Anchorage Daily News
Encyclopedia
The Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper
based in Anchorage, Alaska
, in the United States
. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN". With a circulation of about 71,711 daily and 89,423 Sundays, it is by far the most widely read newspaper in the state
of Alaska
.
The current editor of the Anchorage Daily News is Pat Dougherty.
The newspaper has about 450 full-time employees in Anchorage headquarters and Matanuska-Susitna Valley
, Kenai Peninsula
, Juneau
, and Washington, D.C.
bureaus. The paper sells within Alaska at the retail price of 75¢ Monday through Saturday, with the Sunday edition selling for $1.50. The retail price for the paper outside of Alaska and home delivery subscription rates vary by location.
. This established the theory that Cap Lathrop was really behind the publication, but didn't wish to have his name formally associated with it, unlike his other newspapers such as the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
. Brown did share Lathrop's views on the statehood issue
. Brown became a leader in the short-lived mid-1950s movement to turn Alaska into a commonwealth rather than a state.
The newspaper became an afternoon daily in May 1948, although it wouldn't publish a Sunday newspaper until June 13, 1965. By then, the Anchorage Daily News had become a morning newspaper, making that switch on April 13, 1964.
By the 1970s, the gradual downturn in the newspaper industry was taking its toll on the ADN. Lawrence Fanning had purchased the paper in 1968, but suffered a heart attack at his desk and died in 1971. His widow, Katherine Woodruff "Kay" Fanning, took over. Kay Fanning had previously been married into the Marshall Field
family (she is the mother of Ted Field
, in fact). This was of no help to her, as the paper plunged further into debt as the decade wore on. In 1974, Fanning entered into a joint operating agreement with the Anchorage Times
. Times publisher Robert Atwood
cancelled the agreement 4 years later. By this point, the paper's news-gathering and editorial operations were operating out of a small two-story storefront building at the corner of West Seventh Avenue and I Street.
twice in the "Public Service" category, in 1976 and 1989. No other Alaska newspaper has ever won a Pulitzer. The 1976 Pulitzer was for its series "Empire: The Alaska Teamsters Story," which disclosed the effect and influence of the Teamsters
Union on the state's economy and politics. The Daily News was at that time the smallest daily newspaper ever to win the Public Service Pulitzer. The 1988 series was "A People in Peril," which documented the high degree of alcoholism, suicide and despair in the Alaska Native
population.
has owned the Daily News since 1979, when it bought a controlling interest from Kay Fanning, who had been editor
and publisher since Larry Fanning's death in 1971. Kay Fanning continued as the head of the paper until mid-1983. While retaining some financial interest in the paper, she went on to become the editor of the Christian Science Monitor.
The Daily News was the first of two newspapers that the then-122-year-old, California-based, McClatchy Company bought outside the state; the Kennewick, Washington
, Tri-City Herald
was the other. McClatchy would later grow to become a national newspaper company.
newspaper ran a controversial article that alleged the Daily News' quality and newsroom morale had declined substantially since the McClatchy buyout and the Daily News' subsequent victory in its newspaper war with the Anchorage Times
, which went out of business in 1992. The Press article's title, "Paper in Peril," was a parody
of the name of the Daily News' 1989 Pulitzer-winning series. While the Press' extensive interviews (mostly of unnamed sources) pointed out genuine problems and turmoil in the Daily News' newsroom
, many believed the article unfairly maligned McClatchy in general and Daily News Editor in Chief Kent Pollock in particular. Others believed the article unintentionally reflected at least as poorly on the rank-and-file reporters and editors as it did on management.
Attorney and former state legislator Fritz Pettyjohn, who spent much of the 1990s hosting the afternoon drive time talk show on radio station KENI
, repeatedly referred to the paper as the "Anchorage Daily Knowles," primarily due to their mostly unwavering support for former mayor and governor Tony Knowles
.
for president
in the 2008 election, despite Governor Sarah Palin
's status as the first Alaskan on a major-party ticket. The editorial board, which usually endorses the Democratic
candidate, praised Palin highly for her political skill and record as governor, tempered its comments with "few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth," and concluded her candidacy was "too risky" to be in the national interest.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
based in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN". With a circulation of about 71,711 daily and 89,423 Sundays, it is by far the most widely read newspaper in the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
The current editor of the Anchorage Daily News is Pat Dougherty.
The newspaper has about 450 full-time employees in Anchorage headquarters and Matanuska-Susitna Valley
Matanuska-Susitna Valley
Matanuska-Susitna Valley is an area in Southcentral Alaska south of the Alaska Range about 35 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska....
, Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for Cook Inlet, which borders the peninsula to the west.-Geography:...
, Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
, and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
bureaus. The paper sells within Alaska at the retail price of 75¢ Monday through Saturday, with the Sunday edition selling for $1.50. The retail price for the paper outside of Alaska and home delivery subscription rates vary by location.
Early history
The Anchorage Daily News was born as the weekly Anchorage News, publishing its first issue January 13, 1946. The paper’s founder and first publisher was Norman C. Brown. The early president of the paper's parent company was Harry J. Hill, who was also assistant treasurer of The Lathrop CompanyAustin E. Lathrop
Austin Eugene "Cap" Lathrop was an industrialist and outspoken opponent of Alaska statehood. He has been called "Alaska's first home-grown millionaire."-Early life:...
. This established the theory that Cap Lathrop was really behind the publication, but didn't wish to have his name formally associated with it, unlike his other newspapers such as the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner is a morning daily newspaper that serves the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the Denali Borough, and the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the United States state of Alaska. It is the farthest north daily newspaper in the United States, and...
. Brown did share Lathrop's views on the statehood issue
Alaska Statehood Act
The Alaska Statehood Act was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 7, 1958, allowing Alaska to become the 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959.-History: the road to Statehood:...
. Brown became a leader in the short-lived mid-1950s movement to turn Alaska into a commonwealth rather than a state.
The newspaper became an afternoon daily in May 1948, although it wouldn't publish a Sunday newspaper until June 13, 1965. By then, the Anchorage Daily News had become a morning newspaper, making that switch on April 13, 1964.
By the 1970s, the gradual downturn in the newspaper industry was taking its toll on the ADN. Lawrence Fanning had purchased the paper in 1968, but suffered a heart attack at his desk and died in 1971. His widow, Katherine Woodruff "Kay" Fanning, took over. Kay Fanning had previously been married into the Marshall Field
Marshall Field
Marshall Field was founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores.-Life and career:...
family (she is the mother of Ted Field
Ted Field
Frederick Woodruff "Ted" Field is an American media mogul and entrepreneur and film producer.-Biography:Field was born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, the son of Katherine Woodruff Fanning, an editor of the Christian Science Monitor, and Marshall Field IV, who owned the Chicago Sun-Times. He is...
, in fact). This was of no help to her, as the paper plunged further into debt as the decade wore on. In 1974, Fanning entered into a joint operating agreement with the Anchorage Times
Anchorage Times
The Anchorage Times was a daily newspaper published in Anchorage, Alaska that became known for the pro-business political stance of longtime publisher and editor, Robert Atwood. Competition from the McClatchy-owned Anchorage Daily News forced it out of business in 1992.-History:The Anchorage Times...
. Times publisher Robert Atwood
Robert Atwood
Robert Bruce Atwood was the long-time editor and publisher of the Anchorage Times, and a proponent of Alaska statehood.-Biography:...
cancelled the agreement 4 years later. By this point, the paper's news-gathering and editorial operations were operating out of a small two-story storefront building at the corner of West Seventh Avenue and I Street.
Pulitzer Prizes
The newspaper has won the Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
twice in the "Public Service" category, in 1976 and 1989. No other Alaska newspaper has ever won a Pulitzer. The 1976 Pulitzer was for its series "Empire: The Alaska Teamsters Story," which disclosed the effect and influence of the Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
Union on the state's economy and politics. The Daily News was at that time the smallest daily newspaper ever to win the Public Service Pulitzer. The 1988 series was "A People in Peril," which documented the high degree of alcoholism, suicide and despair in the Alaska Native
Alaska Natives
Alaska Natives are the indigenous peoples of Alaska. They include: Aleut, Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Eyak, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.-History:In 1912 the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded...
population.
Ownership change
The McClatchy CompanyThe McClatchy Company
The McClatchy Company is a publicly traded American publishing company based in Sacramento, California. It operates 30 daily newspapers in 15 states and has an average weekday circulation of 2.2 million and Sunday circulation of 2.8 million...
has owned the Daily News since 1979, when it bought a controlling interest from Kay Fanning, who had been editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and publisher since Larry Fanning's death in 1971. Kay Fanning continued as the head of the paper until mid-1983. While retaining some financial interest in the paper, she went on to become the editor of the Christian Science Monitor.
The Daily News was the first of two newspapers that the then-122-year-old, California-based, McClatchy Company bought outside the state; the Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities...
, Tri-City Herald
Tri-City Herald
The Tri-City Herald is a daily newspaper based in Kennewick, Washington, in the United States. Owned by The McClatchy Company, the newspaper serves southeastern Washington, including the three communities of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland ....
was the other. McClatchy would later grow to become a national newspaper company.
Criticism
In 1997, the weekly Anchorage PressAnchorage Press
The Anchorage Press is a free alternative weekly newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska and owned by Wick Communications.Established in 1992 by Bill Boulay, Barry Bialik, and Nick Coltman as the Anchorage Bypass, it was renamed the Anchorage Press in 1994. It is published and distributed every...
newspaper ran a controversial article that alleged the Daily News
Anchorage Times
The Anchorage Times was a daily newspaper published in Anchorage, Alaska that became known for the pro-business political stance of longtime publisher and editor, Robert Atwood. Competition from the McClatchy-owned Anchorage Daily News forced it out of business in 1992.-History:The Anchorage Times...
, which went out of business in 1992. The Press article's title, "Paper in Peril," was a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of the name of the Daily News' 1989 Pulitzer-winning series. While the Press
Newsroom
A newsroom is the place where journalists—reporters, editors, and producers, along with other staffers—work to gather news to be published in a newspaper or magazine or broadcast on television, cable or radio...
, many believed the article unfairly maligned McClatchy in general and Daily News Editor in Chief Kent Pollock in particular. Others believed the article unintentionally reflected at least as poorly on the rank-and-file reporters and editors as it did on management.
Attorney and former state legislator Fritz Pettyjohn, who spent much of the 1990s hosting the afternoon drive time talk show on radio station KENI
KENI
KENI is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Anchorage, Alaska, USA, the station serves the Southcentral Alaska area...
, repeatedly referred to the paper as the "Anchorage Daily Knowles," primarily due to their mostly unwavering support for former mayor and governor Tony Knowles
Tony Knowles (politician)
Anthony Carroll Knowles is an American Democratic politician and businessman who served as the seventh Governor of Alaska from December 1994 to December 2002. Barred from seeking a third consecutive term as governor in 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2004 and again for governor in...
.
2008 endorsement of Barack Obama
The Daily News endorsed Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the 2008 election, despite Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
's status as the first Alaskan on a major-party ticket. The editorial board, which usually endorses the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate, praised Palin highly for her political skill and record as governor, tempered its comments with "few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth," and concluded her candidacy was "too risky" to be in the national interest.
External links
- "Anchorage Daily News history", from the newspaper's Web site.
- "Overview of The McClatchy Company", from the company Web site.
- The online edition of the Anchorage Daily News
- The mobile edition of the Anchorage Daily News
- "Paper in Peril" by David Holthouse, Anchorage Press, May 15–21, 1997.
- The McClatchy Company's subsidiary profile of Anchorage Daily News