Publication of Woodinville Weekly

DEMOGRAPHICS (Indeah):

Julie Boselly is the publisher of The Woodinville Weekly. Her mother, Carol Edwards, originally founded the paper in her garage in 1976, but has recently passed on. Because of her mother’s dedication, many loyal people continued working for The Woodinville Weekly after the transition to Julie. Continuing her mother’s tradition, the Woodinville community is always invited to pitch in and write a story about issues from Bothell to Kenmore. In fact, letting local writers help with stories is a big part of the Woodinville Weekly, since the majority of their audience aims towards people involved in Woodinville.

CONTENT (Courtney):

It was very clear that the paper focused the most on very local events. The staff took into consideration the demographics of the locals for most if not all of their stories. It was said that unless an event occurred outside of Woodinville that immediately affected those in or of Woodinville, it would not be reported. It is good to know that there is a local paper catering to the needs of the individuals of the community.

GEOGRAPHY (Kevin):

The Woodinville Weekly is a community-based newspaper that has been serving the local area since 1976. The circulation reaches around 30,000 patrons who enjoy stories based on mostly local news, issues and events. Located at 13342 NE 175 St, it occupies a small space of only 3,000 square feet in the heart of downtown Woodinville. But don’t be fooled by the circulation’s limited office space. The energy in the building is very dynamic. All five cubicles are busy, humming with activity, while the four interior offices keep the presses rolling. The entire venture is personally overseen by the paper’s mascot, a small striped brown, black and white cat, who has her own following with local patrons.

PUBLICATION CYCLE (Courtney):

The Woodinville Weekly has been in publication for about thirty-four years, says Julie Boselly. Articles are due on Thursday, the weekend is for the editing processes, and on Monday the newspaper prints. There is also a Woodinville Weekly facebook page that is updated every Monday, however locals often post their own news as comments on its page, daily.

To check out the news on Woodinville Weekly's facebook, CLICK HERE.

ORIGINS (Indeah):

Since 1967, the Woodinville Weekly has made a strong connection with its community. The paper’s commitment to print only local news resonates personally for its readers, inviting them to see their names in ink should they be inclined to contribute their writing skills. Being a weekly newspaper, the WW cannot always write about events when they first occur, but they cover them extensively anyway, giving the readers the opportunity to read the details.

To read more about the origins of The Woodinville Weekly, CLICK HERE.

PARTICIPATION (Kevin):

The paper’s all digital operation keeps the press modern. It was the first Washington State publication to go on the web. However, it’s down home family-style staff make it personable and approachable. Currently, the three staff members and one photographer are joined by a slew of voluntary writers who submit articles to the weekly publication. Two very special workers, who are handy-capable, occasionally join the team. Their attention to the paper’s odds and ends adds essential energy to the publication. Visitors to the onsite campus feel warmth, which is rarely found within the hustle and bustle of a weekly publication. The laughter, encouragement, and positivity of the Weekly’s staff spills out into the community at large.

To read the digital newspaper of The Woodinville Weekly, CLICK HERE.

IMPORTANCE (Kevin):

Sporting events, restaurant reviews, and community-based news are highlights of the publication. A wide range of stories keep the neighborhood informed, but it also has a hidden benefit of cohesiveness that is not lost on the paper’s subscribers. Some locals have been loyal supporters since the paper’s inception. They recognize it as the glue that binds the citizens together in an unspoken, yet greatly appreciated way. This hometown publication has big time power; it is truly making a difference in the lives of the folks who look forward to every week’s new publication.

Personal Experience of Group 3

-Courtney

• · I was really surprised how everyone was really welcoming to our group. The office was not as small as I had expected it to be, and was bright and open. There was a front desk plus a few cubicles and some enclosed offices. The whole atmosphere was very casual; it seemed to be a fun workplace.
• · The ladies that we spoke with were Karen the editor, and Julie the publisher. Both of the women seemed quite open about what they did, and were very fun to talk with. Karen asked us what year we were, what we wanted to do after school, and also why we were taking a journalism class.
• · I was nervous going into the 'interview,' thinking that it would be a lot more formal then it actually was. The experience was much more pleasurable and relaxed than I thought it was going to be. The office cat helped provide that relaxed feeling.

-Kevin

• · My visit to the Woodinville Weekly really opened my eyes to the world of newspaper publication. Though the Weekly reaches about 30,000 patrons, it still has a very personal, down home atmosphere.
• · The employees have a great camaraderie, and though I have no aspirations to work at a newspaper company, it made me want to join the team. I was impressed with the efficiency of the three staff members who work tirelessly to keep the presses running. However, they always make time to visit with local patrons who drop by to feed the resident cat and check out upcoming issues’ stories.
• · The Weekly’s office space sits in the heart of downtown Woodinville, a bit like the hub of a wheel. Many town folk have been subscribers since the paper’s 1976 inception. They recognize it as the glue that binds the citizens together in an unspoken, yet greatly appreciated way.

-Indeah

• · I was rather anxious walking into the Woodinville Weekly. Although I theoretically knew how to interview someone, trying it in reality was a new challenge. However, my fears were diminished when a pleasant lady—Karen, we later learned—leaned casually out of her office door to ask if we were “…ready to start this thing?”
• · The atmosphere of the WW was amazingly comfortable. The entrance was about the size of a living room, and just as cozy. Comfortable padded chairs were arranged against soft blue and muted green walls. Maggie, the brown and black striped office cat, stretched lazily in her cat den. All residual anxiety melted away.
• · Not only was the essential feel and look of the WW pleasant, but also, the staff was enjoyably casual. Karen immediately asked us a series of questions—including what our majors were, how long we have been in school and why we decided to take a journalism class—cleverly demonstrating how to conduct an interview! I couldn’t tell how many people were listening to the interview, but every now and then I would hear someone behind a cubicle wall giggle.

The Interview

The following is a summary of the entire interview that took place Wednesday, April 21.

Questions provided by: Indeah Thomaier, Courtney McCabe and Kevin Falk

Answers provided by: Karen Diefendorf (Editor) and Julie Boselly (Publisher).

DEMOGRAPHICS (Indeah)

Q: Who works for your paper?

A: Julie Boselly is the publisher, her mother actually founded the paper but she died a couple of years ago, so Julie now owns the paper. Through that, she inherited a lot of the people who were already here. Otherwise, people just show up to write for the Woodinville Weekly. Currently, they have about eight or nine people working at the Woodinville Weekly. There are two writers, both of whom work at home, and one photographer. There has been some hiring throughout the years, for example, Don Mann was hired to cover sports.

Q: Do locals just write for the newspaper, or can someone who lives in Seattle write for the newspaper?

A: Karen indicated that people could send story ideas or stories in; the paper tends to deal with issues or events there, from Bothell to Kenmore. Then they have another paper that goes out monthly out to Duvall.

Q: What reasons do you hire a writer? What specifically do you look for when you see a written piece?

A: “Pretty doesn’t count,” Karen joked after our question was asked. Good grammar, punctuation, journalistic style, proper placement of information, accurate quoting sources, basically all the professionalism that journalist do is what they look for.

Q: Who is the newspaper’s primary audience?

A: Julie said that since they mostly do reporting on local events the majority of their audience aims towards people involved in Woodinville. However, they do report on other events that have a tie with Woodinville, such as upcoming entertainment.

Q: Do you have an age range for the audience?

A: No, generally the things in the newspaper are of interest to everyone.

Q: You guys said you only have one photographer, does your photographer have their own little business and you just work with them or do they work just for you?

A: She has her own business, but she does not work for any other newspaper Karen supplied helpfully. "Some people send us pictures, not always good ones, but people send us pictures.” Karen said.

CONTENT (Courtney)

Q: What kinds of stories does your paper write?

A: According to the editor, the Woodinville Weekly caters to their community by writing community based stories. Karen said that they do not do much work with stories outside of the Woodinville/Bothell area unless it has some impact on the community.

Q: What kind of education do most of your staff have/need?

A: Karen made it very clear that there were no education requirements for any of the staff but a background in writing proved to be helpful. Most of the writers came on casually and were not hired by their merits in writing but more their interest in the community.

Q: Does the newspaper run adds, and if so what kinds?

A: The Woodinville weekly does have a large selection of advertisements and most of them are for small businesses only. Karen did explain to us a fun new 'game' that the paper is starting with local businesses. Readers who get that paper will be able to participate in a scavenger hunt type game, where they go around and get stamps on a card from local companies and then enter to win a prize through the WW.

GEOGRAPHY (Kevin):

Q: Where do you guys distribute?

A: Unless someone has a prescription, the newspaper is directly mailed to all of Woodinville, countertop to Bothell and Kenmore.

Q: Where does the newspaper get most of its story ideas?

A: Julie prompted that the community can call in, send them emails, or usually they go to the actual event and ask what’s going on. Karen added that the newspaper is a very collaborative piece. The writers themselves have contact with school districts, other cities, etc. “Some weeks we struggle to find a story. Our writers call in asking ‘do you have anything you want me to write about?'” Julie Boselly said laughing.

Q: Where do you get your writers to write the stories?

A: The writers they have tend to stay anyway, so they don’t have a big turn over.

PUBLICATION CYCLE (Courtney):

Q: How long has the paper actually been publishing?

A: Thirty-four years.

Q: Since you are a Weekly newspaper, what are the deadlines?

A: Thursdays at noon for the writers to have their stories turned in. The newspaper gets published on Mondays.

ORIGINS (Indeah)

Q: Why print this paper?

A: This newspaper is fun, exciting and it’s different everyday. It’s fun to know what is going on in the community, but because the newspaper is a weekly they might “know” first but they won’t get it in print first. The strength of the community newspaper is the link between the community and it’s newspaper. Members of the community become excited if they see their kid in the newspaper. “I’ll pick up 20 copies because my son is in there, and the pictures only about… this big.” Julie Boselly admitted later.

Q: Why would people rather write at this newspaper, as oppose to Seattle Times?

A: People want to write stories related to something that affects them personally. They won’t write about what’s happening in other countries; they want their friends to see their name in the newspaper.

PARTICIPATION (Kevin):

Q: How do you guys distribute, do you guys have a paperboy?

A: Yeah, Daren mails it out. He makes a run and cleans out and retakes newspaper stands every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Q: Is your online paper more popular than your actual newspaper?

A: The online paper is more popular now, Julie said. To website was changed last year so it’s nicer and easier to work with.

IMPORTANCE (Kevin):

Q: What brought you personally to the newspaper?

Karen answered that she was an English teacher and worked for twenty-seven years. “And then I went to a party and met Julie’s mother, and after a couple glasses of wine…” Karen said with laughter following her statement. She first started out doing more human-interest stories, then one day the editor left so she took over the position.

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS (questions that popped up):Q: Can students distribute to your newspaper, and if so how would they do that?

A: Sure, Ken said, they would have to email it in. Usually what they should do is call in to make sure the story hasn’t been run already.

Q: Do you guys have a certain writing style that you use?

A: The paper uses the AP style of writing.

Q: Is that a community cat or a regular cat just sitting there?

A: Maggie belongs to Julie. She got flooded out of her apartment a couple of years ago, now the office won’t let her take the cat home.

Favorite quote: Julie admitted, "Sometimes people will come in and ask, 'are you guys weight watchers' because of the WW in front of our main entrance."