Dear Journal Readers and Advertisers,

These are unprecedented times. As a community, we are frightened and confused. We find ourselves physically isolated from those we work with, and in some cases from those we love. Many arefacing financial hardship. Some are ill. We lack clarity about the months ahead. 

But what we know about our community is that it is full of strong, smart, compassionate people, who as a group have a track record of persevering and succeeding. We are the envy of other communities for our collaboration, our spirit, and our willingness to help one another. 

We are all in this together. And that gives me great confidence. 

At the Journal, we are working hard to continue to provide you with the business news you need to make decisions, just as we have done for more than 34 years and through a host of community and economic challenges.  

Many of our staff are working remotely to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. We’re relying more and more on technology to perform functions we are accustomed to doing side by side, but solid plans are in place to publish and distribute our newspaper and to provide daily business news reporting through our digital channels. 

If you are working remotely and are unable to get your hands on our print edition, I encourage you to read the paper on your computer or tablet using our e-edition app. Go to our website for instructions on how to register and download the app, at www.spokanejournal.com/how-to-register. If you are a paid subscriber and are unable to use the app, please send an email to our circulation director at circulation@spokanejournal.com, and we will send you a link to an easy to use digital replica of our newspaper. 

Also, if you haven’t already done so, feel free to sign up for our free e-mail news products, including our daily Morning Edition and our five industry-sector weekly emails. You can do that digitally as well on our website. As always, feel free to call us if you need help. Our circulation director can be reached at (509) 344-1280. 

I have one request of you. Do what you can to patronize Inland Northwest businesses. Some will find themselves in peril during these unprecedented times. What we will learn from this crisis is that we should not take for granted that the small businesses we love—whether they be restaurants or beauty salons, contractors or fabricators, accountants or retailers, or even newspapers—will always be around. 

Inside this paper you will find three two-page spreads full of logos of many of the companies we partner with regularly, all of whom wanted you to know that they are committed to remain strong during this challenging time. We indeed are all in this together. 

Paul Read 
Publisher