By JON FAULKNER
Journalism is tough business. There is always, as Paul Harvey made famous, the “rest of the story”.
The transition of Suzanne Downing from Must Read Alaska has generated speculation about the cause and the future direction of our platform. Our readers deserve a complete explanation.
Foremost, Suzanne Downing is one of the most talented and accomplished journalists of our age. By any metric, she has accomplished what few have or ever will. Her work has profoundly impacted Alaska and has advanced the conservative cause.
Upon purchase by AGCI in November 2023, Must Read transitioned management from a single person to a corporate board. Every investor shared the same purpose: preserve a free and uncensored press; support Suzanne and provide a “glidepath” for her retirement at a time of her choosing; grow the platform; and ensure its sustainability.
At that time, Suzanne wanted more time with her ailing mother and some monetization of her lifetime of effort. It was uncertain how long she would continue.
MRAK’s board is diverse, consisting of men and women with reputations for success and expertise in their fields. It is a fully empowered and functioning board, dedicated to a free and independent press. Trust exists among us because we take the time to debate and build consensus. It is impossible, not to mention supreme folly, to hide the truth in such a setting. It is equally true that seven people are not going to risk their personal integrity to engage in deception. We are all Alaskans who care deeply about our state.
So, what exactly happened on Sunday, September 7th, that caused Suzanne’s resignation?
The answer is, shockingly, very little. That Suzanne had been preparing to move on is evident from her owns words, her subsequent actions, and our internal exchange. Why she was prepared to resign is her story, not ours.
To address the topics squarely that have caused the most speculation, here are the facts:
Neither Mr. Taylor nor his campaign ever requested, or received, any favor or action of any kind from AGCI. Political favoritism was creeping into MRAK’s reporting and causing concern among our readers, period. Ms. Downing was advised of AGCI’s desire to maintain neutrality in the Governor’s race long before she resigned.
Ms. Dowing was not fired; she was not pushed out or encouraged to leave. Quite the opposite: Our board sought every possible means to retain her. That door is still open.
Finally, our exchange that day was respectful; at no point was an ultimatum delivered, no single-option demand issued that she take down the article. Quite the opposite.
I asked her respectfully to revise the article to more fairly frame the issue and to quell concerns about favoritism in our reporting. I supplied what I believed to be supporting facts, for example that the waiver was proper protocol and supported by precedent and common sense. My request was summarily dismissed.
Clearly, the article never came down because its removal was never the primary concern.
During Ms. Downing’s nearly two-year tenure with AGCI, she insisted on—and received–total editorial control. Effectively, every article had each board member’s name associated with it. And yet, during this entire period, no officer ever intervened to quash an article or compromise editorial independence. Two-way trust was predicated on the understanding that if a line was crossed, it would be resolved through dialogue. Board observance of editorial independence, contrary to press reports, has been exemplary.
So what happened? MRAK’s original model, under Ms. Downing’s ownership, was free to endorse, or oppose, any candidate of her choosing. AGCI, on the other hand, develops editorial policy collaboratively, and believes neutrality serves the interests of Alaskans. This should not be viewed as dividing conservatives or Republicans. I would like to believe it builds trust and honors our diverse audience of conservative thinkers.
When AGCI acquired Must Read, the publication was “blackballed” by Facebook, meaning we couldn’t post to it. Twitter had silenced President Donald Trump, and President Biden was using the Justice Department to pressure social media channels to censure conservative content. Ms. Downing needed to take care of her ailing mother. AGCI stepped in to support, not to sideline, this conservative voice.
Change is hard, but it can lead to new and better futures. Must Read Alaska will continue to provide a bulwark of conservative news and commentary in Alaska journalism. Our emphasis may shift, but our mission will remain.
Jon Faulkner is the president of Alaska Gold Communications, the parent company of Must Read Alaska.