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The Skanner Closes After 33 Years, Leaving Oregon's Black Community Without a Key Voice

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2026/02/04 .. regon-s-black-community-without-a-key-voice.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, February 4th 2026 at 20:29 GMT by OPB
      Locales: Oregon, UNITED STATES

PORTLAND, Oregon - February 5th, 2026 - The closure of The Skanner, a cornerstone of Oregon's Black community and one of the state's few Black-owned publications, has sent ripples of concern through the local media ecosystem. The announcement, made on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, marks not just the end of a 33-year run for the Portland-based newspaper, but a worrying escalation of the broader crisis facing journalism in Oregon.

Founded in 1993 by Paul K. Anglin, The Skanner carved out a crucial space in the Oregon media landscape by providing dedicated coverage of the Black community - news, events, and perspectives often overlooked by mainstream outlets. For over three decades, it served as a vital platform for civil rights advocacy, community building, and the amplification of Black voices in the Pacific Northwest. The publication's commitment to local and regional stories, particularly those impacting the Black community, established it as an indispensable resource for residents and a critical watchdog holding power accountable.

However, despite its dedicated readership and unwavering commitment, The Skanner succumbed to the mounting financial pressures that are increasingly crippling news organizations across the country, and particularly acute in Oregon. A message posted on the publication's website cited "financial challenges and the increasingly difficult environment for newsrooms across the state" as the primary drivers behind the difficult decision to cease operations.

Oregon's Shrinking News Desert

The demise of The Skanner isn't an isolated incident; it's a symptom of a systemic problem. Oregon has been witnessing a steady erosion of its media infrastructure for years. Newspapers are shrinking, shedding staff, merging with larger entities, and closing local bureaus. The digital realm, while offering new avenues for news dissemination, has yet to provide a stable and sustainable revenue model for many online news outlets. Ben Cantu, a Portland-based media analyst, succinctly captured the situation, stating, "It's a really tough time for Oregon journalism. It's harder than ever for local news organizations to survive."

This contraction of the news landscape has far-reaching consequences. Reduced news coverage leads to less informed citizens, diminished civic engagement, and a weakening of the checks and balances essential for a healthy democracy. When local news outlets disappear, communities lose a critical source of information about local government, schools, and other vital institutions. The result is a growing "news desert" - areas where access to reliable, local news is limited or non-existent.

The Unique Struggles of Minority-Owned Media

The challenges facing The Skanner were compounded by the specific difficulties encountered by minority-owned media outlets. These publications often operate with limited resources and face systemic barriers to funding and advertising revenue. Serving a niche audience, while essential for providing targeted information and representation, can also make it harder to attract broader financial support.

Deborah Drake, Executive Director of the Oregon Association of Publishers and Media, expressed her dismay at the closure, saying, "It's heartbreaking to see The Skanner go. It was a vital voice for the Black community, and its loss will be felt deeply." This sentiment reflects a broader recognition that the loss of minority-owned media outlets represents a significant blow to diversity in the media and a reduction in the range of perspectives available to the public.

A Call to Action: Addressing the Crisis

The closure of The Skanner should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, media organizations, and the public. Addressing the crisis in local journalism requires a multifaceted approach. Potential solutions include:

• Increased public funding for local journalism: This could involve direct subsidies, tax incentives, or the creation of a dedicated fund to support local news organizations.
• Supporting non-profit news models: Encouraging the growth of non-profit news organizations can provide a sustainable funding source independent of advertising revenue.
• Investing in media literacy: Equipping citizens with the skills to critically evaluate news sources and identify misinformation is crucial in the digital age.
• Promoting diverse ownership: Actively supporting minority-owned media outlets through grants, mentorship programs, and access to capital.
• Philanthropic support: Encouraging foundations and individual donors to invest in local journalism initiatives.

The Skanner's legacy will endure through the years of impactful reporting and community engagement it delivered. However, its closure serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of local news and the urgent need for innovative solutions to ensure a vibrant and diverse media landscape in Oregon and beyond. The silencing of one vital voice should prompt a collective effort to amplify others before more publications are lost to the headwinds of economic and systemic challenges.