EWU Press will close

Thu., Sept. 24, 2009

By Lisa Leinberger lisal@spokesman.com (509) 459-5449

The Eastern Washington University Press will close next summer due to budget cuts the university had to make this past year.

The press publishes scholarly works, books about the region’s history and culture, poetry and other books.

“This was obviously a very difficult decision,” said Dave Meany, media relations director for EWU. “The press will continue to do business until June 30, 2010.”

The press began in the 1970s as a means to present scholarly research. In the 1990s, the press started publishing works for a larger audience. It also started “Get Lit!,” an annual literary festival that brings authors from around the world to speak.

Get Lit! will continue to be held every year, but the College of Arts and Letters will take over its organization.

Meany said the press will honor contracts with authors.

He also said that the press employed five or six people in recent years and is now down to a couple of employees.

“We had to make hard choices,” Meany said.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.