Facebook grant supports local media

CHENEY — The parent company of The Ritzville Adams County Journal is getting some support from Facebook to help keep news flowing.

Free Press Publishing, the parent company of The Journal, is one of only two Eastern Washington media companies to have been awarded a $5,000 Facebook Journalism Project grant.

"The grant couldn't have come at a better time," Publisher Roger Harnack said, noting media companies are struggling — several even closing — across the U.S. "The funds will help us continue to bring local news in our rural markets, including Adams County."

The only other media company east of the Cascades to be selected is El Mundo Communications of Wenatchee, which provides news in Spanish.

In Western Washington, several media companies were selected, including Beacon Publishing of Mulkiteo; CapitolHillSeattle.com, Cascade Public Media, South Seattle Emerald, The Seattle Times and Entre Hermanos, all of Seattle; Lewis Publishing Co. of Lynden; and the Woodinville Weekly of Woodinville.

The grants were awarded to help keep news flowing during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.