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Outlet profile

The Spokesman-Review

U.S. center-left

Owned byTransitioning from the Cowles family (sole owners since 1894, four generations) to Comma Community Journalism Lab, a local nonprofit founded by executive editor Rob Curley; the Cowles Company announced the donation in April 2025 and the 90-day transfer period began in May 2026 after fundraising goals were met
FundingHistorically funded by the Cowles family's private publishing company through subscriptions and advertising; transitioning to a nonprofit model reliant on community donations, subscriptions, and philanthropic support, including a $2 million matching grant from the Cowles Company
On the administrationmixed

Background

The paper traces its roots to the Spokane Falls Review, founded in 1883. After several ownership changes and a merger with a rival paper called The Spokesman, William Hutchinson Cowles purchased sole ownership in 1894 and renamed it The Spokesman-Review. The Cowles family remained sole owners for more than 130 years, making it one of the longest continuously family-owned major regional dailies in the American West. Under four generations of Cowles leadership, the paper grew into the primary news source for eastern Washington and northern Idaho. In April 2025, publisher Stacey Cowles announced the family would donate the paper to Comma Community Journalism Lab, a nonprofit founded by the paper's own executive editor, Rob Curley, with a $2 million matching grant from the family. The nonprofit met its initial fundraising goal in May 2026, triggering a 90-day ownership transition. Media bias analysts rate the paper as center to slightly left-of-center editorially, with a strong factual record and no major credibility controversies; its editorial positions have leaned moderately liberal on local civic issues while its news coverage has adhered to mainstream regional journalism standards.

Sources

  1. The Spokesman-Review – Wikipedia
  2. The Spokesman-Review (Spokane) – HistoryLink.org
  3. With initial goal met, The Spokesman-Review starts ownership shift from Cowles to nonprofit
  4. Comma reached its financial goal to turn The Spokesman-Review into a community nonprofit: What's next?
  5. The Spokesman-Review Is Going Nonprofit
  6. Spokesman-Review announces ownership change after 132 years – KXLY
  7. Spokesman Review Media Bias – AllSides
  8. The Spokesman-Review – Bias and Credibility – Media Bias/Fact Check

Profile compiled 2026-08-03; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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