The B Town Blog, Burien’s award-winning independent news source and flagship of the South King Media network, turns 18 today – Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 – officially old enough to vote as it marks nearly two decades of hyperlocal reporting.

Founded originally as a hobby in 2007 by Burien resident Scott Schaefer, The B-Town Blog has grown from a small neighborhood hobby into the trusted regional voice covering Burien and surrounding communities.

We’re proud to be active members of both the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) as well as LION (Local Independent Online News) Publishers, which is “committed to strong local independent journalism, whether in small towns or big cities, creating stories that serve their residents and build a sense of place, and shining an informative light that allows citizens to make wise decisions.“

We follow SPJ’s journalistic ethics (read them here) and have won numerous awards for a large region covering five states.

As the flagship site of South King Media, The B-Town Blog has built a strong reputation for delivering timely news on city government, politics, elections, crime, schools, local business, arts, events and more. Our purpose extends beyond daily journalism though — we regularly partner with and amplify the work of local nonprofits, helping raise awareness and funds for organizations that do good for our region.

“Since day one, our mission has been simple — to inform, inspire, and strengthen the community we love,” said Founder/Publisher Schaefer, a three-time national Emmy Award-winning Writer (“Bill Nye the Science Guy“), filmmaker and local journalist. “We’re proud to be family-run, independently owned, and deeply rooted and connected to the people and businesses who make this area so special.”

The site continues to see exceptional audience engagement, drawing over 50,000 unique visitors for November, 2025 (not bad considering Burien’s population is around 52,000!), and ranking among the most-read community news outlets in the Northwest. Our combination of breaking news, event coverage, and neighborhood storytelling has made us a daily destination for readers seeking reliable, hyperlocal journalism.

Sales Manager Theresa Schaefer said the anniversary is not just a celebration of longevity, but of shared purpose.

“This milestone belongs to the entire community — thank you to our readers, sponsors, and local organizations who believe in what we do,” she said. “We could not be more grateful for their support, which allows us to continue this local coverage even as costs rise in every facet of operations. Together, we are keeping local news alive in south King County.”

The B-Town Blog’s success has also helped fuel the growth of South King Media’s network of community news sites, which now includes iLoveKent, The Waterland Blog (Des Moines), SeaTac Blog, Normandy Park Blog, Tukwila Blog, White Center Blog, and The Auburn Examiner.

As we enter our 19th year, The B-Town Blog plans to continue expanding its multimedia storytelling, social impact partnerships, and engagement with local residents.