Our communities in this vast state are connected by the stories we share. Whether through the radio airwaves or the pages of a local newspaper, journalism helps us understand one another and navigate day-to-day life in Alaska. But journalism in all forms is under threat and it’s a threat we can’t afford to ignore.
The Alaska News Coalition is a nonprofit formed by a volunteer board of current and former journalists to protect the economic sustainability of our state’s newsrooms and to support local news organizations with the financial, technical and policy tools they need. (You can read more about our programs and projects on our website https://alaskanewscoalition.org/).
Without strong local journalism, Alaska’s communities risk losing not just information to remain engaged and informed, but the connections necessary to thrive.
The News Coalition board of directors is speaking out in support of Alaska’s public media organizations, which are facing new challenges following federal funding cuts and the clawback of money appropriated by Congress — totaling more than $20 million. These setbacks threaten the ability of stations to provide critical reporting and essential programming to the communities they serve.
In many rural communities, public radio stations are the only consistent source of immediate, locally relevant news. They connect neighbors, share vital safety and emergency information, and give voices to local perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked.
At the same time, Alaska’s print and digital newsrooms, particularly in small communities and regional hubs, are also under unprecedented strain.
Diminished advertising revenues, rising costs and the loss of local ownership have left many communities without a locally produced newspaper. Newsroom staffing across the state has been whittled back by dozens of reporters, editors and photographers since the good years, with the future years looking leaner than is healthy for our communities.
This erosion of local journalism means fewer eyes on public spending, fewer stories about our neighbors, and less shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities before us.
It means less coverage of community events, school sports, deaths, anniversaries and all the other news that helps hold people together, which is increasingly important during this time of divisive politics.
We cannot afford to treat print and broadcast as separate struggles. Public radio, community newspapers and other independent outlets are all part of the same ecosystem that keeps Alaskans informed, connected and engaged in civic life. When one part of that system falters, the whole state feels the loss.
We urge Alaskans to stand with public media while also recognizing the equally urgent need to sustain print and digital journalism. Support your local stations, subscribe to your local paper, share their work and advocate for policies and funding that ensure newsrooms, of all kinds, can survive and thrive. Our communities depend on our collective commitment to protecting and supporting the storytellers, fact-finders and watchdogs who keep democracy alive.
• The journalists and journalism supporters who comprise the Alaska News Coalition board of directors are Elizabeth Arnold, Alex Baker, Lisa Busch, Lisa Demer, Margaret Friedenauer, Rashah McChesey, Josh O’Connor, Larry Persily and Lisa Phu.
