Othello Outlook newspaper closing its doors
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald The Othello Outlook weekly newspaper will print its final edition July 28, ending a 108-year history.
OTHELLO — The 108-year history of the Othello Outlook will come to an end on July 28 when the Outlook publishes its final edition.
Publisher/editor LuAnn Morgan announced the weekly newspaper with an estimated circulation of 1,600 will close its doors after one final edition due to financial reasons. The newspaper dates back to 1908 and maintained its longstanding reputation of community journalism in the Columbia Basin. The Outlook also publishes the bimonthly Columbia Basin Farmer, which is an agriculture, tab format magazine which reaches 14,000 rural readers across the Columbia Basin.
“It’s really sad that Othello is losing its weekly newspaper,” former Outlook publisher Eric LaFontaine said, who is now publisher of the Columbia Basin Herald and Hagadone Digital Washington. “Othello is amazing. The people are amazing. They have such a good heart and so much volunteerism in that community. It hurts my heart to know this great, amazing community doesn’t have a newspaper to tell their story.”
Hagadone Corporation does, however, have plans to move into the Othello market with its Sun Tribune, which is currently based in Royal City. The weekly newspaper will continue operate under the Sun Tribune masthead with expanded Othello coverage on city council, education, sports and local news. Longtime Sun-Tribune editor Ted Escobar will continue serve as editor to the weekly newspaper, which will continue to cover Royal City and Mattawa as well as Othello.
Plans to open a Sun Tribune office in Othello are currently being discussed. The Sun Tribune will extend all Outlook paid subscribers a three-month free subscription.