Civic Catalyst Newsletter
Fall 1998

Public Journalism Cited in Portland Purchase

That gust of air coming from the Maine coast is not the latest hurricane of the season. It is the staff of the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram exhaling in relief. In September, the newspapers were purchased by another independent, family-owned newspaper company, The Seattle Times Co.

Independence and family ownership are not all the two newspaper companies have in common. Both practice civic journalism.

In announcing the sale, owner Guy Gannett Communications heralded the Maine newspapers for such in-depth projects as "The Deadliest Drug: Maine's Addiction to Alcohol," featured in the Spring 1998 Catalyst, and for being "pioneers in the practice of public journalism projects intended to raise community understanding of significant issues."

In particular, the company cited the "Maine Citizens Campaign," a 1996 civic journalism election project the Pew Center helped to support, which helped focus Sanford residents on solutions to local problems.

The Seattle Times has also mounted distinguished civic journalism projects, notably the "Front Porch Forum," a continuing effort, that has evolved from an election initiative to one engaging citizens in such important local issues as growth.

The shared interest in civic journalism was not a direct factor in the purchase, according to Seattle Times publisher and CEO Frank Blethen, but it played a role.

"We talked about their project and it made the property more attractive - to see some of (our) values and some of (our) interests in how to approach the community and connect with readers," said Blethen. "All of that caused us to stretch ourselves to make the acquisition."