| Woodburn Independent | |
| Type: | Weekly newspaper |
| Format: | Broadsheet |
| Foundation: | 1888 |
| Owner: | Pamplin Media Group |
| Publisher: | Nikki DeBuse |
| Editor: | Justin Much |
| Sportseditor: | Tanner Russ |
| Staff: | 2 |
| Language: | English |
| Headquarters: | 1585 N. Pacific Hwy., Suite H Woodburn, Oregon 97071 United States |
| Circulation: | 5,254 |
| Circulation Date: | 2022 |
| Circulation Ref: | [1] |
The Woodburn Independent is a weekly paper published in Woodburn, Oregon, United States, and also covering the cities of Hubbard, Aurora, Donald, Gervais, St. Paul and Mt. Angel, and the surrounding area of Marion County.[2] The Independent was founded in 1888.[3] It is published on Wednesdays by Pamplin Media Group.[3]
The paper was established by Leonard H. McMahan on December 1, 1888.[4] [5] According to the newspaper's staff, the paper preceded the incorporation of Woodburn by about 9 months, and initially read more like a gossip sheet than a news source. McMahan went on to become a member of the Oregon House of Representatives during the 1923 Legislature, and a Marion County Circuit Judge from 1924 to 1943.[4] His former home in Salem is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the David McCully House.
In 1999, Saturday editions were added, but the bi-weekly publication ceased on August 31, 2011, and the paper reverted to Wednesday-only issues.
In January 2013, the paper was sold to the Pamplin Media Group along with five other papers owned by Eagle Newspapers.[6] [7] The Independent sued the city of Salem when the city denied access to records of a 2017 arrest for child abuse. The newspaper lost the initial case, but won on appeal in September 2018.[8]