Longtime Valley Breeze Editor Ethan Shorey to Step Down After 20 Years

Cumberland readers will soon see a change as the veteran reporter and editor leaves the northern Rhode Island paper.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Ethan Shorey, a longtime reporter and editor at The Valley Breeze, is stepping down from his role after 20 years with the northern Rhode Island newspaper. Shorey has helped shape coverage in Cumberland and neighboring communities, and says he is proud of telling local stories, though he expects he may return to community journalism someday.

Why it matters

Shorey's departure marks a significant change for The Valley Breeze, which has relied on his experience and institutional knowledge to cover the Cumberland area for the past two decades. His exit raises questions about the future direction of the paper's local reporting and whether it will be able to maintain the same level of community-focused journalism.

The details

Ethan Shorey has been a fixture at The Valley Breeze for 20 years, serving as both a reporter and editor during his tenure. He has played a key role in shaping the paper's coverage of Cumberland and surrounding towns, drawing on his deep understanding of the local community. Shorey says he is proud of the work he has done in telling the stories of residents and highlighting important issues affecting the area.

  • Ethan Shorey has been with The Valley Breeze for 20 years.
  • Shorey is stepping down from his role in the coming weeks.

The players

Ethan Shorey

A longtime reporter and editor at The Valley Breeze, a northern Rhode Island newspaper, who is stepping down after 20 years with the publication.

The Valley Breeze

A local newspaper serving the Cumberland, Rhode Island area, where Ethan Shorey has worked as a reporter and editor for the past 20 years.

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What they’re saying

“I'm proud of telling local stories and expect I may return to community journalism someday.”

— Ethan Shorey, Longtime Valley Breeze reporter and editor (wpri.com)

The takeaway

Ethan Shorey's departure from The Valley Breeze after 20 years of service highlights the challenges facing local journalism, as experienced reporters and editors who have deep ties to their communities move on. The paper will need to find a way to maintain its community-focused coverage and institutional knowledge in the wake of Shorey's exit.