The Washington State Wire was launched in 2009 as an independent outlet focused on covering the legislature and the world of Olympia’s players, politics and personalities.  During an impressive run through 2016, the Wire (as it became affectionately, and sometimes otherwise, known) racked up a series of thoughtful stories written by full time journalists.

As such, it was one of Washington State’s first all-digital news outlets, trying it’s hand at braving a new media world few have fully figured out.

It made some friends along the way.  It made some enemies, too.  So, in 2016, with the passing of the primary owner of the Wire, some of the other key voices in the Wire decided it was time to withdraw themselves, passing the torch to another entity interested in fostering independent journalism, thoughtful analysis, and insightful commentary.

In 2017, the Wire has been re-born as part of the State of Reform Media Group.  State of Reform, which hosts the multi-state, health policy oriented platform stateofreform.com, is a non-partisan, policy agnostic initiative focused on bridging the gap between the world of health care and health policy.

That is the vision for the Washington State Wire, as well:  an independent, policy agnostic and non-partisan outlet for thoughtful content about state policy, political economy, and regulated markets.

Our goal is to provide content through multiple channels – web, social, email, video, podcasting and events – that will further our Washington State community’s civil and civic discourse.

We want to give a platform for advocates to tell their best stories, for legislators to offer their clearest thinking, and for the thought leaders to provide their most cogent arguments.

The Wire re-launches by hiring Erin Fenner, a reporter from Boise’s daily, the Idaho Statesman.  She has covered energy, breaking news, and yes, state government across Idaho, Colorado, and Oregon.  Erin has also produced award winning podcasts, a talent she will soon employ at the Wire.

The Wire, like State of Reform, will not focus on “gotcha” news stories.  We won’t fall all over ourselves to break news or launch breathless headlines.  While those are the vehicles of a traditional media model of advertising, clicks and impressions, that doesn’t hold interest for us.

Sure, we’ll break news from time to time.  But our value is in being able to take the time to think about the stories we’re writing.  Our goal is, in part, to offer content that supports policy makers, market executives, and stakeholder leadership as they address their most important decisions policy and marketplace decisions.

Our business model is an underwriting model, supported through sponsors, through events, and through organizations that believe in the work we do.  We learn from conversations with and observations of organizations like the Texas Tribune, Vox, Crosscut, Civil Beat, the Washington Post, Politico and Axios.

No one has figured out this new media space – but after 2016, we have learned it’s more important than ever that we do so.

So, give us a chance to appear on your monitor, to hit your inbox, or to appear in your social media feed.  Where we are smart, tell us.  Where we aren’t smart enough, tell us.  And, when you can help, please, please reach out to us.

You can always email me directly:  djwilson@washingtonstatewire.com.  I’d be happy to talk through the future of civil discourse, through state politics, and about our Washington State community.

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