I had the rare opportunity recently to tour the new offices of the Oregonian with journalist Noelle Crombie, who has been making a name for herself reporting on Cannabis trade for the past 3 years, and managing editor Mark Katches of the Oregonian. Mr. Katches who has been on staff with the Oregonian for less than six weeks, confessed he wanted to do this first newsroom tour himself. Mr. Katches comes to the paper from The Center of Investigative Reporting, a renowned resource for quality investigative reporting. According to reports, this major change to the staffing at the Oregonian will re-vitalized the vision and will heighten the focus on local stories and politics for the paper. Both of them were generous with their time and more than willing to share the new space’s highlights with us. Our group was the first in a series to tour the new facility. I was happy to part of it.
We entered the new space on the fourth floor. Immediately stepping off the elevator you were struck with the walls of the redesigned Crown plaza. Elegantly trimmed with restored dark hardwood sheets of planking, the walls looked like the weathered interior of ships. Hours of sanding shipping containers precisely cut and eventually installed at eye-level trim on the walls. The beautiful wood originated from international cargo ships and yet presented a unique regional touch to the building. In addition, once inside the secure facility, the walls where decorated with large and colorful photographs, approximately 20 X 24 inch or more, life-like snapshots of athletes, amazing landscapes, and key regional figures. The large “O” which is the hallmark of the paper, was embossed in the ceiling above the door when you entered the space. The other unique fixture was the stairwell that connects the newsroom with the ad department. Along the wall between the two departments is a copy of the First Amendment of the constitution. “I particularly like this,” said Mr. Katches. “It’s what we stand for.”
Overall, the decor is stylish, condensed to support the new space and team of reporters, and the new direction the newspaper wants to take.
Other key highlights were the “Tick Board” the digital wall-size screen that tallied various hits to the on-line newspaper that could be viewed in present time. And according to the editor, the displayed numbers can play an important role in future newsroom stories. And the Sports Section because of all the expensive equipment and the festive mood present there. The scene of the entire newsroom embraced dedication and yet was so quiet that I kept wondering if they were told a tour would be coming through and to be on their best behavior.
Following the 20-minute tour, which included a short visit to the green-screened media room, we were treated to a lunch in the “Publisher’s Room” an amazing space with a beautiful view of the Willamette River and the new Tilikum Crossing, the Bridge of the People. A wall-size digital screen with advanced electronic features, which the editor professed to be still learning, hung on the wall at one end of the room while a media pad was within his reach in the center of the table if the urge came over him to practice. According to Mr. Katches: “This facility is only the beginning of great things to come for the newspaper.”