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When Therese Bottomly joined the copy desk at The Oregonian just two days after graduating from the University of Oregon in 1983, newsrooms were just getting rudimentary computers and people still smoked at their desks. That year, only 15 percent of adult women in the United States had college degrees.

This summer, Bottomly retired after 42 years in the newsroom. In a February 2025 interview with OPB, she said, “I’ve dedicated my life to trying to open up government records, trying to hold the highest principles of journalism.” As editor, she wrote a regular column about reporting and editorial decision-making in Oregon. Under her leadership, The Oregonian won six Pulitzer Prizes, maintained a commitment to accountability reporting, and achieved stability as a mainly digital publication, even as other newsrooms shrank.

In this program, Bottomly will reflect on her career, discuss the challenges facing journalism today, and offer her hopes for the future of local news in Oregon. Kerry Tymchuk, Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society, will lead the conversation.

About the speakers:

Therese Bottomly

Therese Bottomly retired as editor and vice president of content for The Oregonian and its website, OregonLive, in summer 2025. She had worked for The Oregonian for 42 years, overseeing the news organization’s transformation into the digital age. As editor, she was responsible for all newsroom operations and was a member of the editorial board. She is a longtime advocate for open government and transparency.

Kerry Tymchuk

Kerry Tymchuck serves as the Boyle Family Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society. Founded in 1898, OHS is the designated steward of Oregon’s history. Prior to assuming the helm at OHS in April 2011, Kerry earned a bi-partisan reputation as one of Oregon’s most respected public servants. His career included service as a Marion County Deputy District Attorney, Director of Speechwriting to U.S. Secretary of Labor Elizabeth Dole, Director of Speechwriting and Legal Counsel to U.S. Senator Bob Dole, and Oregon Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Gordon Smith.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to City Club’s Fall 2025 Season Sponsors, AARP Oregon and Fight Against Sex Trafficking (FAST), and to the sponsors of this program, The Oregonian/Oregon Live and University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.


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