Wrangell Sentinel publisher Larry Persily is part of a new nonprofit, the Alaska News Coalition, which formed this summer to help newspapers around the state find ways to adapt and survive in the changing world of online media, digital delivery and tightening finances.
“As the landscape for news and information continues to change and evolve, it’s imperative for the well-being of our communities that local newspapers in Alaska stay alive. The Alaska News Coalition is committed to bringing together news outlets from around the state to figure out how to do that,” the group’s board said.
The new nonprofit has received a two-year, $100,000 grant from Press Forward, a nationwide movement to strengthen communities by supporting local news. The Alaska News Coalition was one of 205 recipients in Press Forward’s first nationwide round of grants.
The Alaska group intends to work with publishers, editors and other supporters toward improving the financial viability of local news operations.
The Sentinel plans to hold a public forum sometime this winter to discuss local news, the growth in online news delivery versus print, newspaper finances, and to hear from the community.
The Press Forward grant will fund the start of a long-term effort to build and share resources and solutions between newsrooms across Alaska. The news coalition intends to seek additional grants for its work.
The nonprofit currently is operating as a special project fund at the Juneau Community Foundation.
Reader Comments(0)