Cheney Free Press open house opens a few eyes

When the Cheney Free Press staged it first ever open house last Saturday, Oct. 24, the event opened some eyes.

An estimated 100 people came through the doors and were able to get behind the scenes of what goes on at their local newspaper. Visitors toured the press area where the finished papers are stuffed with advertisers inserts and then mailed.

"It was amazing," Myra Hartley said. "I had no idea it was as mechanical as it was and it makes me appreciate the price of a paper."

The Free Press Publishing press crew was on hand to demonstrate how the web press transforms gigantic blank rolls of paper into the finished product.

"I didn't know it took so many colors to make black," 12-year-old Blake Petersen said.

Tours continued into the front office where the guests learned how the editorial side of the paper - the writing and page layout process - is conducted. They also learned how the advertising staff conducts their business and ultimately how all the various parts fit together in the paper they see every Thursday.

"The comment I heard most was that we do a lot with just a few people," Cheney Free Press editor John McCallum said. "I was all prepared to be confronted by some people on things we've written but that never materialized."

"Everyone was highly complimentary of our paper and what we do," McCallum added.

"I think everyone who came had a good time and they were amazed that we do so much each week and that they didn't know we did (or) had other papers in the area," publisher Harlan Shellabarger said. "The press was cool, but the inserter stole the show."

Besides the Cheney Free Press the company also owns and publishes the Spokane Valley News Herald, The Davenport Times, the Ritzville Adams County Journal and the West Plains Extra. Free Press Publishing also produces the newspaper for Fairchild Air Force Base - The Fairchild Flyer.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.