Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is signaling a major shift in how the regional broadcaster plans to operate following the loss of federal funding last year. In a February 22, 2026 update, OPB President and CEO Rachel Smolkin outlined the organization’s response and detailed how the station intends to expand its reporting footprint across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

In her statement, Smolkin emphasized that more than 170,000 member households now support OPB’s work across both states. She described OPB as “standing strong as an independent, nonprofit source for trusted news,” noting that the shift away from federal support has pushed the broadcaster to rely more heavily on regional partnerships and community engagement.

For Southwest Washington communities including Vancouver, Cowlitz County, and the I‑5 corridor north to Longview and Kelso, OPB’s update suggests increased attention from one of the Northwest’s largest media organizations at a moment when many local newsrooms have contracted. Smolkin wrote that OPB is investing further in investigative work, breaking news capacity, and coverage that elevates rural and fast‑growing areas—citing Southwest Washington specifically as a region where the need for reporting is “especially acute.”

OPB also highlighted collaborations with Jefferson Public Radio, KLCC, and national investigative outlet ProPublica. One recent joint investigation examined bureaucratic hurdles slowing electrical grid upgrades; Smolkin stated that the reporting contributed to executive orders issued by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek aimed at accelerating renewable energy development.

Beyond traditional broadcast coverage, OPB says it is expanding digital services, including more visual journalism, increased app-based alerts, and broader use of social platforms. The organization pointed to growing readership of its daily “First Look” newsletter and continued distribution of long-running programs such as Oregon Field Guide, Oregon Experience, and OPB Politics Now.

In-person engagement also appears central to OPB’s strategy. According to the update, OPB held community listening sessions over the past year in cities including Vancouver and expects to host additional events throughout the region. The organization reported welcoming more than 6,000 attendees to its events statewide and encouraged the public to browse upcoming opportunities through its events page.

For Longview and Kelso residents—where local reporting resources remain thin and regional policy decisions often originate in Salem or Olympia—OPB’s stated expansion may bring increased coverage of issues that cross the Columbia River, from energy development and transportation planning to school finance and rural broadband access.

While Smolkin’s update carries the tone of an organizational message of thanks, it signals a concrete shift in how one of the region’s major media outlets intends to operate in a post‑federal‑funding environment: more local partnerships, more presence in Southwest Washington, and more direct engagement with communities that have seen their information ecosystems erode.