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Sound Publishing, the largest community news organization in Washington state and the publishers of the Bainbridge Island Review, announced Friday it is ceasing publication of its free-distribution newspapers in Kitsap County.

The newspapers to cease publication are the North Kitsap Herald, Port Orchard Independent, Kingston Community News and Central Kitsap Reporter.

The Bainbridge Review will continue publishing a print edition, as well as delivering the news online at www.bainbridgereview.com.

The announcement was made on the front pages of the North Kitsap Herald and Port Orchard Independent in Friday’s edition.

It said:

“As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rapidly evolve all across the globe, the North Kitsap Herald, Central Kitsap Reporter, Port Orchard Independent and Kingston Community News must also adapt in order to ensure the continuation of high quality local journalism into the future.

Significantly decreased advertising revenue, directly resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, has forced Sound Publishing to make the incredibly difficult decision to temporarily reduce staffing and suspend print publication of its free Kitsap County newspapers. In the weeks to come, you will still be able to follow local news stories and breaking developments as they happen, here at KitsapDailyNews.com.

Subscribe to the Daily Update Newsletter to receive a daily email of the top stories shared on KitsapDailyNews.com. Thank you for your continued support, as we patiently await the day when we may resume print publication of your local newspapers.”