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Alaska losing its only locally-owned newspaper chainThe only newspaper chain with ownership in the 49th state is shutting down. Alaska Newspapers Inc. will cease publication sometime in August because it is unprofitable, according to Calista Corp., a regional Alaska Native corporation. ANI is a Calista subsidiary. Founded in 1992, ANI publishes The Arctic Sounder in Northwest Alaska, The Bristol Bay Times in Southwest Alaska, The Cordova Times in Prince William Sound, The Dutch Harbor Fisherman in the Aleutian Islands, The Seward Phoenix LOG on the Kenai Peninsula, and The Tundra Drums on the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta, along with an award-winning statewide magazine, First Alaskans. Newspapers in rural Alaska have been struggling like those elsewhere as news increasingly moves to the Internet. The state's largest newspaper, the Anchorage Daily News, long ago retreated from its position as a statewide publication due to the exorbitant costs of distribution in the Bush and low advertising revenue. The newspaper remains the state's largest but now focuses principally on Anchorage and the state's Southcentral urban core, with Associated Press wire contributions from the Interior and Southeast. ADN is owned by California-based McClatchy Company, the nation's third-largest newspaper chain. The state's second largest newspaper -- the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner -- is owned by the family trusts of Dean Singleton and Richard Scudder, the founders of the Denver-based MediaNews Group. The other major Alaska papers -- the Juneau Empire in the state's capital city and the Peninsula Clarion on the Kenai Peninsula -- are owned by Augusta, Ga.-based Morris Communications. Few Alaska-owned, independent newspapers are left in a state once dominated by the The Anchorage Times, a newspaper owned by the late Bob Atwood of Anchorage, and the News-Miner, then owned by the late C.W. Snedden of Fairbanks. Calista had been trying to sell the ANI newspapers, but could not find a buyer. Calista said in an ANI website announcement that the plan now is to liquidate ANI assets. Alaska Dispatch and ANI have enjoyed a content sharing agreement for some time. It is unclear how many employees will be put out of work. ANI has been steadily downsizing for a year. Contact Craig Medred at craig(at)alaskadispatch.com My grandfather was mayor of Seward in 1929 and 1930. At that time the Seward Phoenix Log was a well established newspaper, over 80 years ago. This is a huge loss. Do human beings need journalism (information)? Does democracy need journalism (information)? Yes on both counts. There is no substitute for journalism. Successful societies depend on accurate information. The usual, endemic results of the Corporate Model ruling the Native and rural Alaskan communities since ANSCA. Destroy any voice not completely controlled by the Corporate Managers and select few at the top of the Corporate Pyramid. The last vestiges of communal communication will end any semblance of community among the various families scattered across the tundra. A sad day indeed when the people gave up control over their own destiny to the corrupt Corporate dogma. The Nome Nugget, Alaska's oldest newspaper, is owned by a woman who sits right there in the office, ready and able to snap the head off anybody that needs it. How much longer can the Daily News hang on? I am so sorry to hear this. |
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