The Stranger (newspaper)

{{short description|Alternative biweekly newspaper in Seattle, Washington}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = The Stranger | logo = File:The Stranger (logo).svg | image = The Stranger (newspaper) cover.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = | type = Alternative weekly | format = Tabloid | founded = {{start date and age|1991|9|23}} | political_position = Progressive | owners = Brady Walkinshaw | headquarters = 1101 East Pike Street<br />Seattle, Washington 98126<br />U.S. | publisher = Tracey Cataldo | circulation =  | ISSN = 1935-9004 | oclc = 27341179 | website = {{URL|thestranger.com}} }}

'''''The Stranger''''' is an alternative news and commentary publication in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1991 by Tim Keck and cartoonist James Sturm, it has a progressive orientation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-29 |title=Push for WA Democrats to vote 'uncommitted' instead of for Biden in March 12 primary picks up steam |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/push-for-wa-democrats-to-vote-uncommitted-instead-of-for-biden-in-march-12-primary-picks-up-steam/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The paper's principal competitor was the ''Seattle Weekly'' until 2019 when the ''Weekly'' ceased print publication. Originally published weekly, ''The Stranger'' became biweekly in 2017 and suspended print publication during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, resuming publication of a quarterly arts magazine in March 2023 and further increasing its print issues in 2025. It also publishes online content and political endorsements for liberal or progressive candidates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weise |first=Karen |date=2025-11-14 |title=How a Seattle Alt-Weekly Newspaper Became a Progressive Kingmaker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/technology/progressive-newspaper-stranger-seattle.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 19, 2025}}</ref>

==History== ''The Stranger'' was founded in July 1991 by Tim Keck, who had previously co-founded the satirical newspaper ''The Onion'', and cartoonist James Sturm. Its first issue was produced out of a home in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood and was released on September 23, 1991.<ref name=founded>Wilma, David. [http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3506 ''The Stranger'' begins publication in Seattle on September 23, 1991.], HistoryLink.org, essay 3506, August 22, 2001. Web page also includes a facsimile of the front page of ''The Stranger's'' first issue. Accessed October 19, 2006.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cortes |first=Amber |date=October 12, 2016 |title=An Oral History of the First Year of The Stranger |url=https://www.thestranger.com/25-years-of-the-stranger/2016/10/12/24614307/an-oral-history-of-the-first-year-of-the-stranger |work=The Stranger |access-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref><ref name=NewEd260>{{cite book |last1=Bagwell |first1=Steve |last2=Stapilus |first2=Randy |year=2013 |title=New Editions: The Northwest's newspapers as they were, are, and will be |publisher=Ridenbaugh Press |location=Carlton, Oregon |isbn=978-0-945648-10-9 |oclc=861618089 |url=https://archive.org/details/neweditionsnorth0000bagw/ |page=260 }}</ref> The newspaper's title reflected the fact that Keck had almost no connection to Seattle prior to launching the paper.<ref name=NewEd260 /> In 1993, ''The Stranger'' relocated to Seattle's Capitol Hill district, where its offices remained until 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fredericksen |first=Eric |date=October 12, 2016 |title=1991-1998: An Alternative History of the '90s |url=https://www.thestranger.com/25-years-of-the-stranger/2016/10/12/24614707/1991-1998-an-alternative-history-of-the-90s |work=The Stranger |access-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref> ''The Stranger's'' tagline is "Seattle's Only Newspaper" (a characterization alluding to its local ownership).

In its early days, ''The Stranger'' had a print run of 20,000, and focused on Seattle's University District.<ref name="founded"/> It was originally distributed as a single sheet of newsprint wrapped around a wad of coupons redeemable at local businesses.

Dan Savage was the ''Stranger''{{'s}} editor-in-chief from April 4, 2001, to September 2007. Associated with the paper since its inception, he made a national reputation writing the paper's sarcastic and sometimes inflammatory sex advice column, "Savage Love", which has since appeared in every issue of ''The Stranger''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Eileen |url=http://www.aan.org/alternative/Aan/ViewArticle?oid=oid%3A1151 |title=Dan Savage takes editorial reins at ''The Stranger'' |publisher=Association of Alternative Newsweeklies |date=May 9, 2001 |access-date=October 19, 2006}}</ref> Savage became the paper's editorial director in 2007, and was replaced as editor-in-chief by Christopher Frizzelle at that time.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hackett |first=Regina |url=http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/art/archives/122018.asp |title=The Stranger in charge |department=Art to Go |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=September 18, 2007 |access-date=September 18, 2007 |archive-date=August 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810063820/http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/art/archives/122018.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Journalist Charles Mudede, current senior staff writer and former associate editor, had his weekly ''Police Beat'' column loosely adapted into a film of the same name, directed by its co-writer, Robinson Devor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Start-to-Finish: Police Beat |url=https://nwfilmforum.org/films/police-beat/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Northwest Film Forum |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Masthead |url=https://www.thestranger.com/masthead |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=The Stranger |language=en}}</ref> It received mostly positive reviews, and was released in American cinemas in 2006. Mudede would continue collaborating with Devor on future projects, such as the documentary ''Zoo'' (2007).{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Erica C. Barnett, who was an early news editor for the paper, was named reporter of the year in 2007 by Seattle's Municipal League.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Civic Awards|url=http://www.munileague.org/civic-awards/past-civic-award/2007-civic-awards|website=munileague.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721071404/http://www.munileague.org/civic-awards/past-civic-award/2007-civic-awards|archive-date=July 21, 2011|access-date=December 15, 2008}}</ref>

On April 16, 2012, ''The Stranger'' won a Pulitzer Prize in the "feature writing" category, for "The Bravest Woman in Seattle", by Eli Sanders<ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.pulitzer.org/files/2012/feature_writing/strangerbravestwoman.pdf |first= Eli |last= Sanders |date= June 15, 2011 |work= The 2012 Pulitzer Prize Winners; Feature Writing |title= The Bravest Woman in Seattle |publisher=Columbia University }}</ref> described as "a haunting story of a woman who survived a brutal attack that took the life of her partner, using the woman's brave courtroom testimony and the details of the crime to construct a moving narrative". The feature appeared in the June 15, 2011, edition.<ref>[http://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/Pulitzer-Prizes-awarded-to-Seattle-Times-The-Stranger-147631995.html Pulitzer Prizes awarded to Seattle Times, The Stranger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418104509/http://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/Pulitzer-Prizes-awarded-to-Seattle-Times-The-Stranger-147631995.html |date=April 18, 2012 }}. King5. April 16, 2012.</ref> In 2014, columnist Jen Graves was a Pulitzer finalist for her criticism columns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finalist: Jen Graves of The Stranger, a Seattle weekly |url=https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/jen-graves |publisher=Pulitzer Prizes |accessdate=November 20, 2024}}</ref>

From at least 2013 until July 2024, ''The Stranger'' was owned by the Seattle-based Index Newspapers; it has been described as distinguishing itself from the ''Weekly'' by its continuous local ownership (as the ''Weekly'' has had non-local ownership since 1997).<ref name=NewEd260 /> By 2015, the influence of the paper's endorsements in local elections, which reflect a left-leaning perspective was being felt.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kroman |first=David |title=Times or Stranger: Whose endorsement drives votes? |language=en |work=Crosscut |url=https://crosscut.com/2015/10/times-or-stranger-whose-endorsement-drives-votes |access-date=August 9, 2023}}</ref>

''The Stranger'' made the transition to a biweekly format with its September 27, 2017, issue. It was redesigned to include longer feature stories and printed on heavier paper stock similar to magazines.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zaragoza |first=Jason |date=July 14, 2017 |title=The Stranger to Publish Biweekly With Higher Page Count, Longer Features • Association of Alternative Newsmedia |language=en-US |work=Association of Alternative Newsmedia |url=https://aan.org/aan/stranger-publish-biweekly-higher-page-count-longer-features/ |access-date=August 9, 2023}}</ref> The paper was distributed to local businesses, newsstands, and newspaper boxes free of charge every other Wednesday. The offices of ''The Stranger'' moved from Capitol Hill to Seattle's Chinatown–International District in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Black |first=Lester |date=February 4, 2020 |title=The Stranger Is Moving to the Chinatown-International District, Baby! |url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/02/04/42761036/the-stranger-is-moving-to-the-chinatown-international-district-baby |work=The Stranger |access-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref>

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 13, 2020, ''The Stranger'' announced that, due to a dramatic decrease in income from loss of advertising revenue, it would suspend its print edition. COVID-19 triggered ''The Stranger'' to lay off eighteen of its employees, which reduced its writing department. A successful online fundraiser was then organized to keep ''The Stranger'' afloat.<ref>Frizzelle, Christopher. March 13, 2020. "[https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/03/13/43143769/the-stranger-temporarily-lays-off-18-employees The Stranger Temporarily Lays Off 18 Employees]." ''The Stranger''.</ref><ref>Malcolm, Kim, and Andy Hurst. April 16, 2020. "[https://www.kuow.org/stories/for-seattle-s-only-newspaper-glimmers-of-hope-in-more-than-strange-times 'We sent out an SOS.' Seattle's Stranger in the fight of its life]." KUOW.</ref> Printing resumed in March 2023 with a quarterly arts magazine, while regular editions remain suspended.<ref>{{cite news |last=Oxley |first=Dyer |date=March 21, 2023 |title=This Seattle magazine is printing again: Today So Far |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/this-seattle-magazine-is-printing-again-today-so-far |publisher=KUOW |accessdate=September 17, 2023}}</ref>

In July 2024, the paper and the related ''Portland Mercury'' were sold by Index Media to Noisy Creek, a Seattle-headquartered media company founded by former ''Grist'' CEO and state legislator Brady Walkinshaw.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=2024-07-29 |title=After 33 years of feisty, 4-letter coverage, Seattle's Stranger is sold |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/after-33-years-of-feisty-4-letter-coverage-seattles-stranger-is-sold/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogoway |first=Mike |date=2024-07-30 |title=Former Washington legislator buys Portland Mercury and The Stranger |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/07/former-washington-legislator-buys-portland-mercury-and-the-stranger-union-says.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=The Oregonian |language=en}}</ref> Index Media retained a 20 percent stake in the newspaper, while Walkinshaw had the largest share of the "about 20" individual investors in Noisy Creek. Former ''Rolling Stone'' editor Hannah Murphy Winter was named editor in chief.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Katie |date=2024-07-30 |title=The Stranger in Seattle Gets a New Owner, With Plans for Expansion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/business/media/the-stranger-seattle-new-owner.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The purchase of ''The Stranger'' by Noisy Creek was followed by the ouster of longtime news editor Rich Smith in October 2024, who was replaced by interim news editor Marcus Harrison Green, former ''Seattle Times'' columnist and founder of the independent South Seattle Emerald.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cordova |first=Gennette |date=2024-10-28 |title=OPINION {{!}} With Marcus Green Taking Over as Interim News Editor at The Stranger, Seattle's Most Progressive Newsroom Has a Chance to Connect With Overlooked Communities |url=https://southseattleemerald.org/voices/2024/10/28/opinion-with-marcus-green-taking-over-as-interim-news-editor-at-the-stranger-seattles-most-progressive-newsroom-has-a-chance-to-connect-with-overlooked-communities |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=South Seattle Emerald |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards programs== {{Self-sourcing examples|date=August 2023}} {{main|List of Stranger Genius Awards winners}} Since 2003, in association with the cigarette company Lucky Strike, and later the antismoking arts organization Art Patch, the newspaper has awarded the annual Stranger Genius Awards to four Seattle-area individuals and one Seattle-area arts organization. Besides the recognition, each winner receives a $5000 cash award and a cake.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hackett |first=Regina |date=Sep 16, 2005 |title=The Stranger announces its 'genius award' winners |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/article/the-stranger-announces-its-genius-award-winners-1183111.php |access-date= |website=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref><ref>Frizzelle, Christopher. [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=91117 2006 Stranger Genius Awards], ''The Stranger'', October 19–25, 2006. p. 25. Related articles p. 25–44. Accessed October 19, 2006.</ref> Winners of the award include the filmmaker James Longley, the filmmaker Lynn Shelton, the writer Sherman Alexie, the poet Heather McHugh, the novelist Stacey Levine, the actress Sarah Rudinoff, the experimental-theater collective Implied Violence, Strawberry Theatre Workshop, the artist Jeffry Mitchell, and the artist Wynne Greenwood.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.thestranger.com/genius | title= The Stranger's Genius Awards | work= The Stranger | access-date= October 13, 2012}}</ref> A party and rock show for the winners is held every fall; past Stranger Genius Award parties have been held at the downtown public library, Seattle Art Museum, and the Moore Theater.

==See also== {{Portal bar|Journalism}} *''The Portland Mercury'' – ''The Stranger's'' sister publication, based out of Portland, Oregon *List of newspapers in Washington (state)

==References== {{reflist|25em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website|https://www.thestranger.com}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stranger (newspaper), The}} Category:The Stranger (newspaper) Category:Newspapers published in Seattle Category:Alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States Category:Newspapers established in 1991 Category:1991 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Free newspapers Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalism