Well, it’s official. You’re stuck with me. I’m honored and overjoyed to report I will stay on as editor of Real Change. It is intimidating to take the lead on a paper with the community reputation and history Real Change has earned over its nearly three decades in Seattle, one born out of radical activism that has grown into an institution.
Institutions come with risks. They can be vulnerable to stagnation, to ossification, to the axiomatic thinking that what worked once will continue to work, the height of hubris. It would be a cruel irony for a publication called “Real Change” to fall into such a trap — it’s my job, now, to make sure that doesn’t happen.
We are in a crucial moment.
The pandemic struck at the basis of the Real Change model — interpersonal interaction between people who might not have connected before. Other outlets with greater resources turned their excellent reporting to the homelessness and housing crises; I am glad for it, and although I reject the notion that Real Change is purely “the homeless newspaper,” as dubbed by a certain editorial board, I can’t deny that reporting and that focus are our origin story.
So, our newspaper must — and will — embrace change. Real Change will carve out and own its niche in Seattle’s vibrant media ecosystem. We will take full advantage of our dual nature as a print and online weekly publication, one of the last in Seattle. We will find new mediums and partnerships to expand the reach of the paper and the benefit to the one group to which we are truly beholden — our vendors.
We’re going to need some help.
I’m excited to announce in the paper that we are looking to fill two newsroom positions, those of associate editor and staff reporter. We want people who have writing chops and news sense, of course, and also a deep well of empathy. We want people with ideas and curiosity, with a desire to move Real Change’s newspaper forward. If you can put up with a goofy dog who already adores you more than songs can say, that’s definitely a bonus.
If this sounds like you, please visit our website and check out the job descriptions, which can be found at
realchangenews.org/employment. Priority applications are due Jan. 19.
And to our readers, thank you for your continued confidence in, and support of, Real Change. We will strive not to let you down.
Ashley Archibald is the editor of Real Change News.
Read more of the Jan. 12-18, 2022 issue.