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Local journalists and media experts from The Peninsula Daily News, Radio Pacific, Peninsula College and Seattle Times convened at Field Arts & Events Hall on Tuesday, April 22nd for a special First Fed Community Conversation on the Importance of Local Media. This event aimed to highlight the crucial role of local news in fostering informed communities, promoting civic engagement, and holding institutions accountable.
“The Importance of Local Journalism” was presented in memory of John Brewer, who led the Peninsula Daily News from 1998 to 2015 and remained dedicated to sharing news with the community until his passing in 2024. In 2025, the PDN established the Olympic Peninsula Journalism Fund in John’s memory. Through a partnership with the Olympic View Community Foundation, this fund allows readers to make tax-deductible contributions, directly supporting the newsroom’s efforts to cover important local issues, from government and education to environmental and health topics. A portion of all proceeds raised through the April 22nd Community Conversation were donated to support the fund.
The one-hour panel discussion and half hour Q&A, moderated by journalist and educator George Erb, featured Brier Dudley (Seattle Times, Free Press Initiative), Eran Kennedy (Peninsula Daily News), Brown Maloney (Radio Pacific), Emma Maple (Peninsula Daily News), and Rich Riski (Peninsula College).
Guests heard firsthand accounts of how local journalism impacts Clallam County and the Olympic Peninsula. The panel explored John Brewer’s legacy, the challenges faced by local news outlets, including financial pressures and the changing media landscape, and the implications of community information gaps, transparency, and public trust.
First Fed Community Conversations at Field Hall are free or affordable humanities and civics conversations with local and regional leaders, artists, authors, scientists, and industry experts. “The Importance of Local Journalism” on April 22nd was presented with leadership support from the Port Angeles Kiwanis Noon Club.
GEORGE ERB, MODERATOR
George Erb is a retired journalist and university educator who remains active in journalism and open-government issues. He worked more than 40 years as a reporter and editor at weekly and daily newspapers, all in Western Washington. George’s writing credits include The Seattle Times and the Peninsula Daily News.
BRIER DUDLEY, SEATTLE TIMES
Brier Dudley is editor of The Seattle Times Save the Free Press public service initiative. Dudley has been with The Seattle Times since 1998 and was a member of the editorial board for five years. He spent 14 years covering Microsoft and the technology industry, including nine years writing a tech column for the Business and Technology sections.
ERAN KENNEDY, PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Eran Kennedy has been a media professional for nearly 40 years. After joining Sound Publishing in 2018, she initially served as advertising director and was later promoted to regional publisher of the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum in 2023.
BROWN M. MALONEY, RADIO PACIFIC
Brown M. Maloney is the owner/operator of Radio Pacific, a group of three radio stations based in Port Angeles, WA. His experience in the newspaper industry is extensive, spanning from community newspapers to large size daily newspapers. In addition to his local radio ownership, Maloney owned and published the Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum for 23 years. During that time his newspapers won multiple awards within the state press association. Maloney however, feels most fortunate for the impact his family business (McClatchy Newspapers) has had in California and beyond.
EMMA MAPLE, PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Emma Maple has been working at Peninsula Daily News as a general assignment reporter for about eight months, ever since graduating from Whitworth University last spring with a degree in Communications and Peace Studies. She covers Port Angeles city council, Clallam County commissioners and a number of other topics. Long term, she hopes to report in the field of religious journalism or on the judicial system.
RICH RISKI, PENINSULA COLLEGE
Rich Riski is a journalism instructor at Peninsula College with 25 years of teaching. He has documented five national presidential campaigns from both sides of the aisles; the first as a gust of CSPAN. He has taught graduate students from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs in Baku, Azerbaijan where, as a Fulbright Senior Specialist, he explored political unrest and the cultural rise of the web. In addition to his freelance reporting and photography, he has worked with KONP Radio and Peninsula Daily News.
