Free Press acquires Gazette

COLFAX — The Ritzville Adams County Journal has two new sister newspapers.

Free Press Publishing recently purchased the Whitman County Gazette and Colfax Daily Bulletin.

The newspapers were owned by Gordon Forgey since 2001, which he published since 1985.

Free Press Publishing, owned by Roger Harnack and Bill Ifft, took over operations March 1. Free Press is the parent company of The Journal.

“We’re excited that the Whitman County Gazette and Daily Bulletin have joined our family of eastern Washington newspapers,” Harnack said. “The newspaper and its outstanding staff are a good fit.”

“By clustering with other newspapers, the Colfax-based publication will benefit from economies of scale,” Harnack said. “That is expected to help boost digital and other advertising and readership products available in Whitman County.”

“I’m excited about the additional coverage this will bring to our readers,” Ritzville Adams County Journal Editor Katie Teachout said. “By having the Gazette in our Free Press Publishing family, we will have improved coverage of our local sports teams when they are playing in Colfax.”

Harnack credited Forgey for putting together a top-notch staff that continues to thrive and represent the community, despite the downturn of much larger publications in metropolitan areas.

Forgey said the sale was a good fit.

“They know the region and the people,” he said. “Most important, they know the value of local, independent news.”

“Community newspapers are not dead, as demonstrated by the Gazette,” Harnack said. “We’re excited about the future of local media in our part of the world.”

The changes will be gradual. At first, the biggest difference will be that the Gazette will be printed in Cheney where the company press is located. This change alone is expected to dramatically alter the financial picture of the Gazette and help to ensure the continuing success of the paper.