The launch of the Oregon Journalism Project by the team at Willamette Week reflects a broader movement to address the alarming decline of local journalism in Oregon. Since 2001, the state has lost approximately 75% of its journalism workforce, with the number of reporters plummeting from 4,747 to just 1,122 in 2023. This decline has led to numerous newspaper closures and the downsizing of newsrooms, which has resulted in significantly less coverage of local issues. While television news has not yet experienced such a drastic decrease in jobs, changes in audience engagement are evident. Nonprofit journalism is gaining traction as a potentially more sustainable model, with initiatives like the Oregon Journalism Project aiming to fill these voids.

This new nonprofit will be spearheaded by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nigel Jaquiss, who is actively seeking philanthropic support for its operations. The project's founders stress the importance of maintaining editorial independence by ensuring that funding comes without strings attached. As Oregon grapples with the challenges facing its journalism landscape, this initiative represents a glimmer of hope for robust local reporting.