Daily Herald Co. being sold to Sound Publishing

EVERETT — The Everett Daily Herald is being sold to Canada’s Black Press, which operates as Sound Publishing Inc. in Washington.

The Washington Post Co., which has owned the newspaper for 35 years, made the announcement Wednesday.

Gloria Fletcher, president of Sound Publishing, told Herald employees the transaction is expected to close in early March.

Ann McDaniel, senior vice president of the Washington Post Co., declined to disclose a purchase price for the 46,000-circulation daily newspaper and its other print and online products. “We won’t be talking about the price, we never do,” she said.

Sound Publishing owns 39 newspaper and digital titles in Washington, with a combined free and paid circulation of more than 730,000 statewide. Among them are The Marysville Globe, The Arlington Times, The Peninsula Daily News in Port Angeles, and newspapers on Whidbey Island. Sound Publishing recently bought Seattle Weekly, and also owns papers in Bellevue, Kent and Renton.

“The Herald fits in very well. We believe in community journalism. We believe in newspapers,” Fletcher said. The Herald will continue to publish seven days a week. “That would be my intention right now,” Fletcher said.

“Sound Publishing is very excited about this announcement. You and the product you produce, on a day in-day out basis, are very well-respected in the industry and in this community,” Fletcher told Herald employees.

Black Press, Ltd., based in Surrey, B.C., publishes more than 170 newspapers and other publications in Washington, British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, as well as the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in Hawaii and the Akron (Ohio) Beacon-Journal daily newspapers.

“This is a bittersweet day for the Washington Post Company,” McDaniel told Herald employees.

“For the 35 years the Post owned the paper, we have been committed to quality journalism,” McDaniel said. As the business changed, she said, it became harder to fulfill that mission while owning no other newspapers outside the Washington, D.C., and Maryland areas. The Washington Post Co. owns a group of community newspapers covering Maryland and Fairfax, Va.

With Sound Publishing based in Washington state, The Herald’s corporate parent will now be close.

McDaniel said the Post had two goals in negotiating the sale: to preserve the quality of the products, and to save as many jobs as possible.

Besides The Herald and HeraldNet.com, The Daily Herald Co. publishes The Herald Business Journal and the Spanish-language weekly and website La Raza del Noroeste. This is the first Spanish-language publication owned by Sound.

The Daily Herald Co. has 209 employees. McDaniel said that David Dadisman, who became The Herald’s publisher last May, will lead the transition.

“I really do think this will strengthen The Herald,” said Dadisman, who is also the newspaper’s general manager.

“With the kind of business we are in, you can only succeed if you have some economies of scale and shared resources,” he said Wednesday. “We are going to be able to leverage some things we can’t do now.”

McDaniel said many employees will receive the same salary and similar benefits after the sale, but that Sound Publishing handles its own production and distribution, so layoffs could occur.

Dadisman said he doesn’t know how many jobs could be eliminated by using the Everett-based printing press already owned by Sound Publishing. He also expects that some business office jobs could be integrated into the larger Sound Publishing operation.

Dadisman said he plans to leave The Herald after the 90-day transition.

Larry Hanson retired in 2002 after a 45-year career at The Herald, including 18 years as publisher and president of the newspaper.

“My initial thought, after absorbing the news, is that I’m hoping Sound Publishing will appreciate what a quality newspaper The Herald is and has been, and that they also recognize how important The Herald is to the community,” said Hanson, who grew up in Everett.

“Print journalism is going through a challenging time developing the right business model for the Internet age,” Hanson said.

The Daily Herald Co. laid off six employees on Jan. 4, including four in the news department. That was the third significant staff reduction in as many years. The Herald offered early retirements in late 2011, and there were layoffs in late 2010. Last year, the company closed The Weekly Herald, a free publication that served south Snohomish County.

No changes are expected for the next 30 days. Sound Publishing is not buying The Herald’s building, which is owned by the Washington Post Co.

“The buildings will be on the market,” McDaniel said. Snohomish County’s 2013 assessed value for The Herald buildings at 1213 California St. is $5.2 million. A 2.2-acre parcel owned by the Herald across W. Marine View Drive, up for sale for several months, has a listed asking price of nearly $4 million.

For the next year, Sound Publishing will lease The Herald building. “We’re certainly going to be here for a year at least,” Fletcher said.

She said the paper will ultimately be printed at the Sound Publishing facility near Paine Field. That could happen before the year is out.

Dadisman doesn’t know what he will do next professionally, but the change will allow him to spend more time with his wife of nearly 29 years.

While Dadisman moved to Everett three years ago from the Washington Post Co., his wife, Beth, remained on the East Coast. He served as The Herald’s general manager before being named publisher last year. Dadisman grew up in a newspaper family. His father, Carrol Dadisman, was a reporter who later became publisher of the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper in Florida.

Dadisman worked on the business side of the profession.

“I have never had a byline, but I love the business,” he said. “I have ink in the blood as they say.”

Hanson recalled the anxiety Herald employees felt more than three decades ago when the newspaper owned by the local Best family was sold to the Washington Post Co.

“Because it was a family newspaper for three-quarters of a century, I know some of us were nervous and a bit taken aback,” Hanson said. “But we were encouraged from the beginning when Katharine Graham said ‘we respect what The Herald means to this community and we will continue operating it like a strong community newspaper.’ And they did.

“Hopefully, the employees as well as the community will wait and see what the new owners are going to do,” Hanson said.

Herald writer Noah Haglund also contributed to this story.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Founder of Faith Lutheran Food Bank Roxana Boroujerd helps direct car line traffic while standing next to a whiteboard alerting clients to their date of closing on Friday, April 25, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Faith Food Bank to close, replacement uncertain

The food bank’s last distribution day will be May 9, following a disagreement with the church over its lease.

Anna Marie Laurence speaks to the Everett Public Schools Board of Directors on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Everett school board selects former prosecutor to fill vacancy

Anna Marie Laurence will fill the seat left vacant after Caroline Mason resigned on March 11.

The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds school board approves potential staff cuts, eyes legislation

The district is awaiting action from Gov. Bob Ferguson on three bills that could bridge its $8.5 million deficit.

Janet Garcia walks into the courtroom for her arraignment at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Monday, April 22, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett mother found competent to stand trial in stabbing death of 4-year-old son

A year after her arraignment, Janet Garcia appeared in court Wednesday for a competency hearing in the death of her son, Ariel Garcia.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Brier in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Brier police levy fails; officials warn current staffing is not sustainable

With no new funding, officials say the department will remain stretched thin.

Fosse will not seek reelection; 2 candidates set to run for her seat

Mason Rutledge and Sam Hem announced this week they will seek the District 1 City Council position.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police arrest two males in shooting at Swift bus

Man, 19, is booked for investigation of attempted murder. 17-year-old held at Denney Juvenile Justice Center on similar charges.

K-POP Empire store owners Todd Dickinson and Ricky Steinlars at their new store location on Thursday, April 17, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood K-pop store wary of new tariffs

Much of the store’s merchandise, which arrives from China and South Korea, is facing new import fees.

Two-alarm fire destroys storage units, vehicles in South Everett

Nearly 60 firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the blaze. No initial word on a cause.

Christian Sayre sits in the courtroom before the start of jury selection on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Christian Sayre timeline

FEBRUARY 2020 A woman reports a sexual assault by Sayre. Her sexual… Continue reading

Snohomish County prosecutor Martha Saracino delivers her opening statement at the start of the trial for Christian Sayre at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Opening statements begin in fourth trial of former bar owner

A woman gave her account of an alleged sexual assault in 2017. The trial is expected to last through May 16.

Lynnwood
Deputies: 11-year-old in custody after bringing knives to Lynnwood school

The boy has been transported to Denney Juvenile Justice Center. The school was placed in a modified after-school lockdown Monday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.