At the Washington County Times, we honor our duty to inform and unite our community by continuing a proud legacy of local journalism.
For nearly two centuries, Washington County has been home to several influential publications. These newspapers not only informed citizens, but played a pivotal role in shaping the identity and progress of Washington County itself.
Today, as the Washington County Times steps forward and picks up the baton as a modern, online publication, we are proud to write the next chapter in our county’s storied history. We hope that our commitment to delivering timely, accurate, and community-focused news will ensure that the spirit of our journalistic heritage endures, and that Washington County will stay informed, connected, and inspired for generations to come.
Jacob Dufour - Publisher
Nathaniel Smith - Editor in Chief
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FAQ
We get a lot of questions from readers. Some are about how we report the news, others about why we choose to cover certain stories and not others. As a small, local publication, we believe in being transparent. We want our readers to understand what we do, why we do it, and the standards we live by as journalists.
This page includes answers to some of the most common questions we receive. If your question isn’t here, feel free to use the above form to reach out to us. We’re always happy to hear from readers, and do our best to answer questions quickly.
“You published an article about an arrest, but I think the suspect is innocent. Is that false reporting?”
Reporting on arrests is a delicate responsibility. There are always multiple sides to a story, which is why the journalistic standard is to quote directly from the press release issued by the law enforcement agency involved.
For example, if a press release says: “According to a witness, John Doe punched the victim and stole his wallet.”
We report: “According to the press release from [Agency Name], a witness stated that John Doe punched the victim and stole his wallet.”
If it later turns out that John Doe did not do those things, that is not false reporting by The Washington County Times. It's not even a false statement by law enforcement – it’s simply what a witness claimed. Our role is to report what’s been officially stated, and we make it clear that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
Innocence does not prevent the press from reporting on an arrest. Our job is to inform the public using verified sources, and that includes public records like arrest reports and press releases.
“Why aren’t you reporting on what our state or federal representatives are doing?”
Because plenty of other news outlets already are.
We didn’t start The Washington County Times to chase the same headlines as national or state news. We started it to focus on Washington County – it’s literally in our name!
As a small, rural publication with just two full-time contributors, we choose to use our limited time and resources to cover local stories that aren’t being reported elsewhere, like a feature on a struggling local organization or a deep dive into what happened at the last county commissioners meeting.
If we used our time covering the same national stories as everyone else, stories that matter here at home would go untold.
“Why aren’t you covering [local concern]? It’s a huge story!”
We love getting story tips and suggestions, and we take them seriously. But it’s important to note that not all leads are created equal – some stories can be covered in a day with a simple interview, and others require weeks of investigation, interviews, document requests, and legal review.
With just two full-time reporters who also handle all the administrative burden of running a county-wide news source, it’s not always possible to dive into large-scale stories right away. Investigative journalism takes time, care, and resources. If we rushed it, we’d risk making mistakes.
The good news? Every new donation or sponsorship brings us closer to hiring additional contributors. When we get there, we’ll be better equipped to take on deeper investigations without having to pause coverage of day-to-day news.
“Where do you stand on politics?”
We are a 100% politically neutral publication and strive to never portray an image of favoritism to one political side or another. Our job is to simply report facts, and let readers come to their own conclusions.
“Who do you work for?”
The Washington County Times LLC is owned exclusively by Washington County resident Jacob Dufour. It is a 100% independent publication, with 100% of its funding coming from local individual donors and local business sponsors. No part of its ownership or management answers to a parent corporation, political organization, law enforcement agency, secret society, or any other party that may hinder The Washington County Times from reporting unbiased, independent news.
“How can I become a supporter or advertise with you?”
We rely entirely on donations and sponsorships to fund our free news service to Washington County. You can become an individual supporter here or contact us today to discuss a business sponsorship. With over 30,000 readers (as of September 2025) and an average of over one million organic content views on social media a month, we are quickly becoming one of the best options for advertising in the area! We hope to hear from you!