Clark County Today, the independent online newspaper serving the Vancouver‑area and surrounding Clark County, Washington, is celebrating a decade of local journalism. The outlet will unveil a completely rebuilt website on Sunday, Sept. 27, coinciding with its 10th‑anniversary milestone.
Ten years of community reporting
Founder Ken Vance reflected on the outlet’s growth, noting that for ten years the newsroom has “had the privilege of telling our community’s stories.” He thanked loyal readers for their support and said the redesign is a way to give back to the audience that has helped the outlet thrive.
New design focuses on usability
The revamped site is designed to make stories easier to discover and read. Features include a streamlined navigation menu, a dedicated high‑school football section on the homepage, and clear alerts for school closures, weather warnings and emergency updates. Readers can sign in with a simple emailed link—no password required—and still comment on articles without an account.
Vance emphasized that the redesign will keep “important issues … with context” and ensure that stories remain useful long after publication. The site will also host community polls, allowing residents to weigh in on local topics.
Team members behind the effort
Key staff highlighted their roles in the outlet’s success. Reporter and podcast host Paul Valencia, who joined nine months after launch, transitioned from a sports focus to hard‑news reporting, covering the Clark County Council, Vancouver City Council and C‑TRAN Board. Administrator Heidi Case, whose parents ran the historic Reflector newspaper for three decades, handles finances, human resources and day‑to‑day operations. Webmaster and graphic designer Andy Schwartz, who helped launch the original site in 2016, continues to maintain the platform’s technical health.
Looking ahead
With the new site live, Clark County Today aims to deepen its connection with readers. The outlet will continue to deliver daily news, audio stories, event calendars and discussion forums that reflect the values of families, faith and individual liberty that define the community.
Vance concluded, “We want to hear from the people we’re writing for,” underscoring the outlet’s commitment to a two‑way conversation with its audience as it embarks on the next decade of local journalism.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
