The Spokesman-Review

History

The Spokesman-Review was formed from the merger of the Spokane Falls Review (1883–1894) and the Spokesman (1890–1893) in 1893 and first published under the present name on June 29, 1894. The Spokane Falls Review was a joint venture between local businessman, A.M. Cannon and Henry Pittock and Harvey W. Scott of The Oregonian. The Spokesman-Review later absorbed its competing sister publication, the afternoon Spokane Daily Chronicle. Long co-owned, the two combined their sports departments in late 1981 and news staffs in early 1983. The middle name "Daily" was dropped in January 1982, and its final edition was printed on Friday, July 31, 1992.

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. The "Voices" section still caters to the three original editions, publishing a Valley "Voices", a North Spokane "Voices" and a South Spokane "Voices".

Owner of both papers since 1897, The Scripps League's Press closed in 1939, making Cowles the only newspaper publisher in Spokane. Cowles created four weeklies, the Idaho Farmer, Washington Farmer, Oregon Farmer, and Utah Farmer.

The Spokesman-Review has been described as moderate-to-liberal, especially in issues around hate groups in the region. In 1997, three extreme-right militants were tried and eventually convicted of bombing the Spokane Valley office of 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 Company, which also owns KHQ-TV/Spokane and The KHQ Television Group. While the newspaper wins awards, it also draws opposition from local critics and activists who suspect the Cowles family of using its 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.

In 2004, Spokane mayor James E. West became the target of a sting operation conducted by The Spokesman-Review. Some journalists and academics criticized the paper for what they saw as a form of entrapment. 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; the following summer, West died of cancer.

According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, as reported in the Puget Sound Business Journal on April 29, 2010, the newspaper's average Sunday circulation totaled 95,939 and weekly circulation averaged 76,291. That represented a year-over-year decrease of about 10.5 percent; a trend widely reflected during the same year in newspapers throughout Washington state. With the demise of the print edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The Spokesman-Review is the state's third-largest paper, after the Seattle Times and The News-Tribune of Tacoma.

A 2017 Rotary Club article stated that under editor Rob Curley, hired in 2016, circulation increased from 68,000 to 82,000 in one year.{{cite news| url=https://www.spokanenorthrotary.org/stories/spokesman-review-rob-curley | title=Spokesman Review -- Rob Curley

In April 2020, the paper ceased printing its Saturday edition. In 2025, the Cowles family announced it will donate The Spokesman-Review to the nonprofit Comma Community Journalism Laboratory. A few months later Hagadone Media Group of Coeur d’Alene announced it will print The Spokesman-Review after the paper's previous in-house printer Northwest Offset Printing announced it was ceasing operations.

References

References

1. "Masthead". The Spokesman-Review.
2. (August 25, 2021). "This newspaper revived the evening edition it closed 29 years ago". Poynter.
3. (2022-11-14). "The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy".
4. Dyar, Ralph E.. (1952). "News for an Empire: The Story of the Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Washington, and of the Field It Serves". Caxton.
5. Kershner, Jim. (May 19, 2007). "Bumpy beginning, but quite a ride". Spokesman-Review.
6. Reeves, Ian. "Review Tower". Spokane Historical.
7. "Then and Now: The Spokane Falls Review tower | the Spokesman-Review".
8. (July 31, 1992). "It's been great...". Spokane Chronicle.
9. Bonino, Rick. (August 1, 1992). "''Chronicle'' gives way to new era". Spokesman-Review.
10. (July 31, 1992). "Paper was part of history it covered". Spokane Chronicle.
11. (January 9, 1982). "Final fireside edition". Spokane Daily Chronicle.
12. (January 11, 1982). "Final edition". Spokane Chronicle.
13. (June 9, 1948). "This Congress history's worst says Truman". Eugene Register-Guard.
14. Felknor, Rhea. (June 9, 1948). "Truman blames 2 newspapers for "worst U.S. Congress"". Spokesman-Review.
15. (September 9, 2007). "When Harry Gave Us Hell". Cowles Publishing Company.
16. (January 7, 1952). "The Inland Empire's Voice". [[Time (magazine).
17. Morlin, Bill. (November 5, 1997). "Spokane Bombers Get Life Terms Barbee, Berry Still Reject Court's Dominion Over Them". The Spokesman-Review.
18. Pryne, Eric. (May 11, 2007). "Report faults Spokane paper for news bias". Seattle Times.
19. (May 2007). "Reporting On Yourself — An Independent Analysis of The Spokesman-Review's Coverage of and Role in the Spokane River Park Square Redevelopment Project". Washington News Council.
20. Smith, Steven A.. (May 5, 2005). "Stories result of a 3-year investigation". Spokesman-Review.
21. (May 5, 2005). "West tied to sex abuse in '70s, using office to lure young men". Spokesman-Review.
22. Postman, David. (December 2, 2005). "Even the mayor wonders: Who is the real Jim West?". The Seattle Times.
23. Camden, Jim. (December 7, 2005). "Voters recall West". Spokesman-Review.
24. Wiley, John K.. (December 7, 2006). "Spokane Mayor Jim West says he is at peace after recall". Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
25. (November 14, 2006). "A Hidden Life".
26. Wiley, John K.. (July 24, 2006). "Former Spokane mayor James E. West dies". Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
27. (July 25, 2006). "West, James E.". Spokesman-Review.
28. (April 18, 2020). "Content will shift after S-R's final day of Saturday home delivery". The Spokesman-Review.
29. Edmonds, Rick. (2025-04-15). "Spokane's Spokesman-Review is going nonprofit".
30. (2025-07-01). "Hagadone Media Group to print The Spokesman-Review".