Launched in February 2022, the online independent publication Wings PNW makes community awareness and involvement easy and enjoyable. Wings is responding to the lack of quality information in the declining local news landscape with accessible news products including a twice-weekly newsletter and a newly launched website.
Wings PNW was founded by fifth-generation Wahkiakum County resident Andrew Weiler, a Northwestern University graduate, and media entrepreneur. Weiler’s dedication to seeing a thriving community in his hometown sparked a desire to address the information needs of Southwest Washington residents.
Wings currently focuses on highlighting events in five counties including Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, and Wahkiakum. Beginning next month, Weiler hopes to publish original stories about Southwest Washington that capture the region’s most important aspects including activities, businesses, charitable organizations, and resources.
“I believe a social, cultural, political, and economically thriving community begins with a well-informed group of people,” Weiler stated. “With the right information, delivered in a timely manner, anything is possible.”
As a young organization Wings continues to learn about what its 1600 subscribers are interested in through surveys and in-person events. Feedback from community listening efforts informs the direction of content and product development. Even before launching Wings, Weiler conducted in-person and online surveys with hundreds of residents and used the data to identify common challenges they faced as news consumers in Southwest Washington. The responses expressed a collective distaste for social media and a lack of quality information from the remaining print news publications in the area. Wings aims to avoid the clutter and overwhelming feeling of Facebook feeds as well as the gossip and slander often found on public group pages.
Wings’ twice-weekly email newsletter and newly launched website is designed to assist residents of Southwest Washington stay informed about their communities and provide opportunities for couples, families, or individuals to get involved. Local businesses and organizations also have the opportunity to reach highly engaged readers through sponsorship across the Wings website and newsletter.
For more information about Wings PNW or it’s founder, email andrew@wingspnw.com.
