About Us

The Skanner  is a website and newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Established in 1975, The Skanner News Group  has advanced the cause of the Black Press in the North Western United States. Through the newspapers and the Web site The Skanner  has provided regional and national corporate advertisers a variety of methods to effectively market their products and services to our readers.

The Skanner  has served the public with timely information in the Portland edition since October 1975 and the Seattle edition since 1990. The publisher is a past two-term president of the West Coast Black Publishers Association as well as a member of the National Newspapers Publishers Association.

It took The Skanner  Publisher Bernie Foster eight years of work to commission, engineer and build equipment to meet the stringent specifications for federal broadcasting, but after getting an FCC license he entered the radio market and launched KEUG 105.5 in Eugene, Oregon, in 1998. A year later he followed up with the launch of KAVJ in Roseberg, Oregon.

The radio stations did well and The Skanner  ran them for 5 -7 years before selling them to new investors.

Each day The Skanner  strives to work in harmony with its mission statement: "Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now" and at the same time abide by the declared values that are reflected in the mission statement.

Declared Values:

• Excellence is achievable every day.
• We are responsible for improving the health and vitality of our community.
• Reading is imperative.
• Information is the catalyst for action and change.
• All parts work well together.
• Being accountable and responsible is essential for optimal results.
• The quality of our future depends on the self-worth, commitment and participation of our youth.
• What you have to say is important and you deserve to be heard.

With a readership of 75,000, The Skanner  reports news, entertainment, business and sports.  Being a part of the print media is an advantage in providing a service to communities today. The Skanner  views its printed editions as a tool for the community to learn about what is happening around us as well as giving our readers an opportunity to voice their opinion. We consider our on-line version of the newspaper to do the same, reaching an even broader audience.

Awards

The Skanner News Group  has received honors and awards from many organizations:

2021 - DJC Building Diversity Lifetime Achievement Award - Bernie and Bobbie Foster (view video)
2019 - National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Merit Award - Digital Excellence (website) 3rd place
2017 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Layout and Design 1st place
2016 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Editorial 2nd place
2015 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Use of Photos 1st place
2014 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Feature Story 1st place
2014 - NNPA Merit Award - Digital Excellence (website) 2nd place
2014 - NNPA Merit Award - Community Service Award 3rd place
2013 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Editorial  1st place
2012 - NNPA Merit Award - Community Service Award 1st place
2012 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards: for Breaking News 2nd place and for Sustainability 2nd place.
2011 - NNPA Merit Award - Community Service Award 1st place; Best Original Advertising Award 2nd place
2010 - The Ida B. Wells prize for Best News Story
2010 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards for Cultural Diversity 1st; for Heritage 1st. Also finalist: Aid/Emergency Relief, Environment; Responsibility and General Excellence. The Skanner News was the only newspaper to win a prize in all its five categories.
2010 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Use of Photos Award 1st place
2009 - NNPA Merit Award - Overall layout and design Award 1st place; Best Entertainment pages Award 1st place.
2009 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards: two 1st places and two 3rd places
2008 - OPB Business Partners, 10 years
2008 - North Northeast Business Boosters - Outstanding Business & community service
2008 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Award of Excellence in the Categories of Education and Employment. Also three honors
2006 - Vancouver Branch NAACP - Diversity Leadership Award
2006 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Award for Publishing Excellence
2005 - Jefferson High School Football Program
2002 - Cascade AIDS Project - Angel Award
2002 - Black United Fund Oregon - Legacy Award
2002 - A. Philip Randolph Messenger Award for News Writing, 1st place runner-up
2001 - UHURU Grassroots Community Service Award
2001 - Spirit of Portland Award
2001 - Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs - Economic Development Award
2001 - African American Alliance for Homeownership - Certificate of Appreciation
2000 - NNPA - Best Use of Photographs 1st place
2000 - NNPA - Best Layout and Design 1st place
1999 - NNPA - Best Use of Photographs 1st place
1999 - NNPA - Best News Pictures 2nd place
1999 - NNPA - Best Layout and Design 2nd place
1999 - NNPA - Best Feature Story 3rd place
1999 - African American Chamber of Commerce in Oregon - I Believe I Can Fly
1998 - Nigerian Community in Oregon and Southwest Washington
1998 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Use of Photos 1st place
1998 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Special Edition 2nd place
1998 - NNPA Merit Award - Best Layout and Design 2nd place
1997 - The Northeast Economic Development Council - Friend of Nigeria Award
1997 - Terry Porter Basketball Camp
1997 - Outstanding Contribution to the Smoke Detector Campaign of 1987
1996 - Austin Family Business Program at Oregon State University - Small Family Business of the Year
1995 - West Coast Publishers Association - Best Special Edition 1st place
1995 - West Coast Publishers Association - Best News Story 1st place
1995 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Typography and Graphics 2nd place
1995 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best News Story 1st place
1995 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial 2nd place
1995 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 2nd place
1995 - Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce - "Dedicated Service on the Board of Directors"
1995 - Cascade Pacific Council - Guardian Member
1994 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - General Excellence 1st place
1994 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Typography and Graphics 1st place
1994 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best News Story 2nd place
1994 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial 1st place
1994 - United Way of the Columbia-Willamette - Spotlight Award, Outstanding Media Coverage
1994 - African American Employment Subcommittee - Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian award
1993 - West Coast Publishers Association - Publisher of the Year
1993 - T&T - In Appreciation for Your Participation in Unity Day
1993 - Portland Community College - For outstanding contributions and service to the college and the community at large
1993 - Northeast Business Boosters
1992 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - General Excellence 3rd place
1992 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Sports Page 2nd place
1992 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial, 2nd place
1992 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 2nd place
1991 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Use of Photos 1st place
1991 - West Coast black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 1st place
1991 - The Black United Fund of Oregon, Inc - "You Make the Difference" Award
1989 - West Coaster Black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 1st place
1989 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Publisher of the Year
1989 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial, 2nd place
1989 - Oregon Minority Enterprise - Achievement Award
1989 - Northeast Shrine Hospital - Outstanding Performance
1988 - Zeta Sigma Omega Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc - Emerald Award
1988 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - General Excellence 1st place
1988 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Religion 1st place
1988 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Editorial 1st place
1988 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Black History Edition 1st place
1988 - United Way of the Columbia-Willamette - Award of Excellence
1987 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Entertainment Page
1987 - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - Certificate of Life Membership
1986 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Woman Page 1st place
1986 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Publisher of the Year
1986 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Entertainment Section 1st place
1986 - Summit Award - African American Entrepreneur of the Year
1986 - Oregon Human Development Corporation - Community Organization Award
1986 - Black Publishers Association - Best Use of Photographs 2nd place
1985 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Typography and Makeup
1985 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Sports Page 2nd place
1985 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Sports Page 2nd place
1985 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - Best Entertainment Section
1985 - Trade-Mark Corporation Roy Jay Enterprises - Special Recognition
1985 - The Jazz Community - For the recognition that he and his staff have shown to the jazz musicians in our city
1985 - Opening of the Light Rail Spike
1984 - West Coast Black Publishers Association - General Reporting
1984 - Read Council - Media Award
1984 - Oregon Association of Colored Women’s Clubs - In Appreciation for Outstanding Service and Support
1983 - The Pacific Northwest Minority Business Economics Assn.
1983 - Minority Business Opportunity Committee - Special Recognition Award
1982 - George H. Baldwin Memorial Foundation, Inc
1981 - The National Alliance of Business job Fair - in appreciation for service
1981 - Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs - Economic Development Award
1980 - Contractors Management Association, Inc - First Quality Award for Outstanding Performance in Minority Business Enterprise
1979 - Contractors Management Association, Inc - First Quality Award
1976 - Black Law Enforcement Executives National Organization

Special Editions:

The Skanner  also produces several special supplements each year. In January, The Skanner  pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For the month of February, The Skanner  celebrates Black History with our Black History Edition. Next, in May, is the Career Guide, which covers trends in business and how it affects new careers and those in transition. The Minority Business Enterprise and National Fire Prevention Week are special editions that are produced in October. These special editions are also on-line.

An integral part of The Skanner   News Group is The Skanner Foundation, the non-profit arm of The Skanner  involved in promoting education through scholarships and technological training.

As an expanding Black news group reporting news to inform and help others, The Skanner  deems it a privilege to have served people for more than 40 years.

Contact information