The Anchorage Daily News is purchasing three weekly newspapers around Alaska, the ADN’s owners announced Friday.
The Daily News is acquiring the Arctic Sounder, The Bristol Bay Times / Dutch Harbor Fisherman, and the Homer Tribune from Alaska Media LLC. The sale was effective Friday. The sale price was not disclosed.
The Daily News was purchased in 2017 by the Binkley Company. Alaska Media was owned by Jason Evans and his wife, Kiana Peacock.
“Our family is thrilled to add the Arctic Sounder, the Bristol BayTimes/Dutch Harbor Fisherman and the Homer Tribune to the ADN’s lineup of publications,” ADN President and CEO Ryan Binkley said in a written statement. “These kind of community publications are so vital to life in the areas they cover, and being part of a larger organization will help ensure they have the resources they need to continue the important work they’re doing. Life in these communities is unique, and they deserve a healthy and robust source of local news.”
In 2018, the Daily News acquired the Alaska Journal of Commerce and the Chugiak-Eagle River Star from Morris Communications Inc.
The Binkley Company bought the Daily News, Alaska’s largest newspaper and news website, in September 2017 after the company filed for bankruptcy protection under its previous owner, Alice Rogoff. Evans and Hugh Short, chairman and CEO of Anchorage-based Pt Capital, were partners in the original acquisition of the Daily News, and will continue as members of the company’s board, Binkley said.
“It’s been such an honor to own and run community newspapers for the past eight years,” said Evans, who had bought the Sounder and Bay Times / Fisherman from Calista Corp. “We have met so many great people throughout the state covering their stories and allowing a platform for people to express their views and opinions.”
The three newspapers and the Daily News have been sharing content for several years.