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For the defunct newspaper published in Salem and then Portland in the 19th and early 20th centuries, see The Mercury (defunct Oregon newspaper).

Portland Mercury is an alternative bi-weekly newspaper and media company founded in 2000 in Portland, Oregon. It has a sibling publication in Seattle, Washington, called The Stranger.[2]

History

A prior version of The Mercury was published from 1869 and into the 1930s. The current Portland Mercury launched in June 2000.[3] The paper describes their readership as "affluent urbanites in their 20s and 30s."[4] Its long-running rivalry with Willamette Week began before its first issue was even printed when Willamette Week publisher Richard Meeker asked a Portland law firm to pay $10 to register the Mercury name with Oregon's Corporation Division, thus preventing it from being used for 120 days.[5]

As of 2020, the newspaper's revenue was almost entirely dependent on advertising and sales of tickets for events and concerts with nearly 95% of its revenue coming from advertisements.[6][7]

Former managing editor Phil Busse's controversial tenure included charges of plagiarism, a favorable review for a restaurant that hadn't yet opened, a bid for mayor, and a cover featuring him wearing women's underwear, dollops of whipped cream, and a hard hat.[8] Shrill, a television series based on Seattle-based writer Lindy West’s memoir and essay collection of the same name, was inspired by The Stranger and Portland Mercury and starred actress Aidy Bryant.[9] The paper has also published articles and columns written by Chuck Palahniuk and Dan Savage.[10][11]

Portland Mercury's print edition was published weekly until fall 2018[12] when it changed to bi-weekly beginning with the issue released on September 13, 2018.[13] Its name as displayed on the nameplate was shortened to just Mercury as well.[12][14]

On March 14, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the paper temporarily suspended print publication and switched to online only.[15] In addition, it laid off 10 employees, which comprised half of the publication's staff.[16][17] A special newsstand edition, titled 'Say Nice Things About Portland: A Manifesto,' was released in May 2023. It was Portland Mercury's first print publication since the beginning of the pandemic.[18]

In July 2024, the paper was sold by Index Media to Noisy Creek, a media company founded by Brady Walkinshaw.[19][20][21][22]

References

  1. ^ "The Portland Mercury". Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  2. ^ Meza, Claudia (March 17, 2020). "How Alternative Weeklies Are Weathering The Pandemic". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2020-04-27. the Mercury and its Seattle sister paper, The Stranger
  3. ^ Humphrey, Wm. Steven (June 1, 2000). "The Triumphant Return of The Mercury". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on November 15, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ad-info". Mercury readers are affluent urbanites in their 20s and 30s with impressive disposable incomes and an appetite for everything the city has to offer.
  5. ^ Brenneman, Kristina (April 9, 2000). "No welcome mat for this Stranger". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Meza, Claudia (March 17, 2020). "How Alternative Weeklies Are Weathering The Pandemic". www.opb.org. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  7. ^ Mesh, Aaron (March 14, 2020). "Portland Mercury Halts Print Editions Amid Coronavirus Shutdowns". Willamette Week. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  8. ^ Butler, Grant (April 3, 2009). "White Bird hires controversial Phil Busse as general manager". Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  9. ^ "Portland-filmed 'Shrill' renewed for Season 3 on Hulu". March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Palahniuk, Chuck. "Chuck Palahniuk Article Archive". Portland Mercury. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  11. ^ Savage, Dan. "Dan Savage Article Archive". Portland Mercury. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Gormley, Shannon (May 24, 2018). "Starting This Fall, The Portland Mercury Will Publish a Paper Every Other Week". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  13. ^ Humphrey, Wm. Steven (September 12, 2018). "Good Morning, News: Merkley Spills the Tea, GOP in Serious November Trouble, and the New Biweekly Mercury". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  14. ^ "Portland Mercury, News, Entertainment, Trouble". September 13, 2018. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "The Mercury Is Temporarily Switching to Online Only". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  16. ^ Davis, Rob (2020-03-14). "Portland Mercury temporarily cuts 10 staff, will publish online only". oregonlive. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  17. ^ "Coronavirus woes causing cutbacks at Portland Mercury". Portland Tribune. March 14, 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  18. ^ "Say Nice Things About Portland: A Manifesto". Portland Mercury. 2020-05-17. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  19. ^ Hiruko, Ashley (2024-07-29). "The Stranger newspaper sold to former state legislator Brady Walkinshaw". KUOW. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  20. ^ Roberts, Paul (2024-07-29). "After 33 years of feisty, 4-letter coverage, Seattle's Stranger is sold". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  21. ^ Rogoway, Mike (2024-07-30). "Former Washington legislator buys Portland Mercury and The Stranger". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  22. ^ Robertson, Katie (2024-07-30). "The Stranger in Seattle Gets a New Owner, With Plans for Expansion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
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