Sign of the Times: E-W Newspaper Stops the Presses

For a decade now, newspapers have been shedding staff, losing money, losing subscribers and, in some cases, simply shutting down the printing presses for good.

The newspaper meltdown has finally caught up with Edmonds-Woodway High School this year as its student newspaper, The Wireless, is no more.

Like former newspapers who have found new life—if not profits—online, such as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which printed its last paper edition in March 2009, The Wireless was resurrected as an online source only.

But The Wireless might not be around much longer as an online source for news. Ray Johnson, E-W's adviser for both The Wireless and the school yearbook, says a grand total of three students are currently on staff.

School has been open for coming up two months, but until Wednesday there was only one story on the site, one by Sam Ghebreyuus on the school band entering a battle-of-the-bands contest. Another story appeared this week, on Tuesday, detailing the accomplishements of E-W swimmer Djenne Dickens.

In addition to the front page, the website has headings for arts and entertainment, sports, opinion, features and news. None have any content.

Said Johnson: "It's tough to get students interested."