News release: Nonprofit religion newsroom expands statewide after 14 years — a local news model worth watching
PULLMAN, Wash. — What does sustainable local news look like? For 14 years, FāVS News has been quietly answering that question from Pullman, Washington.
FāVS News is America’s only digital newsroom devoted exclusively to local religion news. What began in 2012 as a hyperlocal Spokane startup has evolved into a 15-partner regional and national wire service — built on a lean nonprofit structure, a network of 22 freelance reporters and 35 columnists, and an academic partnership with Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. Its media partners include Religion News Service, The Spokesman-Review, Northwest Public Broadcasting and Spokane Public Radio.
Now, as national outlets continue to cut religion coverage and local newsrooms struggle to survive, FāVS is doing the opposite — expanding its coverage across Washington state to serve communities that have gone largely without dedicated religion journalism.
“The Greater Northwest has a rich and diverse faith landscape, and it deserves serious coverage,” said Becky Tallent, board president of FāVS News and professor emeritus at the University of Idaho. “FāVS has spent 14 years proving this model works in Eastern Washington. Now it’s ready to tell the stories of faith communities across the entire state.”
The FāVS model is built for sustainability: a focused editorial mission, a wire syndication structure that extends reach without expanding overhead, and a community of contributors that keeps coverage rooted in the communities it serves. As part of its statewide expansion, FāVS is actively recruiting freelance journalists and community columnists based across Washington.
“This is what sustainable local news can look like,” said Tracy Simmons, founder and executive director of FāVS News. “A focused mission, a community of contributors, and a wire model that lets small newsrooms punch above their weight.”
FāVS News covers faith communities and religious life, social justice and community service, interfaith dialogue, ethics and public life, religion and politics, and education and faith. Readers across Washington can visit favs.news, subscribe to the newsletter or pitch story ideas by emailing tracysimmons@favs.news.
ABOUT FĀVS NEWS
FāVS News (favs.news) is a Pullman-based nonprofit digital newsroom and the only outlet in America devoted exclusively to local religion news. Founded in 2012 by Tracy Simmons — a journalist and associate professor at Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication — FāVS has spent 14 years covering faith, ethics and community life across Eastern Washington. It operates a regional and national wire service syndicating to 15 media partners, is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, and is a partner of Religion News Service. FāVS is supported by readers, donors and community underwriters.
Note to editors: Tracy Simmons is available for interviews about the FāVS News model, the state of religion journalism in the Pacific Northwest, and what sustainable nonprofit local news can look like. Contact her at tracysimmons@favs.news.
