Spokane Spokesman Review - Spokane Newspaper
The Spokane Spokesman Review newspaper is one of the few family owned papers left in the country. Published by the Cowles Publishing Company, it is owned and run by the 4th generation of the Cowles family; William Stacey Cowles & sister Elizabeth A. Cowles.
The history of the paper goes way back to the 1800's. William H. Cowles Sr. came to Spokane in 1891 when he was 24. He had been a police reporter for the Chicago Tribune where his Father was Treasurer. There were two newspapers in Spokane at the time and he went to work for the Spokesman.
Over time he was able to acquire controlling shares in the Spokesman as they sparred back and forth with their rival The Review. In 1894 he was instrumental in merging the Spokesman with rival newspaper, the Review. The new paper became what is know today as the Spokesman-Review.
In 1897 William Cowles Sr. acquired the only evening paper in Spokane, The Chronicle, which was moved into the Review building for a time. A new building to house the Chronicle was built in 1928 where it continued to be published until 1992.
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The Review Building |
You can't miss the ten story tall Spokesman Review building. It's one of the most unique buildings in downtown Spokane. It was designed by Chancey Seaton and was completed in 1891. The 146 ft tall tower makes it one of the tallest buildings in Spokane.
The Cowles family are a dominant force in the Spokane community and own many other businesses. In addition to the Spokesman-Review the Cowles own the following businesses:
- Inland Paper Co.
- Basic Financial Solutions, Inc.
- Citizens Realty
- Cowles California Media Company
- Inland Empire Paper Company
- Journal of Business
- KHQ
- KNDO/KNDU
- New Media Ventures
- Nickels Worth Publications, Inc.
- Northwest Farmer-Stockman, Inc.
- Print Marketing Concepts Inc.
- River Park Square LLC
