Oregon Public Information Partnership

We are a more than 20-year old nonprofit corporation, formerly Oregon Public Affairs Network (OPAN). It was hoped OPAN would be the C-Span of the Oregon Legislature but when that idea faded OPAN transitioned to OPIP in the spring of 2020.

OPIP’s mission is one of service to locally-owned independent Oregon newspapers, who over the last two decades have been battered and bruised by the forces of the so-called digital economy. During this period of time 25 percent of the newspapers in the country closed their doors. The impact in Oregon has been similar and as local newspapers have closed their doors, more than 150 incorporated cities in Oregon have become news deserts according to the Fund for Rural Journalism.

We’re here to help community newspapers (and really all newspapers) remain fiscally viable. Our vision is both short term and long term. In the short term we assist partner newspapers to develop revenue generating projects which allow them to offer donors the opportunity for tax deductible donations through OPIP’s 501(c)(3) status.

We act as a conduit between partner organizations to develop network coverage of local news events, e.g., coverage of a local sporting event and the sharing of stories and photos.

We also work with and through other Oregon media organizations (such as Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association (ONPA)) to develop relationships with members of the Oregon State Legislature in support of local journalism sustainability legislation.

To that end, we want to associate ourselves with long-term solutions – as proposed in 2023 by Seattle Times Publisher/CEO Frank Blethen – to ease plight of Oregon community newspapers by supporting and working for the following: