Juneau Empire
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The Juneau Empire is a newspaper in Juneau, Alaska, United States. It publishes issues on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
History
The newspaper was first published on November 2, 1912, as the Alaska Daily Empire.<ref name=":0" /> It was founded by John Franklin Alexander Strong, who soon afterward become the second territorial governor of Alaska.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> After Strong was appointed to office, the paper was edited by John Weir Troy,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who bought it in January 1914. He edited the Empire until he was also elected governor 1933.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> Under Troy, the paper investigated the paper's founder and discovered Strong had lied about his background, including his education and military service.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
After Troy died in 1942,<ref name=":2" /> the paper was published by his daughter Mrs. Helen Troy Monsen.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3" /> Governor Ernest Gruening, State Treasurer Henry Roden and Highway Engineer Frank Metcalf sued the Empire for libel, seeking a total of $400,00 in damages, over a 1952 article accusing them of improperly allocating state funds for the Chilkoot ferry in violation of state law.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Monsen published an editorial fighting back against the clams and stated the lawsuit was in response to the Empire's coverage of the administration.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1955, Monsen sold the paper to William Prescott Allen, publisher of The Montrose Press and the Laredo Morning Times.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> Allen published columns on the libel lawsuit defending Monsen and allegedly made wagers over the case's outcome.<ref name=":4" /> Allen later spend a night in jail in Texas for contempt of court for refusing to reveal sources in another story.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A jury ruled against the paper in the libel suit and fined them $15,003. The paper later lost its appeal.<ref name=":4" />
In 1960, Donrey Media Group bought the Empire,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who then sold it in 1969 to South Eastern Newspaper Corporation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company was later renamed to Morris Communications.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2015, the paper laid off five employees Template:Em dash three people in the business office and two graphic designers. Several newspaper offices were also consolidated into one location in Anchorage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, Morris sold its newspapers to GateHouse Media.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, GateHouse sold its Alaska papers to Sound Publications, a subsidiary of Black Press Media.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A staff photographer and a sports reporter were laid off in January 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On May 3, 2023, the Juneau Empire reduced its print frequency from five days a week to two. The paper has also shifted print production to a facility in Lakewood, Washington<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and decreased subscription prices 15-25%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The press, a Goss Community Offset originally installed in 1986, was dismantled and shipped to Seattle for storage.<ref name=":1" /> In March 2024, Black Press was acquired by Carpenter Media Group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In June 2025, the paper's editor Mark Sabbatini resigned and the company said he would not be replaced. Instead, the Empire was to be edited and managed remotely from Kenai.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabbatini then launched a rival news site called the Juneau Independent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Soon nearly all newsroom staff at the Empire left to work at the Independent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In September 2025, four staff members who worked for the Empire and its two sibling papers resigned after Carpenter Media changed an online article written about a vigil held for Charlie Kirk after Rep. Sarah Vance wrote a letter to the company complaining about how the Conservative activist was covered.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>