Think Out Loud Black community leaders in Portland say void left by The Skanner shutdown will be hard to fill
Feb 19, 2026
Donovan Scribes, writer-producer and former Skanner reporter who covered race and media. Bruce Poinsett, freelance writer who profiled Portland arts and emerging Black artists. Margaret Carter, former state legislator and longtime Skanner columnist. They discuss The Skanner’s community role, how it held leaders accountable, and the challenges left by its shutdown.
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Launching A Reporter From Community Roots
- Bruce Poinsett got his start at The Skanner after pitching a story following J-school and was given a shot by editor Lisa Loving.
- He used that access to profile emerging Black artists and be embedded in community moments that larger outlets missed.
Reporting Led To Real School Policy Changes
- Donovan Scribes described reporting a viral racist image at a Tualatin school that administrators initially downplayed but later addressed after his story ran.
- His reporting prompted the school to identify students, change policies on bullying and online harassment, and issue a public statement.
Challenging Racialized Media Labels
- Donovan recounted challenging police and media language like labeling incidents 'gang related' to reveal racialized coding in reporting.
- His Q&A with a Gresham PIO exposed the lack of a clear rubric behind that label and sparked community response.