Salem Reporter
| Type | Digital news service |
|---|---|
| Owner | Salem Reporter LLC |
| Editor | Les Zaitz |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Salem, Oregon |
| Circulation | digital-only |
| Website | salemreporter |
Salem Reporter is a digital news service based in Salem, Oregon. It was launched in September 2018 by longtime investigative journalist Les Zaitz, with investment from businessman Larry Tokarski, president of a real estate development firm.[1][2][3] Its primary revenue source is from reader subscriptions, which cost $10/month.[2] The site aims to distinguish itself from its competitors with the quality and credibility of its reporting.[2] According to local news scholar Damian Radcliffe, the Reporter's freedom from the legacy costs associated with a traditional newspaper like the Statesman Journal has allowed it to enter the field with unusual agility.[4]
Shortly after its launch, the Salem Reporter joined the Pamplin Media Group and the EO Media Group in a partnership named the Oregon Capital Bureau.[5][6][7][8][9] The bureau was formed by the original partners 2014, to provide its constituent newspapers with reporting on state government;[10] it produces a newsletter called the Oregon Capital Insider.[11][12] Zaitz leads the bureau's team of three reporters.[9]
Zaitz, a renowned investigative reporter for The Oregonian who, upon his retirement, bought and revitalized the Malheur Enterprise several years prior, saying he was motivated by a desire to create "a new financial paradigm for the newspaper that can be replicated and scaled up."[1] In speeches in 2018, Zaitz emphasized restoring trust in media as a top priority for the journalism industry.[13][14]
In June 2025, Zaitz bought out Tokarski's share of the company.[15]
See also
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References
[edit]- 1 2 Baker, Linda (August 1, 2018). "Veteran newspaper editor, Salem business leader team up on new media outlet". Oregon Business. doi:10.1057/9780230355224.0018.
- 1 2 3 Hare, Kristen (August 1, 2018). "Salem, Oregon is getting a new online news site. 'I'm pretending there's no other media there.'". Poynter. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ "The man whose money talks in Salem". Salem Weekly. April 13, 2017. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017.
- ↑ Bird, Kenton (December 24, 2018). "As the ecosystem of news changes, will journalists adapt fast enough?". High Country News. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ↑ Hare, Kristen (September 24, 2018). "In Oregon, three news organizations are teaming up to cover state government". Poynter. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ Ingram, Mathew (September 26, 2018). "Zuckerberg's death grip on Instagram". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ "Salem Reporter joins 2 news groups to expand state reporting". Salem Reporter. September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ "Media teams join forces to cover state government, politics". Portland Tribune. September 24, 2018. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- 1 2 "Expanded state government reporting comes to Oregon". Blue Mountain Eagle. September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ "EO Media Group, Pamplin launch Salem bureau for statehouse reporting". Capital Press. August 1, 2014. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ "Newsletter covering Oregon government debuts". Blue Mountain Eagle. February 23, 2015. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ Insider, Oregon Capital. "oregoncapitalinsider.com | Oregon Capital Insider is an independent source of exclusive news and insight about state government delivered conveniently by email each Friday to subscribers". Oregon Capital Insider.
- ↑ Heffernan, Jack (October 17, 2018). "At Columbia Forum, a veteran journalist talks trust in news". The Daily Astorian. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ Johnson, Elin (October 23, 2018). "Journalist to discuss trust in media". The Linfield Review. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ↑ Reporter, By Salem (June 11, 2025). "Co-founder acquires full ownership of Salem Reporter". Salem Reporter. Retrieved May 12, 2026.