{{Short description|Newspaper in Oregon, U.S.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Salem Reporter | image = | caption = | type = Digital news service | format = | founded = {{Start date and age|2018}} | ceased_publication = | owners = Salem Reporter LLC | publisher = | editor = Les Zaitz | language = English | political_position = | circulation = digital-only | headquarters = Salem, Oregon | oclc = | ISSN = | website = {{Official URL}} }}
'''''Salem Reporter''''' is a digital news service based in Salem, Oregon. It was launched in September 2018 by longtime investigative journalist Les Zaitz, with investment from businessman Larry Tokarski, president of a real estate development firm.<ref name=ob18>{{Cite news |title=Veteran newspaper editor, Salem business leader team up on new media outlet. |last=Baker |first=Linda |date=August 1, 2018 |work=Oregon Business |doi = 10.1057/9780230355224.0018}}</ref><ref name=poynter1>{{Cite news |url=https://www.poynter.org/news/salem-oregon-getting-new-online-news-site-im-pretending-theres-no-other-media-there |title=Salem, Oregon is getting a new online news site. 'I'm pretending there's no other media there.' |last=Hare |first=Kristen |date=August 1, 2018 |work=Poynter |access-date=October 30, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The man whose money talks in Salem |work=Salem Weekly | date=April 13, 2017 |url=https://salemweeklynews.com/2017/04/man-whose-money-talks-salem/ |archivedate=April 26, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426074233/https://salemweeklynews.com/2017/04/man-whose-money-talks-salem/ }}</ref> Its primary revenue source is from reader subscriptions, which cost $10/month.<ref name=poynter1 /> The site aims to distinguish itself from its competitors with the quality and credibility of its reporting.<ref name=poynter1 /> According to local news scholar Damian Radcliffe, the ''Reporter's'' freedom from the legacy costs associated with a traditional newspaper like the ''Statesman Journal'' has allowed it to enter the field with unusual agility.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hcn.org/issues/50.22/media-as-the-ecosystem-of-news-changes-will-journalists-adapt-fast-enough |title=As the ecosystem of news changes, will journalists adapt fast enough? |last=Bird |first=Kenton |date=December 24, 2018 |work=High Country News |access-date=2018-12-24 |language=en-us}}</ref>
Shortly after its launch, the ''Salem Reporter'' joined the Pamplin Media Group and the EO Media Group in a partnership named the Oregon Capital Bureau.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.poynter.org/news/oregon-three-news-organizations-are-teaming-cover-state-government |title=In Oregon, three news organizations are teaming up to cover state government |last=Hare |first=Kristen |date=September 24, 2018 |work=Poynter |access-date=October 30, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/instagram-founders-leave-facebook.php |title=Zuckerberg's death grip on Instagram |last=Ingram |first=Mathew |date=September 26, 2018 |work=Columbia Journalism Review |access-date=October 30, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.salemreporter.com/posts/40/salem-reporter-joins-2-news-groups-to-expand-state-reporting |title=Salem Reporter joins 2 news groups to expand state reporting |date=September 24, 2018 |work=Salem Reporter |access-date=October 30, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/407114-305787-media-teams-join-forces-to-cover-state-government-politics |title=Media teams join forces to cover state government, politics |date=September 24, 2018 |work=Portland Tribune |access-date=October 30, 2018 |language=en-gb |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407214641/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/407114-305787-media-teams-join-forces-to-cover-state-government-politics |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=bmeagle>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bluemountaineagle.com/bme/capital-bureau/20180924/expanded-state-government-reporting-comes-to-oregon |title=Expanded state government reporting comes to Oregon |date=September 24, 2018 |work=Blue Mountain Eagle |access-date=October 30, 2018}}</ref> The bureau was formed by the original partners 2014, to provide its constituent newspapers with reporting on state government;<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.capitalpress.com/Oregon/20140801/eo-media-group-pamplin-launch-salem-bureau-for-statehouse-reporting |title=EO Media Group, Pamplin launch Salem bureau for statehouse reporting |date=August 1, 2014 |work=Capital Press |access-date=2018-10-30 |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031005406/http://www.capitalpress.com/Oregon/20140801/eo-media-group-pamplin-launch-salem-bureau-for-statehouse-reporting |url-status=dead }}</ref> it produces a newsletter called the ''Oregon Capital Insider''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bluemountaineagle.com/Business/20150223/newsletter-covering-oregon-government-debuts |title=Newsletter covering Oregon government debuts |date=February 23, 2015 |work=Blue Mountain Eagle |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-date=July 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702032052/http://www.bluemountaineagle.com/Business/20150223/newsletter-covering-oregon-government-debuts |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregoncapitalinsider.com/|title=oregoncapitalinsider.com | Oregon Capital Insider is an independent source of exclusive news and insight about state government delivered conveniently by email each Friday to subscribers.|first=Oregon Capital|last=Insider|website=Oregon Capital Insider}}</ref> Zaitz leads the bureau's team of three reporters.<ref name=bmeagle />
Zaitz, a renowned investigative reporter for ''The Oregonian'' who, upon his retirement, bought and revitalized the ''Malheur Enterprise'' several years prior, saying he was motivated by a desire to create "a new financial paradigm for the newspaper that can be replicated and scaled up."<ref name=ob18 /> In speeches in 2018, Zaitz emphasized restoring trust in media as a top priority for the journalism industry.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dailyastorian.com/Local_News/20181017/at-columbia-forum-a-veteran-journalist-talks-trust-in-news |title=At Columbia Forum, a veteran journalist talks trust in news |last=Heffernan |first=Jack |date=October 17, 2018 |work=The Daily Astorian |access-date=October 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thelinfieldreview.com/21542/archive/news/journalist-to-discuss-trust-in-media/ |title=Journalist to discuss trust in media |last=Johnson |first=Elin |date=October 23, 2018 |work=The Linfield Review |access-date=October 30, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2025, Zaitz bought out Tokarski's share of the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=By Salem |date=2025-06-11 |title=Co-founder acquires full ownership of Salem Reporter |url=https://www.salemreporter.com/2025/06/11/co-founder-acquires-full-ownership-of-salem-reporter/ |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=Salem Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Journalism|Oregon }}
* Journalism in Oregon * List of newspapers in Oregon
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website}}
Category:2018 establishments in Oregon Category:Newspapers published in Oregon Category:Mass media in Salem, Oregon Category:American news websites Category:Newspapers established in 2018 Category:American companies established in 2018 Category:Daily newspapers published in the United States