Alaska Dispatch

Because the owners of Alaska Dispatch believe that journalism must and will ultimately pay for itself, the site is a for-profit enterprise, relying on online advertising and sponsorship. It can do this not only because it is unencumbered by a print press or broadcast signal, but because it is privately owned and its profit margins don't need to satisfy shareholders. Some newspaper chains have called on their papers to earn more than 20 percent profit annually. Just as print is becoming harder to justify, so is the notion that journalism should command such large profit margins. The future of online journalism lies in highly efficient staffs producing content 24/7, and with owners who understand the civic responsibility -- ethically and financially -- that comes with disseminating the news.

From Sarah Palin to political corruption to climate change to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Alaska media has struggled to cover stories of importance not only to state residents but the rest of the nation. Alaska is ground zero for global warming and home to America's largest oil fields. Alaska Native people live in more than 170 far-flung villages, many only accessible by airplane, where they remain dependent on hunting and fishing to survive. It is a way of life threatened by economics, climate change, and perplexing social issues. Whether the issue be powerful oil companies in Alaska or theplight of residents who are far removed from the urban centers where decisions are made, Alaska Dispatch's goal is to take an unflinching look at the state, from its huge riches to its abject poverty, and tell these stories to the world.

To that end, in addition to employing professional journalists to hold Alaska's elected officials and business leaders accountable, Alaska Dispatch is committed to telling the story of Alaska -- whose relatively young narrative has just begun -- by promoting citizen journalism. This narrative is best told by the people who live and work in the state; an Inupiaq whale hunter, a fisherman from Kodiak, an oil worker. These stories are so important and so numerous, in fact, that Alaska Dispatch has a sister site devoted to citizen journalism, TundraTelegraph.com, where it regularly posts video and storiesfrom people across the state.

The owners of Alaska Dispatch believe they are paving the way nationally for what will be the future of online journalism -- locally produced stories presented on for-profit websites. We invite you to join the conversation by registering as a member of the Alaska Dispatch community. And to learn more about our mission, read The places we will go.