Throughout history, the American press has excluded certain groups of people. Whether its by race, class, gender, or lifestyle, there have been parts of our culture underrepresented in the media. One group was the counter culture movement of the 1960s — and in one of the most rebellious acts of Journalism to date, those in the movement set to create their own papers: The underground press. One paper was was The Northwest Passage, based in Bellingham, WA.
ABOUT
The Northwest Passage served as Bellingham’s Underground newspaper from 1969 to 1986. It was the only one of its kind in Bellingham and often clashed with the mainstream papers at the time. The Passage was staffed by volunteers, or the staff was paid very minimally. It was published bi-weekly and included topics like drugs, politics, poetry, protests, local issues, sex, etc.… The paper was focused on counterculture and political movements/issues of the time and often called for social and political change. The Northwest Passage was part of a larger movement, known as the Underground Press.
"LOOK STRAIGHT, BUT TELL IT LIKE IT IS. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE."
THE UNDERGROUND PRESS
The underground press in America came about as a result of the counterculture movement of the 1960s. In a time where authority and conventional wisdom were being questioned, those in the movement quickly realized the mainstream press was not serving their needs.
Alternative papers started to pop up everywhere, and over 500 were active in the 1960s. They were often mocked by the mainstream press for attempting to correct injustices while simultaneously promoting recreational drugs and unconventional lifestyles. However, these alternative papers brought to light issues, lifestyles, and ideologies that were otherwise hidden from the American public.
But the rise of these publications was heard from officials, and on the day that Richard Nixon was elected, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover waged war on the Underground Press as an extension of the counter intelligence program, and looked to shut down as many publications as possible. He began a nationwide survey of every ‘New Left-type publication being printed at the time. He had agents across states do everything in their power to force the publications to cease printing. Hoover, among other top officials, were frightened of anti-establishment ideology being spread, especially during a time following the red scare, and saw these publications as the most significant means of spreading that ideology. They used every tactic they could, including obscenity laws and convincing businesses and organizations to cease funding for the papers. This ultimately led to their downfall, as there were only forty still in existence by the 1970s.
Below is a video of a popular underground newspaper in Austin Texas called The Rag.
Alternative papers started to pop up everywhere, and over 500 were active in the 1960s. They were often mocked by the mainstream press for attempting to correct injustices while simultaneously promoting recreational drugs and unconventional lifestyles. However, these alternative papers brought to light issues, lifestyles, and ideologies that were otherwise hidden from the American public.
But the rise of these publications was heard from officials, and on the day that Richard Nixon was elected, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover waged war on the Underground Press as an extension of the counter intelligence program, and looked to shut down as many publications as possible. He began a nationwide survey of every ‘New Left-type publication being printed at the time. He had agents across states do everything in their power to force the publications to cease printing. Hoover, among other top officials, were frightened of anti-establishment ideology being spread, especially during a time following the red scare, and saw these publications as the most significant means of spreading that ideology. They used every tactic they could, including obscenity laws and convincing businesses and organizations to cease funding for the papers. This ultimately led to their downfall, as there were only forty still in existence by the 1970s.
Below is a video of a popular underground newspaper in Austin Texas called The Rag.
CONTENT
The Northwest Passage was known for covering issues that the straight news media would often ignore. They never strived for objectivity, but rather focused on influencing people and being a voice for counterculture. The Passages first big break was when they exposed that Georgia Pacific was letting mercury discharges go into Bellingham Bay. They often reported on environmental issues and was known for their persistent muckraking.
They mixed topics such as drugs and politics, or protests and sex. It was a voice for the political left. Like most underground newspapers, The Passage was influenced by the politics of the time. Nixon, The Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement were all fuel for the flame of the underground press. They were offensive, subversive, and driven by justice.
One column that was popular within the Passage was Dr. Hip-pocrates, which was a drug beat/medical advice column done by Berkeley physician Eugene Schenfeld. It often gave insight to the effects of drugs, and warned about bogus or dangerous drugs that were going around. There were also other columns such as the Molasses Jug that featured poetry, recipes, and home remedies.
They mixed topics such as drugs and politics, or protests and sex. It was a voice for the political left. Like most underground newspapers, The Passage was influenced by the politics of the time. Nixon, The Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement were all fuel for the flame of the underground press. They were offensive, subversive, and driven by justice.
One column that was popular within the Passage was Dr. Hip-pocrates, which was a drug beat/medical advice column done by Berkeley physician Eugene Schenfeld. It often gave insight to the effects of drugs, and warned about bogus or dangerous drugs that were going around. There were also other columns such as the Molasses Jug that featured poetry, recipes, and home remedies.
" I remember a great deal of attention paid to layout, almost none to copy. I could say almost anything I wanted."
THE PEOPLE
At the time of its creation, involvement with the Passage was strong, and many of it’s reporter/editors were incredibly smart and politically motivated, Some going on to be reporters or high-end officials.
Mary Kay Becker, who went on to become a Washington state judge on the Washington Court of Appeals, was an early contributor for The Passage. She was quoted in a Western Front Article in 1972 saying, “Readers say they appreciate the Passage’s style of bias, which is, to be honest about their slant but still try to present the readers with the facts.” Becker was a pollution reporter for the Passage and in some cases the spokesperson. As she was quoted in the Spokesman review: “What surprises me is how the ‘radical’ ideas which appeared in the Passage have now become so commonplace, so mainstream.” The Passage played a vital role on environmental issues, reporting in depth on subjects ignored by the rest of the media.”
Joel Connelly, who now reports for the Seattle Pi, was an environmental writer for the paper when it first started. He mainly reported on environmental policy, but also did political analysis and stories about local law enforcement. Connelly said that the Passage served an important purpose at the time. The Bellingham Herald was intentionally non controversial at the time. An example was the nationally fought environmental battles happening in the area that were not covered by the mainstream press. At times, The Passage was the only media outlet to cover these issues. “The extent of the Passage went all the way from organic gardening to orgasms,” said Connelly. “I remember a great deal of attention paid to layout, almost none to copy. I could say almost anything I wanted. “
Some other contributors included Sharon & Don Alfred, Robert Keller (who went to teach at Fairhaven College) Tim Buckley, Frank Kathman, Bob Ray, Bob Hicks, and Eugene Schanfeld.
Mary Kay Becker, who went on to become a Washington state judge on the Washington Court of Appeals, was an early contributor for The Passage. She was quoted in a Western Front Article in 1972 saying, “Readers say they appreciate the Passage’s style of bias, which is, to be honest about their slant but still try to present the readers with the facts.” Becker was a pollution reporter for the Passage and in some cases the spokesperson. As she was quoted in the Spokesman review: “What surprises me is how the ‘radical’ ideas which appeared in the Passage have now become so commonplace, so mainstream.” The Passage played a vital role on environmental issues, reporting in depth on subjects ignored by the rest of the media.”
Joel Connelly, who now reports for the Seattle Pi, was an environmental writer for the paper when it first started. He mainly reported on environmental policy, but also did political analysis and stories about local law enforcement. Connelly said that the Passage served an important purpose at the time. The Bellingham Herald was intentionally non controversial at the time. An example was the nationally fought environmental battles happening in the area that were not covered by the mainstream press. At times, The Passage was the only media outlet to cover these issues. “The extent of the Passage went all the way from organic gardening to orgasms,” said Connelly. “I remember a great deal of attention paid to layout, almost none to copy. I could say almost anything I wanted. “
Some other contributors included Sharon & Don Alfred, Robert Keller (who went to teach at Fairhaven College) Tim Buckley, Frank Kathman, Bob Ray, Bob Hicks, and Eugene Schanfeld.
TRAIL AND TRIBULATION
The office of the Passage was in an old building in Fairhaven and was originally printed through the Lynden Tribune and It was not long before it was under fire by Bellingham officials and was repressed by the city council and mayor Reg Williams, who tried to file charges of obscenity but was defeated by legal precedent.
But this was not the last of The Passage's worries. Throughout its existence, The Passage struggled with funding and harassment, and would eventually fade away as an affect. Although it tried to spread it's circulation, it never made it outside of bellingham and Seattle.
The Passage was only based in Bellingham until 1977 and by then had moved down to Seattle and the content strayed away from Bellingham issues and turned more radical. Like many underground newspapers at the time, there was a split between culture and political coverage. The Passage originally balanced the two, but in it’s later years it aimed its focus on radical politics.
Although The Northwest Passage was short-lived, it made a tremendous impact on the politics of Bellingham and on bringing together those within the culture culture movement.
But this was not the last of The Passage's worries. Throughout its existence, The Passage struggled with funding and harassment, and would eventually fade away as an affect. Although it tried to spread it's circulation, it never made it outside of bellingham and Seattle.
The Passage was only based in Bellingham until 1977 and by then had moved down to Seattle and the content strayed away from Bellingham issues and turned more radical. Like many underground newspapers at the time, there was a split between culture and political coverage. The Passage originally balanced the two, but in it’s later years it aimed its focus on radical politics.
Although The Northwest Passage was short-lived, it made a tremendous impact on the politics of Bellingham and on bringing together those within the culture culture movement.
SOURCES
Broom, Jack. “Underground.” The Western Front Sept 27, 1972: page 16. Print
Associated Press. “Crusading Newspaper close to going under.” The Spokesman-Review Jul. 10, 1984: page A7. Print.
The Northwest Passage Vol 1 Issue 1, 1969. Print.
Streitmatter, Rodger. “Voices of Revolution.” New York: Columbia University Press, 2001. Print
Lewis, Roger. “Outlaws of America.” Great Britain: Pelican Books, 1972. Print
Connelly, Joel. Interview. 19 February 2014
Dreyer, Thorne. “The Movement and the New Media.” The Rag.
Broom, Jack. “Underground.” The Western Front Sept 27, 1972: page 16. Print
Associated Press. “Crusading Newspaper close to going under.” The Spokesman-Review Jul. 10, 1984: page A7. Print.
The Northwest Passage Vol 1 Issue 1, 1969. Print.
Streitmatter, Rodger. “Voices of Revolution.” New York: Columbia University Press, 2001. Print
Lewis, Roger. “Outlaws of America.” Great Britain: Pelican Books, 1972. Print
Connelly, Joel. Interview. 19 February 2014
Dreyer, Thorne. “The Movement and the New Media.” The Rag.