Eugene Weekly to Relaunch Print Edition Following Embezzlement Scandal

Community support and fundraising efforts enable the Oregon newspaper to recover from financial hardship and plan for future sustainability.

The Eugene Weekly, an Oregon-based newspaper, is set to relaunch its print edition on February 8, following a period of financial hardship due to embezzlement by a former employee.
The newspaper had to lay off its entire staff after discovering at least $100,000 in unpaid bills and an embezzlement of around $90,000.
The paper has managed to raise approximately $150,000 since December, primarily through a GoFundMe campaign, but also through contributions from local businesses, artists, and readers.
Some former staff members have continued to volunteer their time to keep the paper's website running, with content contributed by journalism students at the University of Oregon and freelancers offering pro bono work.
The paper's editor, Camilla Mortensen, hopes to rehire the staff once the paper becomes financially sustainable.