Case assignment: Weekly News publisher’s back story

On a morning stroll along the marina, it would be near impossible not to admire the panoramic views around you. With snow-capped mountains to the east and a channel pouring out into a bay to the west, this picturesque town is a well-known treasure of the Pacific Northwest. La Conner, Washington is an art-fueled community that is home to the longest continuously published weekly newspaper in the state. The La Conner Weekly News fights to keep printed newspapers alive in a world of laptops and smartphones.

Ken Stern publishes and owns of The La Conner Weekly News. He began this journey in 2016,...