LA CONNER, Wash. — The La Conner Weekly News traces its roots back 145 years to 1879. That makes it 10 years older than the state of Washington.
And a group of dedicated townspeople is not willing to let it die.
When they open their newspapers every week, the people of La Conner get a glimpse of small-town journalism done the old-fashioned way.
Staffers pride themselves on truth and integrity.
There are high school sports scores, community announcements, and recipes. It's all punctuated by local politics, news about school board happenings, urgent weather warnings and obituaries.
For nearly a century-and-a-half the La Conner Weekly News has served its community, but now the paper is making headlines itself.
The paper's owner wants to sell the publication before the end of the year.
"The majority of the community wants to save the paper," said resident Julie Jones. "That's where everybody gets their news, here."
According to research by Northwestern University, 2.5 newspapers closed every week in 2023. More than 130 papers closed or merged last year. The country is on pace to lose a third of its newspapers since 2005 by the end of this year.
At nearly 70 years old, La Conner Weekly News owner Ken Stern is tired of the daily grind.
"I am toast," Stern said, his desk stacked high with various newspapers and notes. "I'm burnt to a crisp."
Stern has searched for a buyer for his paper for two years, but can't find one. He said the publication turns a profit and provides an important connection for the community.
"What the La Conner Weekly does is tie the fabric of the community together," Stern said.
Now, members of the community are working to strengthen that fabric and form a nonprofit corporation to buy the paper.
The plan is to keep its ownership independent and local.
"Why couldn't we have the community own this newspaper?" organizer Andrew Ashmore said. "Nobody is going to come in and buy it from the outside. Why can't we all pull together?"
But journalism is all about deadlines, and this one is looming just two months away.
"If a journalist or group of journalists can't do it, the community can, and I hope they will," Stern said.
The community has until Dec. 18 to raise the $250,000 asking price. If it can't, the printing presses will stop.
Anyone interested in helping can contact organizers at laconnercommunitynews@gmail.com.