Comprehensive guide to Alaska's newspapers serving America's Last Frontier. From Gold Rush-era publications to modern digital news, Alaska's press covers 665,000 square miles of wilderness, remote villages, and urban centers across the nation's largest state.
20
Total Newspapers
5
Daily Publications
3
Pulitzer Prize Winners
1903
Oldest Daily (News-Miner)
Note: In April 2024, the Anchorage Daily News reduced print editions from six days weekly to two days weekly (print on Wednesday and Saturday, daily digital editions). Alaska has 3 free circulation and 17 paid circulation newspapers.
Major Daily Newspapers
Anchorage Daily News
Location: Anchorage
Founded: January 13, 1946 (as weekly Anchorage News)
Circulation: 57,622 daily / 71,223 Sunday
Readership: 221,800 daily readers (68% of Southcentral Alaska residents)
Ownership: Binkley Co. (Ryan Binkley, Fairbanks)
Print Schedule: Twice weekly (Wednesday, Saturday) plus daily digital
Coverage: Statewide news, only remaining statewide broadsheet
Notable: 3-time Pulitzer Prize winner (1976, 1989, 2020 - all Public Service)
Coverage Area: 179,287 square miles (central and northern Alaska)
Ownership: Helen E. Snedden Foundation (501c3, locally owned)
Coverage: Fairbanks North Star Borough, Yukon-Koyukuk, Denali Borough
Notable: Alaska's oldest continuously operating daily, northernmost daily newspaper in North America (64.838°N latitude), pioneered aerial delivery to mining camps in 1920s
Location: Wasilla (serves Palmer and Mat-Su Valley)
Founded: September 17, 1947 (as Valley Frontiersman)
Circulation: 8,500
Publication Schedule: Sunday, Wednesday, Friday
Ownership: Wick Communications
Coverage: Rapidly growing Matanuska-Susitna Valley region
Notable: Former Alaska governor and VP candidate Sarah Palin worked as sports reporter, paper exposed secret borough assembly meetings leading to state Open Meetings Act changes
Notable: Favorite among Alaska's wilderness enthusiasts
College and University Student Newspapers
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA)
The Northern Light - Student newspaper published every Tuesday. Wide coverage from school news, sports, community events, entertainment reviews. Founded 1988 (preceded by Voice 1980-1988, University Reporter 1977-1979, Spectrum 1969-1976)
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
The Sun Star - Student newspaper formed from merger of Northern Sun and Polar Star. Recipient of Alaska Press Club and Columbia Scholastic Press Association awards. Transitioned from print to digital-only in April 2018
News Deserts and Rural Alaska Challenges
Alaska faces unique challenges in maintaining local journalism due to geography and population distribution:
Geography: 665,000 square miles with many communities inaccessible by road
Remote Delivery: Newspapers historically delivered by bush plane, boat, snowmobile to rural villages
Public Broadcasting at Risk: 27 Alaska public broadcasting stations face potential closure due to federal funding cuts
KYUK Impact: Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta station serving 23,000+ residents (mostly Alaska Native) stands to lose 70% of funding. Broadcasts bilingually in English and Yup'ik
Critical Infrastructure: Local news essential for emergency response (hazmat releases, evacuations, lockdowns) in remote areas
Community Impact: Loss of local reporters increases government corruption risk, reduces transparency in county meetings
Rural Alaska Journalism: Alaska's vast geography creates unique news distribution challenges. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta alone covers an area the size of Oregon with 58 communities accessible only by bush plane, boat, or snowmobile. Local newspapers and public broadcasters serve as lifelines for emergency information and community connection.
Historical Context and Gold Rush Legacy
First Newspaper: The Esquimaux (October 14, 1866 - September 1, 1867) - hand-written, published in Port Clarence, Russian America, bound with bent pins
Gold Rush Era: Nome Nugget (1899), Fairbanks News (1903), Wrangell Sentinel (1890s) survive from Klondike Gold Rush era
Journalism Challenges: Early publishers dealt with extreme climate, isolation. Everything from newsprint to printing presses arrived by barge
Aerial Delivery Innovation: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner pioneered aerial newspaper delivery to remote mining camps in 1920s
Governors as Editors: Three Alaska territorial governors started as newspaper editors: Alfred P. Swineford (Mining Journal, Ketchikan), J.F.A. Strong (papers in Nome, Katalla, Iditarod, Juneau 1899-1913), John W. Troy (Daily Alaskan, Skagway; Alaska Daily Empire, Juneau)
Pulitzer Prizes: Anchorage Daily News won 3 Pulitzer Prizes for Public Service (1976, 1989, 2020)
Indigenous Journalism: Tundra Times started October 1, 1962 by Howard Rock (Iñupiat Alaska Native) to air views and policies of Alaska Native people
Resources and Archives
Alaska State Library - Alaska's Digital Newspaper Program, over 320,000 pages digitized. Website: lam.alaska.gov/akdnp
Library of Congress Chronicling America - Digitized Alaska newspapers 1836-1963. Website: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
UAA/APU Consortium Library - Archives of historical student newspapers and journalism resources
UAF Rasmuson Library - Alaska and Polar Regions Collections including historical newspapers
Frequently Asked Questions
The Anchorage Daily News is Alaska's largest and most widely read newspaper and news website. With a circulation of 57,622 daily and 71,223 Sunday, it reaches 221,800 daily readers - approximately 68% of Southcentral Alaska residents. The ADN is the only remaining statewide broadsheet and has won three Pulitzer Prizes for Public Service (1976, 1989, 2020). In April 2024, the paper reduced print editions from six days weekly to two days (Wednesday and Saturday), with daily digital editions available at adn.com. It is owned by the Binkley Co., led by Ryan Binkley of Fairbanks.
The Nome Nugget, founded in 1899, is Alaska's oldest continuously operating newspaper. It survived from the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush era and continues publishing weekly with a circulation of approximately 2,600 per issue, covering Northwest Alaska, Gold Rush history, and Indigenous news. Among daily newspapers, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner is the oldest, founded in 1903 as the Weekly Fairbanks News. The News-Miner is also the oldest continuously operating daily in Alaska and holds the distinction of being the northernmost daily newspaper in North America, located at 64.838 degrees north latitude. The Wrangell Sentinel is another Gold Rush-era survivor from the 1890s.
Alaska's vast geography and many road-inaccessible communities create unique distribution challenges. Historically, newspapers reached remote villages via bush planes, boats, and snowmobiles. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner pioneered aerial newspaper delivery to remote mining camps in the 1920s, becoming one of the first newspapers in the world to make regular deliveries by aircraft. The News-Miner's circulation area encompasses approximately 179,287 square miles, including settlements like Fort Yukon, Delta Junction, and Tok. Today, many rural Alaskans access news digitally, though print delivery continues in some areas. Publications like The Tundra Drums and Delta Discovery specifically serve rural Alaska's Native communities, covering the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta - an area the size of Oregon with 58 communities accessible only by air, water, or snow machine.
Several Alaska newspapers focus on Native and Indigenous communities. The Tundra Drums (Bethel, founded 1974) serves the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta with coverage of Yup'ik culture, rural news, and regional politics. It is a key voice for Western Alaska's Indigenous communities and helped raise awareness of rural infrastructure disparities. Delta Discovery is a Native-owned and operated weekly publication dedicated to Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta issues. Alaska Native News focuses specifically on Indigenous rights, tribal government, and rural Alaska issues, providing a crucial platform for Alaska Native voices. The historic Tundra Times, started October 1, 1962 by Howard Rock (an Iñupiat Alaska Native from Point Hope), was created to air and reflect the views and policies of Alaska Native people. The Nome Nugget also covers Indigenous news in Northwest Alaska.
Yes, several Alaska newspapers remain locally owned and independent. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner is owned by the Helen E. Snedden Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making it locally controlled despite being Alaska's second-largest daily. The Daily Sitka Sentinel is a locally-owned independent weekday newspaper. The Anchorage Daily News is owned by the Binkley Co., led by Ryan Binkley from Fairbanks, after the company assumed control in 2017 when the paper filed for bankruptcy. Many weekly newspapers serving smaller communities remain locally owned, including the Petersburg Pilot, Chilkat Valley News, and various Southeast Alaska publications. These independent papers often have deep community roots and provide essential local journalism free from corporate chain ownership.
The Alaska Journal of Commerce is the state's premier business publication, with over 20 years covering business, energy, and maritime industries statewide. It provides in-depth coverage of oil and gas, fishing, mining, tourism, political developments, and regulatory issues affecting business. Alaska Business Magazine serves as the go-to source for business news and analysis, covering energy, mining, tourism, entrepreneurship, business trends, local business profiles, and economic analysis. Petroleum News, based in Anchorage, is a weekly newspaper providing petroleum-related news for Alaska, Canada, and the continental United States. These publications are essential resources for professionals in Alaska's key industries including natural resources, shipping, and trade.
Alaska has several alternative newspapers and independent news sites offering diverse perspectives. The Anchorage Press is a widely respected weekly publication offering in-depth news, arts, and entertainment coverage with edgy and insightful journalism. Must Read Alaska delivers conservative-leaning news, opinion, and analysis on Alaska politics and current events, challenging mainstream narratives. Alaska Landmine offers sharp political commentary, satire, and investigative pieces on state government, making it a must-read for those following local politics and policy debates. The Alaska Beacon provides independent news with in-depth reporting and investigative journalism, covering underreported stories and issues of public interest. These alternative sources complement mainstream media by providing different viewpoints and holding government accountable.
Alaska's newspaper industry has undergone significant transitions, particularly digital migration. In April 2024, the Anchorage Daily News reduced print editions from six days weekly to two days (Wednesday and Saturday), shifting focus to daily digital editions. The University of Alaska Fairbanks student newspaper The Sun Star transitioned from print to digital-only in April 2018. UAA's Kaleidoscope made the same transition in fall 2020. The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman was put up for sale in January 2025 by Wick Communications. In 2017, the Anchorage Daily News filed for bankruptcy and was acquired by Ryan Binkley's group. Alaska Newspapers Inc., which published six weekly rural papers including The Tundra Drums, was closed and liquidated by Calista Corporation but The Tundra Drums and Seward Phoenix Log were later purchased and continue publishing. These changes reflect national trends toward digital-first journalism while maintaining local news coverage.
Newspapers played a crucial role in Alaska's Gold Rush era, with mass journalism promoting the event worldwide. A publicity campaign engineered largely by Seattle newspaperman Erastus Brainerd helped establish Seattle as the premier supply center and departure point for the gold fields. Three Alaska newspapers survive from the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush: the Nome Nugget (1899), Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (1903), and Wrangell Sentinel. During the rush, newspapers faced extreme challenges - the Nugget was once printed on butcher's wrapping paper during winter 1898-99 when regular paper was unavailable. Papers charged premium prices (Nugget: $24 annual subscription) and championed miners' interests. National newspapers from Bellingham to Boston were hungry for northern gold field news, printing stampeders' letters, eyewitness accounts, obituaries, and ship manifests. Alaska attracted a highly literate population during this era who demanded newspapers despite frontier conditions.
Several excellent resources provide access to historical Alaska newspapers. The Alaska State Library's Digital Newspaper Program (lam.alaska.gov/akdnp) has digitized over 320,000 pages from Alaska newspapers. The Library of Congress Chronicling America project (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov) includes Alaska newspapers from 1836-1963 as part of the National Digital Newspaper Program. The Alaska Newspapers Index (lam.alaska.gov/newspaperindexes) offers a searchable database for finding articles in older Alaskan newspapers. The UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives holds historical student publications including Campus Courier (1958), Spectrum (1969-1976), and Northern Light (1988-present). Newspapers.com offers searchable archives including the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (146,771 pages from 1930-1977). The Petersburg Public Library digital archives cover January 1913 - December 2019 for various Petersburg-area newspapers. UAF's Rasmuson Library maintains Alaska and Polar Regions Collections including extensive historical newspaper holdings.