In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Art at Work Month, our 10 in 10 series is spotlighting the best local people, ideas and events of the past decade.
T-town is their beat: Weekly Volcano publisher Ron Swarner and staff.
If Tacoma’s culture scene were a bar, it would be Cheers‘ dirty cousin (in a good way), the one that attracts all kinds (let’s be honest), and everybody knows your name. The bartender of that joint, the Buddha of Budweiser, the maestro of mixology making the tastiest, most unpredictable cocktails to keep the scene lubricated would be Ron Swarner, publisher of the Weekly Volcano.
The Volcano is a key player in the city’s cultural life with a weekly print and online readership of 160,000. When the alternative newspaper won a 2007 AMOCAT Award in recognition of its arts patronage, it was cited as “a kind of collective urban diary,” one featuring original voices, “spunky columnists, vivid profiles and sassy commentary on the culture scene.” Furthermore, “When readers climb between the [Volcano‘s] swanky covers, they find a waking dream of film, theatre, art, fashion, and the best music section in the South Sound as well as the area’s most comprehensive arts and music calendars.” We couldn’t have said it better.
“The first Weekly Volcano hit the streets on Nov. 1, 2001, with the cover story ‘Drive-by Shots,’ a look at local drive-through coffee joints,” recalls Swarner. “Back then, there weren’t many huts. Also, baristas kept their clothes on. It was 12 pages.”
Swarner earned his chops before starting the culture scene’s paper of record. “I’ve been publishing papers since 1985 when the Mac, Photoshop and VHS tapes came out. And I was writing video reviews and hand delivering a monthly, paginated, video newspaper to 100 Tacoma houses while finishing my Econ degree at the University of Washington. I laugh just thinking about it.” Journalism is in his blood – also that of his brother, Ken, who publishes the Ranger and Northwest Airlifter. Though they run the papers separately, technically, he says, they are co-publishers.
The 200th issue came out in 2005. Cover art by James Hume.
We had a few more questions for the veteran newsman.
Tacoma Arts: What do you wear to work?
Ron Swarner: I wear slacks, Robert Graham shirts and often vintage hats. I haven’t worn a tie since the late ’80s.
TA: Do you personally answer your e-mail?
RS: I do personally answer my e-mail – and text messages, social media messages and posted comments on our website and blog. I receive hundreds daily, but I try to get through them by the end of the day. However, my phone message center says 10 messages are in the queue. I’ve never been a huge phone person.
TA: Do you read other newspapers?
RS: I read The News Tribune every day. No one can match their coverage of local city and county news, politics and civic issues. I pick up the Seattle Weekly and Stranger most weeks. And often, the Sunday New York Times. Online, I read Crosscut, Westword, Slate and the Weekly Alibi. Continue reading
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