Carpenter Media Herald Ownership Woes Continue
On September 5, 2025, the Everett News Guild led a protest in Downtown Everett against Carpenter Media's treatment of the Everett Herald staff. The protest follows drastic reductions in editorial personnel and the imposition of high story quotas that threaten journalistic integrity. The Guild opposes a proposal that would require reporters to produce ten articles a week to receive a modest pay increase, arguing that it undermines the quality of local news coverage. Current wages average $20. 50 per hour, which is insufficient compared to the Snohomish County living wage of $30.
25 for a single individual. Supporters from labor unions and political organizations joined the Guild in solidarity. Since forming in 2022, the Guild has sought fair contracts, but negotiations with Carpenter Media have stalled. The media landscape in Washington has deteriorated, with a 20% decline in newspapers since 2004 and significant job losses reported in recent years. A petition circulating threatens to cancel subscriptions if the management does not address the wage and workload issues.