About

Newsberg Media LLC is an independent, locally owned media outlet written by a neighbor for neighbors, dedicated to serving the Newberg-Dundee area with important news, events, and stories. Launched in 2023, Newsberg operates daily reporting and a weekly newsletter providing readers with their weekly briefing on what happened, is happening, or will happen in the coming days.

Newsberg Mission

“Service is the rent you pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”
– Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005)

Newsberg was founded on the idea that the Newberg-Dundee area deserves a local, independent, non-partisan media outlet to connect with its community and strengthen the bonds that solidify a happy, healthy town. It operates on three core tenets:

Events before they happen
News that actually matters
Community when it’s needed most

Newsberg aims to produce high-quality, objective local journalism that informs the public on local business, government, and quality of life of Chehalem Valley citizens. Newsberg holds public policy-makers, business leaders, and citizens accountable as much as it tells the stories of the people, places, and organizations that make this area so great.

The trust and respect of our audience will never be compromised. Our reporting will be free to all, no matter what.

Who Writes Newsberg

Branden Andersen

Founding Editor
editor@newsberg.org

A Salem, Ore. native, Branden started his journalism career at the Hickory Daily Record in Hickory, North Carolina, when he was in high school. He went on to study journalism and communication at the University of Oregon, where he served as a reporter at the Oregon Daily Emerald, Photo Editor of Ethos Magazine, and Managing Editor of Flux Magazine. After briefly interning at Portland Monthly Magazine and the Bend Bulletin (Bend, OR) as a Snowden Intern, he freelanced for publications regionally and nationally before pursuing a career in sales and marketing.

Branden’s passion for local news journalism started when he was 15 years old and continues today as he operates Newsberg for the deserving Newberg-Dundee community.

Disclosures

Branden Andersen previously served as the Executive Director of the Newberg Downtown Coalition from June 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. He is now the board president.

Past Writers

Jules Rogers, Reporter (2025)
Eric McCarthy, Contributor (2025)
Sierra Reisman, Editorial Intern (2025)
Skyler Hamman, Editorial Intern (2025)
Natalie Casey, Editorial Intern (2024)

Land Acknowledgement

Newsberg acknowledges it is operating on Kalapuyan land. The Kalapuyan people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, a federally recognized group that includes more than 30 other tribes and bands. We pay our respect to the Kalapuyan People, past, present, and emerging, who have been here since time immemorial.

Newsberg’s Ethics Policy

At Newsberg, we adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, emphasizing accuracy, fairness, and integrity in our reporting. We promptly correct errors, providing transparent updates both within the original articles and in our subsequent newsletters. While acknowledging that complete impartiality is challenging, we strive to present facts objectively, allowing readers to form their own conclusions. We are committed to pro-democracy principles, governmental transparency, active community participation, and holding those in power accountable. Our team discloses any community affiliations to maintain trust and avoid conflicts of interest. Additionally, we refrain from political endorsements, except on matters affecting public records access and open government meetings.

Read Newsberg’s full ethics policy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Newsberg tries to find the balance between utilizing the benefits of innovative technologies, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, while minimizing the ethical and privacy risks involved. Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, is now becoming so ubiquitous that we find it important to define and disclose our use and policies around the technology. As a small newsroom with 1 full-time employee, AI tools can be a lifeline for otherwise cripplingly expensive and time-intensive work.

Read Newsberg’s full Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Statement

At Newsberg, we are committed to fostering a culture that embraces diversity, champions equity, promotes inclusion, and strengthens a sense of belonging. We believe that journalism thrives when it reflects the full breadth of experiences, perspectives, and voices in the communities we serve.

Diversity: We recognize and celebrate the diversity of our team and audience, understanding that a wide range of backgrounds—whether racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, or otherwise—enriches the stories we tell. We actively seek to hire, represent, and uplift voices from all walks of life.

Equity: We are dedicated to equitable practices, ensuring that all team members have access to the opportunities, resources, and support they need to succeed. We strive to dismantle barriers within our newsroom and the media industry that disproportionately affect underrepresented groups.

Inclusion: We aim to create an inclusive environment where all voices are heard, respected, and valued. This includes cultivating a newsroom culture that encourages collaboration, embraces diverse viewpoints, and fosters a space where people feel empowered to contribute.

Belonging: We are committed to ensuring that everyone—whether a member of our team, a source, or a reader—feels a true sense of belonging within our newsroom. We know that when people feel they belong, their contributions are richer, their perspectives more vibrant, and their participation more impactful.

As journalists, we hold ourselves accountable to these values in our reporting, sourcing, and editorial processes. We strive to represent the communities we serve with integrity, authenticity, and a commitment to truth. We are continuously learning, adapting, and evolving to meet the needs of our team and audience in an ever-changing world.

Corrections

Newsberg and its editorial staff adhere to the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). How we deal with errors and omissions in our reporting is important to maintaining our integrity and the trust of readers and sources.

When Newsberg publishes an error, we will acknowledge it and take appropriate steps to correct it as quickly as possible, both online and on our social media platforms. Readers who wish to alert us to errors and omissions can email us at editor@newsberg.org or submit a correction through our contact form.