Bringing news to the East Kootenay

A glimpse into the life of e-KNOW's co-owner, Ian Cobb.

Ian Cobb and Carrie Schafer, owners of e-KNOW. — Photo courtesy Ian Cobb

Ian Cobb and Carrie Schafer are the owners of e-KNOW (East Kootenay News Online Weekly), an informative daily news source for the East Kootenay region. We asked Cobb a few questions about the successful business, and his own interests outside of work.

What inspired you to create e-KNOW?

Since the mid 1990s, when I was working as an editor in the Columbia Valley, I pondered the idea of creating a regional newspaper but life circumstances and a lack of funds to produce a print product got in the way. Then in 2009 I moved to Cranbrook and because I needed a job, we sat down, brainstormed and created one. I was also inspired to create an online-only newspaper by a former print newspaper colleague and editor, Dave Rooney, who owns/produces the Revelstoke Current. He was the first person to open an online-only newspaper in the Kootenays/Columbia-Shuswap regions.

What are your favourite activities outside of work?

Family/friends, cooking, music (and) travel.

What's the best part of working and living in the Kootenays?

One of the best bits about e-KNOW is I cover the entire East Kootenay and have begun to gain a greater understanding of this amazing region. The people are the best in the world and so is the scenery. Aside from a few winter white-knuckle drives, I get great joy out of visiting all our communities and places outside them, and covering what is going on and photographing those places and people.

What aspect of running a business has surprised you the most, and why?

How I quickly lost the immobilizing fear of no guaranteed income! After being gainfully employed the first couple of decades of my career, I initially feared the growth period and dry spells of revenue with a new business. It's a really a leap of faith going into business for yourself. You have to have faith in your own abilities, your idea and in the people around you. Fortunately I have the world's most supportive spouse and partner who keeps me in check and on target, and who handles all the 'business' aspects of e-KNOW so I can concentrate on producing written and photographic content and processing submissions in as timely a manner as possible.