I don’t remember a time in my journalism career when the industry was stable and calm. Journalism is naturally fast-paced and ever changing. But in the last 10-15 years the industry has been smacked down and forced to evolve thanks to the internet boom, shift in advertising priorities, and creative, new ways for readers to find stories.

Sound Publishing is announcing the end of the Covington-Maple Valley Reporter, and the beginning of the Kent-Covington Reporter, which will create a larger paper for the general area. This may affect your deliveries or subscriptions.

In the short time I’ve been working for Sound Publishing, I am now seeing my first big shift. There are many reasons why we have chosen to combine the Kent Reporter and Covington Reporter, but I trust the long-time news veterans who steer our ship.

This may be news that is hard to swallow for some of our readers, especially any dedicated readers in Maple Valley. But what makes newspapers in our country unique is we are not supported by government funding, we are a free press. But a free press needs to have a business side to keep the presses rolling and the ink flowing. It’s a hard truth.

Just because my main focus will be to cover Covington doesn’t mean I won’t stop caring to cover Maple Valley. Please send me your story ideas and let me know what is going on in your community.

As for Covington, this won’t be a Kent paper with a Covington section. This paper will equally cover both, including the school district. I’m hoping this merger will give me the freedom to write more stories and bring more news important to our readers.

We strive to be the best paper available, and at no-cost to our readers. This is a great goal that forces us to make strategic decisions. Let’s work together to make this a great transition by supporting our local stories and picking up the future Kent-Covington Reporter.