Originally published October 9, 2008 at 9:25 AM | Page modified October 9, 2008 at 9:25 AM
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
Columbian to leave new building to save money
The Columbian newspaper is being forced by money problems to move out of its new building and back to its former offices, its publisher says.
The Columbian newspaper is being forced by money problems to move out of its new building and back to its former offices, its publisher says.
Publisher Scott Campbell said Wednesday that The Columbian Publishing Co. needs to generate more revenue from the $30 million downtown building he and his wife, Jody, opened in January. Campbell said the company will either lease the entire 118,000-square-foot building or sell it.
Campbell also said the company is trying to negotiate a new loan and may seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors. Chapter 11 gives a business time to reorganize and return to financial health.
"Like many newspapers across the country, The Columbian is facing a difficult business situation given the economic environment, but we are fortunate to have the resources that allow us to respond with economical solutions," Campbell said. "The Columbian is confident it has the ability to come out of this situation and continue to be the trusted news source for Clark County as it has been for more than 100 years."
The Columbian's newsroom, advertising and circulation departments occupy four of the building's six floors, and won't move until the first quarter of 2009.
The Columbian, which has been through two rounds of layoffs in the past 10 months, employs 282 people including 12 employees of the Camas Post-Record, which it also owns.
Campbell is the third generation of his family to operate the newspaper purchased by his grandfather, Herbert Campbell in 1921.
"We strongly believe that we will be successful through this transition," he said. "With the newspaper and our Web site, we continue to be market leaders for both advertisers and readers.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
Illegal workers quietly let go
Metro won't cut bus service after all
Jerry Large: Food-bank theft turns into a gift
Bumper to Bumper: How can the city let bridges go dark?

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
8 seat pecon formal dining table and china hutch - $1500
A American Table, Chairs and Bench - $275
ATV POLARIS TRAILBLAZER - $1800
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
Give yourself a treat and visit Watson Kennedy's Holiday Open Houses
More minding the store
events for Monday, Nov. 23
- Two-week opening at Midori Inc.
- Sur La Table November sale
- Seattle Premium Outlets Thanksgiving Weekend ...
- 5th Annual Urban Craft Uprising
editors' picks
More shopping guides- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list

