Announcing the Launch of the Olympia Newswire
Welcome to the Olympia Newswire.
This web site’s official launch will coincide with the beginning of the Washington state legislative session on Monday, January 11, 2010.
In the meantime, this beta web site provides information about the Newswire, as well as an opportunity to support us (see the paypal donate button to the right).
What is the Olympia Newswire?
Olympia Newswire is a new, non-profit, independent source of news about Washington state government and politics. It covers politics from the perspective of those affected by policy, not just politicians.
Why Do We Need the Olympia Newswire?
There are about 150 part-time, “citizen-legislators” who travel to Olympia every session, and approximately 900 registered lobbyists who work to influence them. Those lobbyists spend about $50 million each year, or $15 million per month that the legislature is in session. They produce tens of billions of dollars in tax breaks for special interests, and provide a formidable lobby against resolving our state’s budget crisis in ways that benefit the public interest.
Who will keep the politicians honest? In 1993, there were 34 paid reporters covering the legislative session in Olympia. In 2007, there were 17. In 2009, there were 10. And there will likely be 7 in 2010 if we don’t act to reverse the trend– each with the impossible task to write about everything going on in Olympia all at once.
What Will the Olympia Newswire Do?
Instead of hiring reporters to cover everything, the Newswire is hiring experienced news editors to focus on the issues that matter most to ordinary Washington state residents.
Margie Slovan– former Editor of the Seattle Star and reporter for the Daily Journal of Commerce– will cover public education (Pre-K, K-12, and Higher Education).
George Howland– former News Editor for KCMU FM, the Stranger, and the Seattle Weekly– will cover the economy (taxes, jobs, and labor relations).
Real Change newspaper’s editorial staff will cover social services (health care, human services, and affordable housing).
And an opinion section edited by the Publisher will provide a space for voices of people outside the political process to provide their perspective on the issues that matter most to them.
Who is Behind Olympia Newswire?
Olympia Newswire’s publisher and founder is Trevor Griffey, a PhD candidate in U.S. History at the University of Washington, and the Project Coordinator and co-founder of the Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project.
The Newswire is a non-profit organization, in partnership with Real Change. It began by raising $10,000 in pledges in less than three weeks during the holidays, with two thirds of that money coming from pledges between $50 and $250. Its reporters work as part of an editorial collective, and each has ultimate editorial authority over the content of his or her stories.
Please help support the revitalization of real public interest journalism by donating to the Olympia Newswire now. (Note that donations are not tax deductible at this time).
To donate online, please click the link to the right. Or you can make checks out to
Olympia Journalism Project
946 Broadway Ave E #3
Seattle WA 98102
For more information, please contact:
Trevor Griffey, Publisher
Olympia Newswire
publisher [at] olympianews.org
