WHO WE ARE
FORJournalism is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by media professionals with decades of experience operating successful rural and metro news organizations.
FORJournalism was created to stem the tide of the decline of journalism in Oregon by connecting vulnerable publications with opportunities such as trainings, technology, tools, and grants to keep newsroom doors open.
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We’re solving Oregon’s journalism crisis through programming in three core areas:
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The FORJ Resource Center. We help news publications evolve their business models to be sustainable and thrive, including through our civic information hubs connecting journalists with local stakeholders in new ways.
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Future Journalists of America. We teach the state’s next generation of First Amendment defenders to battle misinformation and practice quality journalism.
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The Journalism Lab. This developing program brings professional journalists together to cover specific topics. Their reporting is then provided to local publications, ensuring high quality content is available across the state.
Our Founder
FORJ was founded by EO Media Group in 2021, to provide the support Oregon’s local newsrooms need to grow and thrive.
EO Media owns 14 newspapers in Oregon and is one of the few remaining family newspaper publishing companies in America.
MEET THE BOARD
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Kathryn B. Brown is a fourth-generation owner of EO Media Group. She is a past publisher of the East Oregonian and has lived in Pendleton since 2007. Currently, she is publisher of The Other Oregon, a quarterly magazine highlighting rural Oregon successes and challenges in order to help bridge the urban-rural divide.
ALAYNE FARDELLA
Alayne Fardella retired five years ago from her position as President and COO of The Seattle Times. During her 22 years at The Times, she held a variety of positions, including Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Planning and Organizational Development. Coming from a newspaper family, she considered it a privilege and honor to contribute to the strength and focus of the public service mission of The Times.
After retirement, Fardella was selected to be a commissioner for The Seattle Center, working with a team to develop the vision for the 52-acre campus which includes The Space Needle, The Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation and Seattle Opera House.
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Fardella and her husband, Michael, moved from Seattle to Bend in the summer of 2021 and are already deeply involved in their new community.
SUSAN FERRIS
Susan Ferris has a 38-year career in consulting, working with clients such as Georgia-Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, McDonald’s Corporation, Longview Fiber, Arco Chemical, PIPE, Inc., Volunteers of America, Sen. Mark Hatfield, and Cow Creek Indians.
Ferris was raised as an Air Force pilot’s daughter, living in numerous locations. She received a B.A. in English literature from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Minnesota State University. Ferris did postgraduate work at the University of Wisconsin and taught in Minneapolis high schools for several years until she left teaching.
HEIDI WRIGHT
Heidi Wright presently holds the esteemed positions of Publisher at Central Oregon Media Group and Chief Operating Officer at EO Media Group. In her role as COO, Heidi oversees many roles within this family-held company, which encompasses a variety of digital and print products, alongside commercial print facilities situated in two Oregon cities: Pendleton and Astoria.
Thank you to our
FORJ Together sponsors