Eugene and Springfield residents will soon have a new source for news with the launch of Lookout Eugene-Springfield, a digital news site founded by Ken Doctor. Scheduled to go live in late 2024 or early 2025, the site’s mission is to provide high-quality, non-partisan news coverage to the community.
Doctor, a University of Oregon journalism graduate, has a track record in the newspaper industry as a consultant and entrepreneur. He has secured $2.5 million in funding from local foundations and families, with plans to raise an additional $1.5 million. The site will employ a staff of 20, including 15 journalists, surpassing the current staffing levels at The Register-Guard.
To date, the Tykeson Charitable Family Trust has made the largest contribution of $1 million, contingent on the organization raising an additional $1 million from other donors. Amy Tykeson, trustee of the foundation, emphasized the urgent need for reliable news sources: “We’re in a news crisis in the world right now. The community deserves a high-quality, non-partisan, trusted news source, and Lookout Eugene could be it.”
Doctor’s venture in Eugene-Springfield follows the success of Lookout Santa Cruz, which he founded four years ago. The California city shares similarities with Eugene, being a college town with a highly educated population and struggling newspapers. Both The Register-Guard and the Santa Cruz Sentinel have faced challenges under private equity ownership, leading to staff reductions and diminished local news coverage.
The launch of Lookout Eugene-Springfield signifies a growing trend of individuals recognizing the importance of local journalism and investing in its sustainability. Doctor’s experience and commitment to quality reporting bode well for the site’s potential to make a meaningful contribution to the Eugene-Springfield community.
