The Mission
The Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism is committed to preserving professional journalism in rural Oregon.
The Issue
News organizations continue to struggle for survival nationwide. In Oregon, nearly a quarter of the state’s newspapers have shuttered since 2004. Two rural counties are news deserts and 16 more are left with only one news organization to cover hundreds of square miles. Just as concerning, more than 50 percent of Oregon’s incorporated cities lack a local news source to report on community, government and business activities, leaving thousands of Oregon residents isolated and voiceless and threatening a fair democracy that works for all.
That’s why we founded FORJ — Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism
FORJ SUPPORTS OREGON RURAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
The nonprofit offers rural news organizations new avenues to adapt and rebuild a sustainable business model that supports essential news coverage and helps sustain a democratic society. The tools we use develop new revenue streams through technology, technique and philanthropy.
training and support to rural publications
FORJ will assist news operations in building capacity to:
- Adapt and build a sustainable business model
- Tap into philanthropic support
- Develop collaborations and partnerships
To bring results:
- Overcome declining revenue
- Expand reporting resources
- Ensure continued community influence
The Tactics
Train
- Grow digital reader revenue
- Build metrics to measure engagement and business results
- Expand the skill base of existing journalists
- Create a community of shared practices
Expand reporting resources
- Philanthropy
- Grant assistance
- Sponsorship and collaborations
Recruitment
- Internships
- Fellowships
- Incentives for reporters to return to rural areas
- Media literacy and journalism labs for high school students
Who we are
FORJ is a 501c3 led by journalism professionals with decades of experience ranging from leading rural and metro news operations to frontline reporting and editing.
Local, reality-based rural journalism is critical to keeping a community connected and informed, and FORJ offers rural news organizations the opportunity and support to thrive.
Our Board
Scotta Callister
Scotta Callister is co-owner of two community newspapers in Oregon, the Malheur Enterprise and Keizertimes. A University of Oregon journalism graduate, she has worked in Oregon newspapers for 45 years, with positions ranging from assistant city editor for The Oregonian to editor/publisher of the Keizertimes and editor at EO Media’s Blue Mountain Eagle newspaper in John Day. She lives on a ranch in eastern Oregon and has been involved in her rural community through leadership roles in the local chamber of commerce, the library board and a nonprofit animal rescue organization.
Louis Capozzi
Louis Capozzi has a broad background in corporate and marketing communications. The author of two books, Lou has most recently taught in the University of Oregon Master’s degree program in Strategic Communication. In the community he chairs the Council on Aging board, was a founding member of the Bend Mobility Lab at OSU Cascades and has served on advisory committees for both the City of Bend and Cascades East Transit.
Susan Forrester Rana
She currently resides in the Portland, Oregon, area with her husband and two young children.
Alayne Fardella
After retirement, Fardella was selected to be a commissioner for The Seattle Center, working with a team to develop the vision for the 52-acre campus which includes The Space Needle, The Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation and Seattle Opera House.
Fardella and her husband, Michael, moved from Seattle to Bend in the summer of 2021 and are already deeply involved in their new community.
Rural News Publications
Lake County Examiner
739 N 2nd St, Lakeview, OR 97630, USA
www.lakecountyexam.com
The News-Register
P.O. Box 727, McMinnville, OR 9712
newsregister.com
Herald and News
2701 Foothills Blvd, Klamath Falls, OR 97603, USA
www.heraldandnews.com
The Columbia Press
5 North Highway 101 #500, Warrenton, OR 97146
thecolumbiapress.com
The Clatskanie Chief
1805 Columbia Blvd. St. Helens, OR 97051
www.thechiefnews.com
The News Guard
1818 N.E. 21st St. PO Box 848, Lincoln City, OR 97367
www.thenewsguard.com
The St. Helens Chronicle
1805 S. Columbia Blvd. St. Helens, OR 97051
www.thechronicleonline.com
The Tillamook Headlight Herald
1906 Second Street, Tillamook, OR 97141
www.tillamookheadlightherald.com
Grants Pass Daily Courier
409 S.E. 7th Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526-3003 | P.O. Box 1468, Grants Pass, OR 97528-0330
www.thedailycourier.com
Polk County Itemizer-Observer
147 SE Court St. Dallas, OR 97338
www.polkio.com
Hood River News
PO Box 390, Hood River, OR 97031
www.columbiagorgenews.com/hoodriver/
The Dalles Chronicle
811 East 2nd Street T, The Dalles, Oregon 97058
www.columbiagorgenews.com/thedalleschronicle/
Appeal Tribune
Silverton, OR 97381, USA
www.statesmanjournal.com/news/silverton/
The Stayton Mail
PO Box 400, Stayton, OR 97383
www.statesmanjournal.com/news/stayton/
Hells Canyon Journal
Illinois Valley News
221 S Redwood Hwy Cave Junction, OR 97523
www.facebook.com/ivnews/
The Sentinel
61 E 1st St, Coquille, OR 97423
Bandon Western World
PO Box 248, Bandon, OR 97411
theworldlink.com/community/bandon/
The World
350 Commercial Ave, Coos Bay, OR 97420
theworldlink.com
Lebanon Express
90 E Grant St, Lebanon, OR 97355
lebanon-express.com
The News-Review
345 NE Winchester St, Roseburg, OR 97470
https://www.nrtoday.com
The Times-Journal
PO Box 746, 319 South Main Street, Condon, OR 9782
timesjournal1886.com
Malheur Enterprise
PO Box 310, Vale, OR 97918
www.malheurenterprise.com
The Astorian
949 Exchange St, Astoria, OR 97103
www.dailyastorian.com
Curry County Reporter
Po Box 766, Gold Beach, OR 97444
www.currycountyreporter.com
Myrtle Point Herald
PO Box 606, Myrtle Point, OR 97458
www.myrtlepointherald.com
The Douglas County Mail
PO Box 729 , Myrtle Creek, OR 97457
Cottage Grove Sentinel
1498 E. Main Street, STE 104 Cottage Grove OR 97424
www.cgsentinel.com
Siuslaw News
148 Maple St. Florence OR 97439
www.thesiuslawnews.com
News-Times
831 NE Avery St, Newport, OR 97365
www.newportnewstimes.com
The Mountain Times
PO Box 1031, Welches OR 97067
www.mountaintimesoregon.com
Canby Herald
PO Box 1108, Canby, OR 97013
pamplinmedia.com/canby-herald-home/
Estacada News
PO Box 549, Estacada, OR 97023
pamplinmedia.com/estacada-news-home/
News-Times
2038 Pacific Ave, Forest Grove, OR 97116
pamplinmedia.com/forest-grove-news-times-home/
The Madras Pioneer
345 SW 5th St, Madras, OR 97741
pamplinmedia.com/madras-pioneer-news
Molalla Pioneer
Po Box 168, Molalla, OR 97038
pamplinmedia.com/molalla-pioneer-news/
The Newberg Graphic
PO Box 700, Newberg, OR 97132
pamplinmedia.com/newberg-graphic-home/
Central Oregonian
558 N Main Street, Prineville, OR 97754
pamplinmedia.com/central-oregonian-home/
The Sandy Post
Po Box 68, Sandy, OR 97055
pamplinmedia.com/sandy-post-news/
The South County Spotlight
33548 Edward Lane Suite 130, Scappoose, OR 97056
pamplinmedia.com/south-county-spotlight-home/
Woodburn Independent
PO Box 965, Woodburn, OR 97071
pamplinmedia.com/woodburn-independent-home/
Ashland Daily Tidings
PO Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501
www.mailtribune.com
The Creswell Chronicle
PO Box 428, Creswell, OR 97426
www.chronicle1909.com
The New Era
PO Box 390, Sweet Home, OR 97386
www.sweethomenews.com
Valley Herald
PO Box 664, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862
Heppner Gazette-Times
PO Box 337, Heppner, OR 97836
www.heppner.net
Burns Times-Herald
355 N Broadway Ave, Burns, OR 97720
btimesherald.com
The Times
PO Box 278, Brownsville, OR 97327
thebrownsvilletimes.com
Rogue River Press
8991 Rogue River Hwy, Grants Pass, OR 97527
www.rogueriverpress.com
Lebanon Local
1313 Main St, Sweet Home, OR 97386
www.lebanonlocalnews.com
Baker City Herald
2005 Washington Ave #101, Baker City, OR 97814
www.bakercityherald.com
Curry Coastal Pilot
15957 Highway 101 S STE 1, Brookings, OR 9741
www.currypilot.com
The Observer
911 Jefferson Ave, La Grande, OR 97850
www.lagrandeobserver.com
The Redmond Spokesman
PO Box 788, Redmond, OR 97756
www.redmondspokesman.com
Argus Observer
1160 SW 4th St, Ontario, OR 97914
www.argusobserver.com
The Nugget Newspaper
PO Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759
nuggetnews.com
Philomath Express
1835 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97330
www.gazettetimes.com/community/philomathexpress/
Port Orford News
Port Orford, OR 97465
www.portorfordnews.net
Smoke Signals
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
www.smokesignals.org
Upper Rogue Independent
Eagle Point, OR 97524
www.facebook.com/Upper-Rogue-Independent-236239990448688/
Wheeler County News
PO Box 190, Spray, OR 97874
wheelercountynews.com
Blue Mountain Eagle
195 N Canyon Blvd, John Day, OR 97845
www.bluemountaineagle.com
East Oregonian
211 SE Byers Ave, Pendleton, OR 97801
www.eastoregonian.com
Seaside Signal
1555 N Roosevelt Dr, Seaside, OR 97138
www.seasidesignal.com
Hermiston Herald
333 E Main St, Hermiston, OR 97838
www.hermistonherald.com
Wallowa County Chieftain
209 NW 1st St, Enterprise, OR 97828
www.wallowa.com
Yachats News
P.O. Box 284, Yachats, OR 97498
yachatsnews.com
Tillamook County Pioneer
Contact Us
Jody Lawrence-Turner
FORJ executive director
Direct: 541-383-0308 | Cell: 509-953-2957