Race in the Yakima Valley, Yakima, WA 2000 

Partners:

Yakima Herald-Republic

Immigration has boosted the Hispanic presence in Yakima to 37 percent of the total population. The paper explored the resulting tensions and benefits in a seven-day series, “Race in the Yakima Valley,” Dec. 10-16, 2000. Reporters and editors worked with an ethnically diverse advisory committee to develop questions for a survey of 400 Hispanic and 400 non-Hispanic Yakima area residents. The paper also convened two focus groups.

The focus groups proved to be so rich in insight that the paper created what it called “Listening Post” assignments, requiring reporters to seek out sources never interviewed by the paper before in public places where people congregate. Reporters estimate they spoke to more than 300 people for the project.

Some 80 people phoned or emailed the paper with mostly favorable comments. Yakima’s PBS station aired an hour-long discussion of the Herald-Republic’s stories and the issues involved on day six of the series. The series also inspired the dean of education at nearby Heritage College to look into organizing a round-table group to keep the discussion of race alive.

Contact:

Bob Crider
Managing Editor
Yakima Herald-Republic
114 N. 4th Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Phone: (509) 577-7672
Email: bcrider@yakima-herald.com