Ken Vance, a veteran journalist, responds to critics alarmed by Christian-aligned ownership of two north Clark County news outlets. Vance spent nine years working at the Reflector newspaper and was editor for six years. He has continued to collaborate with personnel from the Reflector’s most recent owners, Chad and Coralie Taylor.

Local Ownership and Community Commitment

Camden Spiller, the new owner of the Reflector, shares his vision for the future, emphasizing the importance of local ownership and community commitment. Spiller’s family has a long history in Clark County, and he plans to raise his children there. He believes that the community deserves local institutions owned by local people and intends to invest in the Reflector to ensure its continued success.

Spiller reassured the community that he has no plans for a complete makeover of the paper, stating that there is much good about the Reflector that he doesn’t intend to change. However, he acknowledged the need for investment to ensure the paper’s continued relevance and effectiveness in serving the North Clark County community.

Concerns Over Media Concentration and Bias

Some critics have raised concerns over the potential for media concentration and bias, given the Christian-aligned ownership of the two news outlets. The Washington State 18th Legislative District Democrats posted a statement on Facebook, urging readers to question the intentions of the new owners and to seek multiple sources of information. The statement emphasized the importance of a diverse range of viewpoints and independent journalism in a healthy democracy.

Vance responded to these concerns, arguing that the fact that Clark County Today and the Reflector are free and widely shared is not an unfair advantage. He suggested that other news organizations should reassess their practices and business models, rather than criticizing the success of these two outlets.

Vance also pointed out that the daily newspaper in the community has long been a voice for the progressive left and has lost readership over the years due to its biased and one-sided coverage. He argued that the community needs more than one voice and that Clark County Today was founded to provide an alternative perspective.

Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.