The family that owns one of Washington state’s largest and oldest remaining legacy daily newspapers is donating the publication to a nonprofit as part of an effort to preserve community journalism. 

The Cowles Company – the multigenerational business that has owned and operated Spokane’s Spokesman-Review since its consolidation in 1893 – announced the move and a $2 million dollar donation to the receiving nonprofit Comma Community Journalism Lab, on April 15.  

The plan is contingent upon Comma, which was founded by the newspaper’s executive editor, Rob Curley, in 2022, securing $2 million in matching funds, according to a release. 

Company president and Spokesman-Review publisher William “Stacey” Cowles said in a statement that community ownership would set a path to greater community engagement that will enable the newspaper to remain integral to its hometown for another century. 

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to create a new model for journalism that will sustain the newspaper and serve as an example for other communities,” Cowles said.   

In addition to the Spokesman-Review, the Cowles Company owns and operates the Spokane Journal of Business and Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. The deal with Comma will not change the ownership or operations of those publications. 

Comma has been based at Gonzaga University for the past year and received its nonprofit designation in September. It currently publishes The Black Lens, a monthly publication focused on Eastern Washington’s Black, indigenous and people of color communities. The organization also partners with the Spokesman-Review for Northwest Passages, a book club and events forum. 

Plans are to have Comma implement partnerships with universities, school districts and other nonprofit news organizations in operating the Spokesman-Review.  

Curley said creating a hybrid of an operating newspaper with educational and community partners, as well as with philanthropic support on multiple levels, helps to make this a model that is different from other nonprofit-based newspapers across the country.