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.
We’re solving Oregon’s journalism crisis through programming in three core areas:
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.
Future Journalists of America. We teach the state’s next generation of First Amendment defenders to battle misinformation and practice quality journalism.
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
SCOTTA CALLISTER
Scotta Callister is co-owner of two community newspapers in Oregon, the Malheur Enterprise and Keizertimes. A University of Oregon journalism graduate, she has worked in Oregon newspapers for 45 years, with positions ranging from assistant city editor for The Oregonian to editor/publisher of the Keizertimes and editor at EO Media’s Blue Mountain Eagle newspaper in John Day. She lives on a ranch in eastern Oregon and has been involved in her rural community through leadership roles in the local chamber of commerce, the library board and a nonprofit animal rescue organization.
LOUIS CAPOZZI
Louis Capozzi has a broad background in corporate and marketing communications. The author of two books, Lou has most recently taught in the University of Oregon Master’s degree program in Strategic Communication. In the community he chairs the Council on Aging board, was a founding member of the Bend Mobility Lab at OSU Cascades and has served on advisory committees for both the City of Bend and Cascades East Transit.
SUSAN FORRESTER RANA
Susan Forrester Rana is a fourth-generation owner of EO Media Group and serves as secretary on the EOMG Board of Directors. She’s also EO Media Group’s marketing director. She is the daughter of Steve Forrester (President and CEO of EOMG) and grew up in Astoria. After graduating from Astoria High School, she earned her undergraduate degree and MBA from Portland State University.
She currently resides in the Portland, Oregon area with her husband and two young children.
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.
Fardella and her husband, Michael, moved from Seattle to Bend in the summer of 2021 and are already deeply involved in their new community.
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.