’re building something real and rooted in this community—an independent, nonprofit news organization that delivers trustworthy reporting every Friday. It’s an ambitious undertaking, but one we hope will inspire others to reimagine local journalism in their own towns.
Join us on this adventure. Start the presses!