Frank Catalano

@frankcatalano

Author. Journalist. Former edtech industry CMO & advisor. Onetime broadcaster and science-fiction writer. Based in Northwest Washington state. Posts here mostly about writing and journalism. Newest words:

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Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 1d

Never visit Great Falls without a housewarming gift. Especially if you’re building a manufacturing campus there that will eventually hire as many people as you currently employ in all of Northwest Washington state. Second item in Franksplaining Business: franksplaining.substack.com/p/the-busine...

While Janicki may be well known for highly technical work in advanced composites, precision machining and metal fabrication for its aerospace, defense, space and other customers (including projects involving NASA spacecraft and Boeing jets), its groundbreaking also honored home base Sedro-Woolley’s logging heritage.
During the ceremonies, the company presented the city with a roughly 74-inch tall, 57-inch wide and 78-inch long wood bison, hand carved from a single western red cedar log. The bison, described as having been finished in about 20 hours by expert carver Mark Colp, was created during Sedro-Woolley’s annual Loggerodeo competition.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 5d

A heads up for followers both in Northwest Washington and British Columbia, #Canada. Subscribe (free) to get the newsletter first thing Tuesday morning: franksplaining.com

Photo of Canadian mall with Canadian flags and text reading:

The business cost of cross-border bad blood
New survey of Whatcom County's businesses shows the toll
Available August 11th, 2026
https://franksplaining.substack.com

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 10d

Unsolicited reciprocal shoutout to Evan at The Hamster Wheel newsletter. I don’t think anything I’ve ever done has been described as “SO GOOD!” in caps. It made my week. #Bellingham events, photos and vibes (all with a refreshing light touch) in the 3x-weekly Wheel here: www.bellinghamsterwheel.com

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 11d

The economics of being a community news reporter in Northwest Washington, working for the national Adams MultiMedia newspaper chain. Ron Judd writes about why eight local journalists at three related papers staged a brief strike, & what's at stake: ronjudd.substack.com/p/saving-loc... #journalism

On “off” days, Williams is not really off. She writes freelance pieces or works at a Cruisin’ Coffee stand, where she makes a better hourly wage — a difference even more notable because of occasional tips, which ethics rules rightfully forbid in news jobs — than she does working as a journalist.

That news job currently pays less than $20 per hour. And at most publications, the pay is for 40 hours a week at jobs that require far more. These are literally fast-food wages.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 15d

In case anyone was wondering. franksplaining.com

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 16d

In the spirit of community service, I recommend other news outlets for stuff I used to do as part of my earlier work at CDN. Instead, read Franksplaining Business for the bigger picture: this time, on office vacancies & mall changes. Sorry to disappoint. franksplaining.substack.com/p/a-tale-of-...

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 17d

Office vacancy rates in Q2: Seattle 22% Tacoma 23.7% Everett 15.8% Bellingham 5% Why is Bellingham the only single digit? Plus Northwest Washington's oldest mall gets national love, PAE polls and ... Snoopy. All in the new Franksplaining Business. franksplaining.substack.com/p/a-tale-of-...

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 19d

Well, this is fun. Substack allows you to promote an upcoming scheduled newsletter in a graphic. A coming attraction. I’d be remiss not to suggest subscribing (free) to get it automatically when it’s published: franksplaining.com Now back to my Sunday morning coffee.

Image of a Bellingham, Washington flag with the text:
A tale of two cities' vacancies
Why Seattle and Bellingham widely diverge on office demand
Available July 28th, 2026
FRANKSPLAINING.SUBSTACK.COM

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 20d

Why you shouldn't take what's viral as what's important ... but also why you (and journalists) shouldn't automatically either promote or ignore it. Ron Judd on whether credible news can survive in our 'bauble-obsessed' culture. ronjudd.substack.com/p/can-credib...

Fact: Broad public knowledge and/or likely interest in a potential news story has always been a factor in making news decisions. It’s why trained and experienced journalists matter. In truth, the internet is just a souped-up modern stand-in for what used to be water-cooler conversations.

Key difference: Casual community gossip was usually second or third hand information, taking days or weeks to generate critical mass. Now, personal-publication platforms spread awareness instantly. Multiply that by millions for the “facts” bombarding us daily via (anti)social media. All too often, this masquerades as broad public sentiment.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 22d

A week into it, and I'm encouraged. My Franksplaining Business newsletter of #business & #tech news through a Northwest Washington lens is getting read & shared. Free subscribers in triple digits. Pledges. Thoughtful comments. Will keep at it, twice a month, one issue at a time. franksplaining.com

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 27d

Greatly appreciate Ron Judd's pointer to my first Franksplaining Business newsletter (at franksplaining.com). However, I encourage everyone to check out Ron's new The BellingHammer and his advice: "Leave bison man the hell alone." A great, cautionary read: ronjudd.substack.com/p/bison-man-...

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· 28d

Wow, thanks Amazon. I had no idea my now-out-of-print book on internet marketing was so far ahead of its time.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jul 14

Attention, BLI flyers: I have the results of a new business travel survey — and news of a pending grant to increase #airline service in this very northwest corner. Plus the business of local news. And NW WA home & job data. In Franksplaining Business. franksplaining.substack.com/p/small-airp...

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jul 9

Looking like Franksplaining Business will be twice monthly, not once. More timely. And I've got too much material for just a single newsletter each month. First packed #business issue planned next week. I did enjoy the intro issue poll result ("just send the damned thing"). franksplaining.com

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jul 8

It's old. It's clunky. And it's invaluable as a #radio history reference. Yet 440: Satisfaction is shutting down, effective 3/1/2027, according to its home page. Since 1995, it's let one-time air talent (like me) track colleagues' careers. This will really be a loss. www.440int.com/city.html

Home page of 440: Satisfaction at https://www.440int.com/city.html allowing searching by city for stations and on-air personnel, for radio broadcasting history.

Message on the home page of https://www.440int.com/ reading:

9/25/25 message from Johnny Williams: We are no longer updating this site -- and will be shutting it all down March 1, 2027. It has been a great run (since 1995), and I've had lots of fun running it -- and meeting many wonderful people in the process. To those who have supported the effort, I will always be very grateful -- thank you!

Again, Those Were the Days, 440: Satisfaction, and the entire site -- will close 3/01/2027.

Entry for Frank Catalano on 440: Satisfaction reading:

Frank Catalano
KIST [Santa Barbara CA] 1976 - Nightcat
KUHL [Santa Maria CA] 1977
KIDO [Boise ID] 1978
WNFL [Green Bay WI] 1979
KTNT [Tacoma WA] 1980
KMPS/KMPS-FM [Seattle WA] 1981
KING [Seattle] 1982-1988
KCPQ-TV [Seattle] 1998-2002 - tech editor/analyst
Now: Frank says (9/08), "I've gone back to being a consultant after trying the corporate executive life since 2004 and, though I haven't been regularly on the 'right side' of the mike since 2002, I expect there will be opportunities to do so going forward."

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 30

Today marks the end of a tumultuous month. I mark it by retiring my 2022 vintage, original Cascadia Daily News cap. It is faded. Sweat-stained. Repeatedly carefully handwashed. Kind of like this former CDN business contributor. My continued best to the sharp @cascadiadaily.com newsroom staff.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 29

PNW Newspaper Guild announces a new contract between McClatchy and its five papers in ID and WA, including the Bellingham Herald & Tacoma News Tribune. This, after a one-day strike in May. Higher wages, yes. But also limits on AI use which appear equally important per the union email announcement.

Email text:

Dear friend,

We did it!

After more than a year of grueling bargaining with McClatchy Media, we are happy to share that the union members of five newspapers in Idaho and Washington have voted to ratify a new three-year contract.

We secured guaranteed raises and some of the strongest protections against artificial intelligence in the news industry.

Our biggest wins include:

Guaranteed raises of 7.2% to 15.5% over the next three years, including immediate raises of 3% to 11.1%
$52,000 minimum salary for current employees
Ban on AI being used to replace staff, decrease pay or reduce working hours
Ban on forcing reporters to do their work using AI
Ban on publishing deepfakes, impersonating union members without our consent or creating fake AI journalists
Ban on mandatory production quotas in performance reviews
Minimum annual training budget ($4,000 in Idaho, $7,500 in Washington)
Improved just cause and discipline protections
As we wrap up this journey, we wanted to send a final thank you to all of you. The news industry across the United States continues to be deeply harmed by private equity companies who care more about their bottom line than quality journalism. If it was up to them, they'd be happy to let our historic newspapers devolve into AI clickbait if it meant cutting costs.

But our new contract shows that solidarity works.

It wasn’t just the unity of our members that made a difference. We couldn’t have done this without our communities and those who care about the longevity of journalism. You helped us raise more than $15,000 so we could go on strike in May.

[closing paragraphs removed for length]

Sincerely,

The union members of the Idaho Statesman, The Olympian, The Tacoma News Tribune, Tri-City Herald and Bellingham Herald

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 26

Not much in the way of details yet (hotel, program...). But the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (@sfwa.bsky.social) has announced the 2027 Nebula Awards Conference will be held in Seattle June 3-6. Very early bird tix are $250 before July 1. store.sfwa.org/nebula-confe... #scifi

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 17

And Sharin: I appreciate the sentiment, but please do keep subscribing to CDN. I will, and will keep supporting the newsroom staff in that way even as I differ on the decision to let the exec editor go.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 12

Official word of my departure from Cascadia Daily News today (Friday, June 12) by email to newsletter subscribers. No, I wasn't expecting this. Yes, it was a very kind send-off by the CDN newsroom. Thank you, Audra, Jaya, Alana, Jon and everyone else on the editorial team.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 10

Two weeks after Cascadia Daily News' exec editor was fired, 18 more letters to the editor about it were published today. Plus one that I personally appreciated greatly. It describes what I was trying to accomplish. Thanks to all who read what I wrote for CDN. www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/jun/09/...

Letter to the editor reading:

Last week, Cascade Daily News announced that Executive Editor Ron Judd had departed (CDN, May 27, 2026). This week came word that Frank Catalano will no longer cover local business news for CDN.

These are significant losses for local journalism in the fourth corner. CDN has become an outstanding news source, and Catalano’s in-depth reporting delivered a level of business coverage in Whatcom County that is difficult to find elsewhere. He made complex business issues clear, relevant and engaging.

I remain hopeful that CDN’s talented newsroom can sustain the strong journalism it has built.

Karen Klokkevold
Bellingham

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 6

In the final "Business Matters with Frank Catalano" newsletter for Cascadia Daily News this week, I asked readers what one Northwest WA economic indicator they watch closely. Winner at week's end? Median home price, 42%. A distant second: Costco gas price, 22.2% (my vote). Not scientific. Fun.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 2

For those who don't subscribe to Cascadia Daily News (but should), a teaser from June's Business Matters newsletter. This isn't the long lead item about underappreciated or misunderstood economics data in Northwest Washington. Or the half-dozen short items, poll or calendar. Just one fun item.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· Jun 1

Congrats to Cascadia Daily News: Society of Professional #Journalists Region 10 winners are out. CDN took 5 firsts & 12 awards overall. Swept Government & Politics for newsrooms its size. And former exec editor Ron Judd won for columns among news orgs of ALL sizes. www.spjwash.org/2026/06/spj-...

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· May 31

This is the kind of business reporting that drives me crazy. The unemployment RATE didn't increase. The NUMBER of unemployed did. Unemployment went up. Not the rate. Why? The rate is a ratio. It's also based on the total workforce. I will not name the news outlet, but this type of detail matters.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· May 29

Indirect preview of next week's Business Matters newsletter for @cascadiadaily.com in this week's Business Briefs column: What is happening with jobs and the workforce in Northwest Washington? One topic I'll tackle then. Now, unemployment plus retail changes. www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/may/28/...

Item from Business Briefs in Cascadia Daily News, reading:
County unemployment rates flat in April
Unemployment rates for Whatcom and Skagit counties didn’t move in April when compared to March, according to new data from the state Employment Security Department. The non-seasonally adjusted percentages for April stayed at 4.8% in Whatcom and 5.2% in Skagit, even as the number of people unemployed ticked up slightly. Both rates continued to be about a percentage point higher than they were a year ago in April.

Statewide, April’s unemployment rate increased to 5.2% from 5.1% in March. An ESD news release said the seasonally adjusted rate — not directly comparable to county rates — reflected a loss of an estimated 4,500 jobs in Washington’s economy, the fourth consecutive month of employment losses.

Multiple reporters and CDN Business Contributor Frank Catalano contributed to this report. Send any ideas for business stories to newstips@cascadiadaily.com with “Business Tip” in the subject line.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· May 27

Major change at Cascadia Daily News: founding Executive Editor Ron Judd has left the building. Ron took a chance on me, a #Bellingham newbie, to join in 2022 as CDN's business contributor. I've learned much from him & the team. His public post on Facebook this AM: www.facebook.com/ronjudd/post...

Facebook post from Ron Judd:
Career announcement: If you’re trying to reach me at Cascadia Daily News and cannot, here’s why: Due to irreconcilable differences with ownership, I’m no longer Executive Editor there as of today.
This news project has been my life for the past five years. Building CDN from a literal blank sheet of paper — with the help of some of the brightest, most committed young people I have ever known — into one of the nation’s brightest-light independent news organizations has been the highlight of my four-decade career in journalism.
The CDN news team, with or without me, is one of the best in America — something recognized by our peers in various contests and other means. As I often say: “I just try to stay out of their way.” But they’ve always known I have their backs, and always will.
CDN staffers are constantly approached by community members in Whatcom and Skagit counties and thanked for their high-quality work. The newspaper has changed its community, by being part of it and bringing tough, aggressive, fiercely independent reporting. I have full faith in the newsroom’s current leadership to carry that mission forward.
Personal note: I have worked with thousands of journalists. This team is special. They support one another, learn together, grow together. When news happens, they show up. Watching that process play out on a daily basis has sometimes prompted me to leave the room because I swell up with pride and get misty. They are the real deal and I hope our community continues to support their work.
I offer my personal thanks here to the hundreds or even thousands of people who have contacted me to express thanks for CDN and support for its mission. That mission is more critical now than ever: Truth, public accountability, boldness.
I walk away with pride that I will always cherish. Thanks to all who have made that possible.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· May 27

Wondering how AI-written stories in McClatchy newspapers read? This is from the Bellingham Herald, as pulled from the public library's Newsbank database. Note the disclaimer at the end; the author credited is the paper's editor. Herald reporters have been on a byline strike over AI rewrites.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· May 25

No writing posts today. Just a Song Sparrow, from a Memorial Day Weekend walk along Bellingham's Railroad Trail.

Frank Catalano@frankcatalano· May 11

Props to the Bellingham Herald for a creative way to namecheck its local competition in an article about downtown real estate vacancies, tying a 2022 media ownership to a 1988 mall development. Without ever mentioning vacancies at the Herald building downtown (now no longer its home).