Alaska Dispatch News Layoffs: Reporters, Editors Affected

ANCHORAGE, AK — Just 10 days after the Alaska Dispatch News was bought for $1 million, the new owners decided to lay off reporters, editors and other workers.

The Binkley Co., comprised of the Binkley family members of Fairbanks, bought the state's largest newspaper Sept. 11. Co-Publisher Ryan Binkley wouldn't say how many of the 212 employees were laid off, but said in a story Thursday that the size of the newspaper will significantly change. Binkley didn't immediately return messages from The Associated Press.

Layoffs hit Alaska Dispatch News in wake of bankruptcy sale https://t.co/57QwQ1WJQx pic.twitter.com/3uhV2qvi41
— Alaska Dispatch News (@adndotcom) September 21, 2017

He said he realized a lot of employees would be hurt by layoffs, but it was necessary to make the newspaper healthy.

Former publisher Alice Rogoff sought bankruptcy protection in August as the newspaper was losing $125,000 a week. (For more information on the newspaper cuts and other Anchorage stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

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