This month, The Cordova Times celebrates its 112th anniversary. For more than a century, this newspaper has served as a record of our region’s daily life — our triumphs, challenges, and everything in between. When I took ownership of this paper from the Native Village of Eyak in 2022, it wasn’t simply a business decision. It was a continuation of the work I’ve dedicated my life to: Supporting the North, elevating diverse voices, and building platforms for dialogue, debate, and solutions. For me, taking ownership of my hometown’s newspaper was the next chapter of that work.
This week, we announced to our advertisers and subscribers — and now to you, our readers — that The Cordova Times will transition from a weekly print newspaper to a bi-monthly print edition, with expanded digital content online and across our social media platforms.
This was not an easy decision. For months, I wrestled with how best to honor the history of this newspaper while protecting its future. Ultimately, this came down to a pragmatic economic business decision — one that many of our readers who run small businesses will understand.
Since taking ownership, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to weekly print. Our first issue under new ownership was Aug. 26, 2022, and as of this week, we will have printed 173 consecutive issues. Let me tell you, it was eye-opening to see what it takes for a small team to produce a 16-page newspaper 52 weeks a year.
Local news across the nation is in a period of significant strain, with newspapers closing and entire regions and districts left without coverage. But here in Alaska, we don’t back down from difficulty. We adapt. We innovate. And, most importantly, we look out for each other. I learned those lessons from my parents and growing up in Cordova.
When the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill devastated our region, The Cordova Times remained a crucial source of information long after national media coverage had moved on. Throughout the two decades of litigation following the spill, the paper provided clarity, updates, and accountability for communities living with the impacts day by day. That history matters. That legacy shapes the standard we aim to uphold today.
Part of my passion for local media comes from its uncommon ability to shine a light where others won’t — or where others can’t even see. Sometimes that spotlight is optimistic and hopeful — celebrating our traditions, our local legends, and creative solutions. But sometimes it must be direct and unflinching, to ensure accountability and transparency across public, private, and industry.
On a national level, journalism is essential to democracy. On a local and statewide level, it is essential to transparency and fairness — and to ensuring that rural communities are heard, understood, and covered with the depth they deserve. My goal is to ensure this legacy evolves — reflecting the needs and realities of today’s readers while honoring where we’ve come from.
To our team and trusted contractors who have supported this paper since I took ownership in 2022 — thank you. To our advertisers, subscribers, contributors, and loyal readers — thank you for valuing and supporting local journalism. Your support is the backbone of this work, and we do not take it for granted.
This transition marks a meaningful shift and brings a renewed focus to the future of this newspaper. And yes — as I write this, I’m listening to John Williams’ score for Steven Spielberg’s film “The Post” for a little inspiration. If you haven’t seen that classic, you’re missing out. Add it to your list for the next north wind.
Larger outlets will never tell the stories of rural communities with the same proximity, context, or nuance available to the people who live and work here. That responsibility rests with us. So long as I am publisher, I will look to the horizon — toward what this paper can become, how it can lead, and how it can adapt and serve as a platform for truth, accountability, and community connection.
Thank you for supporting this paper by subscribing, advertising, and picking up a copy at a storefront. Thank you for helping ensure that The Cordova Times remains a part of this region’s story. Happy holidays, and cheers to 112 years!
–Rachel Kallander, owner and publisher of The Cordova Times
