Forest collaboratives formed in the wake of the Pacific Northwest’s “Timber Wars” have become major power players operating largely out of the public eye
June Stracener is one of 111 medically fragile children across Oregon, meaning she requires the highest level of continuous medical care to keep her healthy and safe. Tina Stracener, her mother, was one of the parents InvestigateWest spoke to about shrinking resources and care for children like June. (Leah Nash/InvestigateWest)
s we mark InvestigateWest’s 15th anniversary, I find myself reflecting on how far we’ve come — and how far we still have to go. In 2009, we set out with a mission to produce the kind of hard-hitting investigative journalism that can shape public policy, hold power accountable and create real-world change. At that time, we were responding to a crisis: the collapse of traditional local journalism and the rise of unchecked power in our communities. Now, 15 years later, that mission is even more urgent, and our work has become an essential pillar of accountability journalism in the Pacific Northwest.
I am incredibly proud of the impact we’ve achieved with your support. Our small but determined team has been at the forefront of reporting that has led to a dozen new state laws, protecting everything from workers’ rights to the environment to foster children. Our investigations have uncovered voter suppression, environmental abuses, systemic inequities in education and foster care, and serious misconduct in state-licensed youth treatment facilities. Whether it’s exposing hidden threats to democracy or revealing abuses in the troubled teen industry, our work consistently shines a light on issues that have far-reaching consequences for the people of this region.
At the heart of our work is a commitment to amplifying the voices of the most vulnerable and addressing the urgent challenges of our time — climate change, social justice, equity, and democracy. We know that when local news declines, communities suffer. Corruption thrives, voter apathy rises, and public trust erodes. That’s why we’re more committed than ever to holding power to account and ensuring that the people of the Pacific Northwest have access to the truth.
As we celebrate this milestone, I want to thank you — our readers, supporters and donors — for believing in the power of investigative journalism. Your support has fueled our work and enabled us to continue uncovering stories that matter. Together, we’ve built something that stands as a watchdog for our democracy, and we look forward to the next 15 years of making an even greater impact.
Thank you for being with us on this journey. Here’s to the next chapter.
Jacob Fries is InvestigateWest’s executive director. A lifelong journalist, he’s spent his career mentoring reporters, forging media partnerships and managing deep-dive investigations that exposed injustice and changed laws.
The story you just read is only possible because readers like you support our mission to uncover truths that matter. If you value this reporting, help us continue producing high-impact investigations that drive real-world change. Your donation today ensures we can keep asking tough questions and bringing critical issues to light. Join us — because fearless, independent journalism depends on you!
Forest collaboratives formed in the wake of the Pacific Northwest’s “Timber Wars” have become major power players operating largely out of the public eye
Cuts to Medicaid and a change restricting services for some immigrants loom over the state’s 27 community health centers.
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Our work has inspired new state laws, exposed government failures and impacted local communities in powerful ways. These stories wouldn't be told without InvestigateWest, and we couldn't do it without our generous supporters.
