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Gary Black

Opinion Editor

Anchorage Daily News

Gary Black is a veteran Alaska journalist who spent nearly two decades at the �Ļ�ӰԺ Daily News-Miner before joining the Anchorage Daily News. He has served as copy editor, managing editor, and features editor, shaping coverage that connects statewide issues to everyday Alaskans. Known for his mentorship and editorial rigor, he continues to champion quality regional journalism.

Diana Haecker

Owner, Editor, and Reporter

The Nome Nugget

Diana Haecker is the owner, editor, and longtime reporter of The Nome Nugget, Alaska’s oldest weekly newspaper. Since 2003, she has covered the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and contributed to Mushing Magazine, chronicling Alaska’s mushing and rural life with insight and care. Her reporting highlights the resilience, humor, and challenges of life in Western Alaska’s remote communities.

Sage Smiley

News Director

KYUK

Sage Smiley is the news director at KYUK in Bethel, Alaska, where she leads community-driven reporting across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. A lifelong audio storyteller, she began producing radio as a teenager and has since worked with Alaska Public Media, KDLG, and other regional outlets. Her journalism blends sound-rich narrative craft with a deep respect for place and people.

Ollie Williams

Co-founder and Editor

Cabin Radio

Ollie Williams is the cofounder and editor of Cabin Radio, a Yellowknife-based independent media outlet serving the Northwest Territories. A former BBC journalist, he helped shape Cabin Radio into one of Canada’s most trusted northern news sources, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and local storytelling. His work amplifies Arctic and Indigenous voices while training the next generation of northern journalists.