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
In an effort to strengthen local investigative journalism and ensure underrepresented communities have reporters looking out for their interests, InvestigateWest is issuing a call for new collaboration partners across the Pacific Northwest.
Founded in 2009 as a nonprofit, InvestigateWest has long forged newsroom partnerships as a way to better serve local communities and maximize its impact. However, over the past year, the organization has shifted to make collaboration and resource sharing central to its strategy and mission to transform the region’s news ecosystem.
“At InvestigateWest, our goal is to build a ‘Goldilocks’ organization — large enough to uplift others and small enough to remain deeply rooted in the local communities we serve,” Executive Director Jacob Fries said. “Despite the destabilization of traditional business models and the erosion of trust — particularly at the national level — dedicated investigative journalism remains an essential watchdog, shining a light in the darkest corners of our democracy. Rigorously reported stories still shape policy, still galvanize movements, still send angry people into the streets.”
In late 2024, InvestigateWest brought on Moe K. Clark, a dedicated “collaborative investigative reporter” hired through a Washington State University-administered fellowship. And in December, the newsroom announced a partnership with Report for America to bring a second collaborative reporter to Oregon in July 2025. These hires are part of a broader, organization-wide shift.
InvestigateWest is particularly interested in projects that reveal abuses of power, systemic failures, inequities or corruption. News organizations and freelance journalists interested in working with InvestigateWest are encouraged to reach out directly to discuss story ideas, resource sharing, training and potential co-publication opportunities. To start a conversation, please fill out this proposal form.
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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
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