By FāVS News Staff
FāVS News Executive Director Tracy Simmons discusses FāVS News’ recent statewide news expansion across the state of Washington.
FāVS News is transitioning to a statewide news organization. Why was it time to make this change?
Washington state is home to a remarkable diversity of faith communities — from the mountains of the North Cascades to the shores of Puget Sound — and most of them are chronically underserved by local news.
Expanding statewide isn’t a departure from our mission. It’s a fulfillment of it. Religion touches everything — politics, culture, health, education, social justice — and every Washington community deserves journalism that takes that seriously. We’re building the infrastructure to make that possible: new reporters, new partners and a statewide community calendar that reflects the full breadth of faith life across Washington.
What impact and what good can FāVS News do and bring to the state of Washington thanks to this statewide expansion?
Religion is one of the most powerful forces shaping public life, yet it remains one of the most undercovered beats in local news. FāVS News is changing that — and our statewide expansion means more Washington communities will have access to the kind of journalism that helps people understand their neighbors, their institutions and the values driving decisions that affect everyone.
Washington is one of the least religiously affiliated states in the country, which makes religion journalism here even more essential. Understanding faith — even for those who don’t practice it — is essential to understanding the full spectrum of civic life. FāVS News exists to close that gap, one story at a time, now across the entire state.
What can readers expect to change or expect from FāVS News going forward considering this expansion?
Most visibly, coverage will broaden geographically. We are adding reporters from western Washington and beyond, which means readers will see stories from Seattle, the South Sound, the Olympic Peninsula and communities in between — alongside the Palouse, Spokane and North Idaho coverage our longtime readers know well.
And our stories will be running or airing in more regional publications!
FāVS News uses professional journalists and thoughtful commentary to explore faith, values and ethics. Support journalism like this by making a tax-deductible donation. FāVS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. © FāVS News. All rights reserved. Reproduction permitted only to authorized media partners or with written permission.
