Whatcom County nonprofit news organization announces strategic partnership
Whatcom County nonprofit news organization Salish Current is partnering with La Conner Community News to help “strengthen local journalism and sustainability across Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan counties,” the publications announced Dec. 1.
The partnership will include:
- Co-published stories with the goal of including deeper coverage of issues across county lines.
- Joint community engagement efforts to facilitate regional events, conversations and audience outreach.
- Collaborative grant writing and joint philanthropic initiatives.
- Independent governance in which each outlet will maintain its own newsroom, staff and board of directors.
“This collaboration makes both of us stronger,” La Conner Community News publisher Kari Mar said in the announcement. “La Conner Community News will continue to do hyperlocal, place-based storytelling. Salish Current will continue to cover the major issues that affect the region. By aligning on sustainability and shared opportunities, we can build a more resilient news ecosystem without sacrificing local identity.”
The organizations emphasized this partnership would be a “collaboration — not a merger.”
La Conner Community News will continue to maintain its independent print and digital publication focused on La Conner and the Swinomish community. Similarly, the Salish Current will continue its digital-only reporting, serving its three-county region, according to the announcement.
“In just over five years, Salish Current has become well-established as a trusted and widely read source of local information for our three-county area. Partnering with other community organizations who share our values has helped make that possible,” Salish Current Board of Directors President William Craven said in the announcement.
But beginning in January, Mar will step in as the executive director of Salish Current, where she will focus on sustainability initiatives through fundraising, grants and partnerships, the announcement said.
“Strong regional journalism and robust locally centered journalism complement each other,” La Conner Community News Board of Directors President Lynn Beebe said in the announcement. “Kari’s leadership at both publications will help develop sustainable and credible news and information models that benefit communities across the North Sound, especially La Conner.”
The publications said this partnership comes at a “pivotal moment” as news deserts continue to grow across the country.
Almost 40% of all local U.S. newspapers have shuttered over the last 20 years, impacting about 50 million Americans’ access to local news, according to Northwestern University’s 2025 State of Local News report.
More than 130 papers shut down in the last year alone, with newspaper employment continuing to trend down, according to the report. In 2005, just over 150 counties lacked a source of local news. Today, there are more than 210, according to the report.
This story was originally published December 1, 2025 at 2:22 PM.
