Highway 58 Herald closes

from The Highway 58 Herald and staff reports

The Highway 58 Herald announced its closure Aug. 22, citing financial reasons.

“Why are we folding and closing up shop?” asked nonprofit board member Kathy Holston. “Financial reasons only.”

Despite a frugal, bare-bones operation, expenses for the website and staff “outpaced our income stream. A news source needs advertisers and financial supporters to pay the bills,” she wrote.

The article closed with an invitation to discuss future ventures.

“Do you want an Oakridge newspaper? Do you have ideas for a path forward for rural journalism serving Oakridge and communities along Highway 58? You are welcome to send us an email at general@highway58herald.org or share your thoughts with any of the board as you see us out and about in our community.”

Members of the Highway 58 Herald nonprofit board include Kathy Holston, Laurie Patty, Gary Carl, Susan Obermeyer, Camilla Mortensen, George Custer, Joy Kingsbury, Judy Hampton, and Edwin Weih.

The Highway 58 Herald is the second local newspaper to close this month. On Aug. 11, The Chronicle also announced its closure due to financial reasons, including a lack of subscribers and advertising.

In 2023, Whole Community News asked the state’s executive branch to declare a civic emergency in local news. We suggested that a standard emergency response framework could be used to produce news reporting as part of a local workforce program. The state has not yet responded.