Spokesman-Review Ownership Transfer Delayed

The planned transition of the Spokane newspaper to a nonprofit organization has been pushed back due to ongoing negotiations.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Unions

Spokesman-Review Ownership Transfer Delayed

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The Cowles family has paused the transfer of The Spokesman-Review to the Comma Community Journalism Lab. The delay stems from unresolved disagreements regarding the future organizational structure of the newsroom.

Why it matters

The transition represents a significant shift for the long-time family-owned paper, aiming to preserve local journalism through a nonprofit model. Completing the deal requires alignment on internal leadership and operational frameworks.

The Cowles family has pledged $2 million to the transition, while Comma has successfully secured an additional $1 million in cash and $1 million in committed donations. The final agreement is currently pending the resolution of internal organizational structures.

The players

Stacey Cowles

The head of the family that has owned and operated the publication since the late 19th century.

Comma Community Journalism Lab

The nonprofit organization slated to take over the newspaper's operations.

Rob Curley

The newspaper editor who was placed on leave in August 2026 pending an outside investigation.

Lindsey Treffry

The managing editor who has been responsible for overseeing newsroom operations since early August 2026.

George Brunt

A representative involved in the transition process who provided the updated timeline for the final agreement.

The details

Stacey Cowles notified employees on Oct. 21 that the transfer, originally slated for completion by Oct. 30, is now on hold. The newsroom has faced recent instability following the placement of Editor Rob Curley on administrative leave on Aug. 7, 2026, which followed a no-confidence vote from the newsroom union.

The Cowles family has maintained ownership of the newspaper since the 1890s.
Editor Rob Curley was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 7, 2026.
Stacey Cowles announced the delay of the transition on Oct. 21, 2026.
The original deadline for the ownership transfer was set for Oct. 30, 2026.
A final deal is now projected to be signed by Nov. 6, 2026.

Political Context

This transition aligns with a national trend of legacy newspapers moving away from private family ownership toward nonprofit models to secure future operations. Critics of such transitions often raise concerns about how nonprofit boards will manage editorial independence and ensure consistent newsroom leadership.

The transition delay means the current ownership and management structure will remain in place for the immediate future. Readers should not expect changes to local newsroom operations or reporting until the organizational dispute is settled and the deal is finalized.

The takeaway

The move toward a nonprofit model is a complex financial and operational undertaking that often faces hurdles during the final transition period. Stakeholders are now looking toward early November to see if the legal and organizational requirements can be satisfied.