The Spokesman-Review

The July 27, 2005 front page of The Spokesman-Review
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Owner	Cowles Publishing Company
Publisher	William Stacey Cowles
Editor	Gary Graham
Founded	1894
Language	English
Headquarters	999 West Riverside Avenue Spokane, WA 99201 United States
Circulation	Daily, 95,273, Sunday, 121,000
Official website	spokesmanreview.com

The Spokesman-Review is a daily newspaper based in Spokane, Washington, and is the city's only daily publication. The broadsheet has the third highest readership figures among daily newspapers in Washington. Most of its readership base is in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

[edit] History

The Spokesman-Review was formed from the merger of the Spokane Falls Review (1883-1894) and the Spokesman (1890-1893) in 1893 and was first published under the present name on June 29, 1894.^[1][2] It later absorbed the competing afternoon paper the Spokane Chronicle. The newspaper formerly published three editions, a metro edition covering Spokane and the outlying areas, a Spokane Valley edition and an Idaho edition covering northern Idaho. After a large downsizing of the newsroom staff in November 2007 the paper moved to a single zoned edition emphasizing localized "Voices" sections staffed primarily by non-union employees.

Despite its hometown feel, The Spokesman-Review has been known to take a moderate-to-liberal stance when it comes to opinions ranging from tackling city hall to hate groups in the region. Those (hate) groups have threatened to attack the paper, and at times have made good on that promise. In 1997 three extreme-right militants were tried and eventually convicted of bombing the office of the The Spokesman-Review as well as an abortion clinic (see Citizens Rule Book).

The Spokesman-Review is also one of the few remaining family-owned newspapers in the United States. It is owned by Cowles Publishing Company, which also owns KHQ-TV/Spokane and The KHQ Television Group. While the newspaper wins awards, it is also burdened with local critics and activists who suspect the Cowles family of using their alleged vast local media influence to sway public opinion. In particular a (1997-2004) issue regarding a public private partnership wherein the Cowles family may have profited, some claim, up to $20 million. This is referred to as the "River Park Square Parking Garage" issue. The newspaper underwent an independent review by the Washington News Council regarding its River Park Square coverage, and was found to be at fault for its news bias^[3][4].

In 2004 Spokane mayor James E. West became the target of a sting operation conducted by the Spokesman-Review. West was later cleared of criminal charges by the FBI, but not before the mayor lost a recall vote by the citizens of Spokane in December 2005. In the summer of 2006 West died of cancer.(see ([3])

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Spokesman-Review
• PBS Frontline report A Hidden Life (November 2006)
• Washington History Newspaper Detail