Oregon publisher who shows good journalism is good business is selling; prospective buyers must write an essay

Most of the front page of a recent edition of the Enterprise

Since 2015 Les Zaitz has turned his family's Malheur Enterprise into a newspaper that shows good journalism is good business. Now he's leaving the business, and looking for the right buyer.

The Enterprise is in Vale, Oregon, seat of Malheur County, which has another paper, but it can't keep up with Zaitz, who won a long string of awards as an investigative reporter for The Oregonian in Portland. His work with the Enterprise won him the Tom and Pat Gish Award from the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, publisher of The Rural Blog, in 2018.

Zaitz posted his notice via the email list of the NewStart Alliance of West Virginia University, which recruits and trains prospective owners of community newspapers. He writes, "This is the right journalistic enterprise and business for someone looking to escape big-city life and corporate machinations and put skills and ideas to work for a community that appreciates quality local news."

Zaitz says he and Scotta Callister, his partner in life and in journalism, are "seeking new owners who will personally manage and develop the Vale operation. There is no intention to sell to a chain or newspaper group. . . . Financing to fit the operation’s ability to pay will be part of the deal. The entry cost will be manageable, to preserve capital for a new owner to operate successfully. And there will be consulting, especially on the business side, so those with journalism but not business experience can feel comfortable stepping in."

Les Zaitz with some of his awards (Quill magazine photo)

But there's a qualifying threshold, due March 1: "A confidential essay on your background, your ambitions, and what you learn independently about the Enterprise that makes you interested. Describe in general terms your financial strength. . . . The essays and supporting information will be reviewed and top candidates will be invited to execute a nondisclosure agreement to proceed. We want a new buyer to dream and let us help make the dream happen." The full notice is posted here.

Zaitz told Angela Fu of The Poynter Institute, “I’m not going to just hand the keys to someone and all they’re going to see is my taillights. We’ll be there as a support system to give them every opportunity to build on what we’ve done and to be a success.” He told The Rural Blog, “I really want to help someone with ambition and drive and zeal for local news take over in a way that doesn't crush them with debt, gives them a safety net of consulting as needed, and is ready to embrace the changes that continue to develop in local news.”

"One last word," Les writes. "It’s axiomatic that journalism is in trouble in the U.S. The fact, however, is that local journalism, well done and keenly focused by engaged practitioners, is successful. The Malheur Enterprise may be just the place for you to put your own ambitions, ideas and energy to work."