Newspaper unveils renovated offices, celebrates growth

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Herald is marking some big changes made over the past few months, and the public is invited to help celebrate.

The Herald’s parent company, Columbia Basin Media Group, will hold an open house on Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. in the Herald’s offices at 813 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake, to show off the many changes aimed at serving readers, businesses and communities across the region. The changes in the spotlight include the remodeled digs, a revamped website that was unveiled Monday, a smartphone app and the newly expanded newspaper itself, as well as some new people on staff.

“We’d like to invite the community and meet with us, meet our new managing editor, Dave Burgess, along with the rest of our team,” said Publisher Caralyn Bess. “We have a lot to talk about, so come and talk with us!”

“I’m excited about where the Columbia Basin Herald is going,” Burgess said. Columbia Basin Media Group also publishes The Sun Tribune newspaper and the Basin Business Journal as well as several magazines and publications.

The open house will also feature prizes and giveaways, including a coffee and newspaper subscription gift basket, an advertising package valued ad $1,000 and a one-night stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, complete with a river cruise and a bottle of wine. “Just in time for Valentine’s Day,” wrote Bess.

Activities will also include a 50/50 raffle; proceeds will benefit the CBH’s Newspapers in Education program, which provides newspapers for teachers to use in classes. Finally, each attendee will get a copy of Wednesday’s newspaper along with an offer for a two-week free trial subscription. (Current subscribers can pass the free paper and subscription on to a friend or neighbor.)

Naturally, refreshments will be on offer, including hors d’oeuvres catered by Michael’s on the Lake.

“We are working very hard to connect with our community on many levels, most importantly with local news. We want to hear what readers think, what we are doing well and where we can do a better job. Last year we added the Lifestyle section, which has been a huge hit, all because readers – and non-readers – told us what they wanted,” Bess wrote.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].