When tragedy strikes, local journalism leads

When tragedy unfolded in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho — with the deadly ambush of local firefighters — the newsroom at the Coeur d’Alene Press didn’t wait for marching orders. They acted. Led by Executive Publisher Clint Schroeder and Interim Editor Bill Buley, the team not only documented the events but became a trusted voice of reason and healing in the aftermath.

“It became relatively apparent that we needed to do something a little unusual — out of the ordinary,” Schroeder said. Though the paper typically doesn’t print on Mondays, they reversed course. “We decided about 5:00 in the afternoon — while the events were still unfolding — to print and go to our full home delivery and single-copy audience… It just seemed like the right thing to do.”

Despite the logistical challenges, the community newspaper rose to the occasion. “Everybody came to the table,” Schroeder said. “Nobody complained… all of our carriers that normally get the day off — everybody showed up.”

A community-first approach in real time

For Buley, the urgency hit while he was attending an event in Spokane. “I got a notice on the phone — somebody just asking me, ‘Hey, what’s going on at Canfield?’” he recalled. “So I started quickly making calls — called the chief of police, called the fire chief, called the fire PIO… and they gave enough to get something online to get us started.”

The fast-moving coverage was not just about the incident. As Schroeder emphasized, “This isn’t what our community stands for… It’s not something that anybody took lightly.” His letter to readers — featured alongside the coverage — became a rallying point. “We needed to make sure that everyone understood that this isn’t normal. This isn’t who we are.”

Local media remains the center of trust

As national news outlets began circling, Buley noted that the big networks were less interested in commandeering the reporting and more focused on community reaction. “They wanted to interview somebody at the Press — just about the community response, how people were feeling… I think I did four interviews with different publications.”

Still, the absolute trust lay with the local team. “We were able to pretty much get the story from the folks that were out there on the ground,” Buley said. “The firefighters were pretty good about answering our phone calls… I called the Coeur d’Alene police chief — it had just started — and he actually picked up his phone.”

The connection to the community runs deep. “This was more than a story of just people getting shot,” Buley said. “This was a story about the community and how the community is responding to that.”

Helping a community heal beyond the news cycle

In the days that followed, the Coeur d’Alene Press remained committed not just to coverage but to healing. “It will take some time,” Schroeder said. “But… our annual Fourth of July parade had 106 entries. It was two hours and twenty minutes of watching people drive by — the patriotism and just the coming together as a community.”

That unity was palpable. “They went as far as the riderless horses and really supporting the families… even for the officer/firefighter that is now still recovering,” Schroeder said. “The support’s just really been unbelievable.”

Reinforcing why local journalism matters

To Schroeder, the tragedy underscored the critical mission of local media. “Our content… is the only thing that we have that’s uniquely ours. And it’s the only thing I think that we have that’s worth protecting,” he said. “During good times, during bad times — we are the only ones that speak for and speak to our community.”

That voice isn’t just reactive. It provides a foundation for hope. “Shining a light on the good things that people were doing — the fundraising for the families… people wanting to help in any way they could,” Schroeder said. “Just shining a light on the fact that we take care of each other; we’re here for each other.”

And for the paper, the mission continues. “We have no option but to continue investing in our content departments,” Schroeder said. “This is what matters. And I believe that as long as we stay as relevant and microlocal as possible, we will continue to grow.”

A story that speaks to the soul of journalism

The Coeur d’Alene Press didn’t just publish headlines. It led the community — with empathy, resolve, and journalistic integrity. “This truly is a reflection of our community,” Schroeder said. “What we do every day.”

In that commitment lies the power of local news — not just to report what happened but to help a community understand who they are and who they still aspire to be.