Spokane Spokesman-Review's 'People's Paper' Plan Sparks Newsroom Revolt, Executive Editor Suspended

The ambitious initiative to rebrand the 143-year-old Spokane Spokesman-Review as "The People's Paper," a community-owned nonprofit, has been met with significant internal turmoil, culminating in the suspension of executive editor Rob Curley on August 7, 2025. The plan, unveiled on April 16, 2025, proposed transferring ownership of the long-standing, family-owned newspaper to Comma Community Journalism Lab, a nonprofit entity established by Curley himself. This transition was widely publicized within the media industry as a potential blueprint for rescuing struggling local newspapers. The strategy aimed to shift away from traditional advertising-dependent models and corporate oversight, instead embracing philanthropy and community partnerships as primary sources of support. As a preliminary step, the Spokesman-Review had already integrated several "community-funded" journalists into its newsroom, intended to serve as a tangible demonstration of this new operational philosophy.

However, this optimistic vision encountered deep-seated skepticism and persistent concerns within the Spokesman-Review's own newsroom throughout the summer. An in-depth investigation by InvestigateWest and RANGE, drawing on accounts from over a dozen current and former employees and corroborated by contemporaneous records, has illuminated a pattern of managerial issues attributed to Curley's leadership that had been brewing for years. These long-standing grievances ultimately led to a formal vote of no confidence by the Spokane Editorial Society, the newspaper's union. Curley is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation into the allegations.

Employees have come forward with allegations that Curley allegedly suppressed or significantly curtailed stories that could have potentially alienated influential community figures or prospective donors, thereby jeopardizing the financial viability of the proposed nonprofit. Furthermore, staff members reported experiencing what they perceived as retaliatory actions from Curley when they were deemed disloyal. Specific concerns were also raised regarding the financial oversight of Comma Community Journalism Lab, including the controversial hiring of Curley's son for a position that reportedly commanded a salary exceeding that of most reporters. The very structure intended to foster community ownership and enhance journalistic independence became, for many within the newsroom, a focal point for dissent due to these alleged managerial and ethical shortcomings, casting a shadow over the future of "The People's Paper."