Main image

Me and the Anchorage Daily News

10th December
2008
written by scott

I received a call this afternoon from Julie Wright, the Anchorage Daily News’s managing editor. She told me that after Jan. 4, 2009, the Daily News would no longer print my weekly travel column.

It’s hard not to notice the distress of daily newspapers in general–and the McClatchy papers (ADN’s parent corporation) in particular. Dailies across the country are having to make tough decisions about what stories–or industries–to cover. Long gone are the days when your daily newspaper could be all things to all readers.

It was 26 years ago, in 1982, when I authored my first column on great travel deals available from Anchorage to points far and wide. I was 27 years old. I’d traveled quite a bit–and I had plenty of stories to share with readers–along with some timely tips of how to get more for your money.

So, I’ve written for the Anchorage Daily News for about half of my life. That’s about the same story as my grandparents. My grandfather, Thor Merritt Smith, worked for William Randolph Hearst as an advertising executive and later as an executive with “American Weekly” in Manhattan. It was Hearst’s version of “Parade Magazine”. After leaving the Hearst organization, he was associate publisher at the Santa Barbara News Press. My grandmother, Mary Benton Smith, was the first female bureau chief for the Associated Press. During World War II, my grandfather was on Gen. Eisenhower’s press staff while my grandmother raised three girls (the eldest was my mother, Deanne) in Reno, Nevada. Later, she wrote for Pacific Travel News. They were a real “power couple”.

It was my grandparents who inspired me to follow a career in journalism, as well as planting the seed to travel the world. Theirs were big shoes to fill–and I guess I’m still trying to carve out a legacy to match theirs–a fruitless task, I fear. Part of their story included a 1948 journey up the Alaska Highway and a front-page series in Hearst’s newspapers. But that’ s another story.

But I’m grateful to the Anchorage Daily News in so many ways. Specifically, the weekly discipline of sharing my professional advice–with an ample dollop of my hopes and dreams–helped me develop some incredible work habits. Dig deep for deals. Cut to the chase. Put forth “news you can use”. Part of my job was to see and experience new parts of Alaska. It made me a bona fide “Alaska Travel Evangelist”. I’ve discovered communities like Wrangell, Kodiak, Cold Bay, Adak and Beaver. I have friends in Barrow, Nome, Ketchikan, Skagway and Homer. I love the Alaska Marine Highway. Below, sailing on the m/v LeConte between Angoon and Juneau:

The stories I’ve gathered from Cordova, Kennicott, Sitka and King Salmon will be with me forever. Here’s a shot of me in Barrow:

Here’s a great shot of elder son Drew, along with a friend, Kathleen, from Juneau, atop Mt. Roberts:

Along the way, I’ve learned quite a bit about the machinations of the aviation business. Terms like “part 121″, “yield management”, “equivalent qualifying miles” and “available seat miles” actually mean something to me.

When I started writing for the Anchorage Daily News, I was in the retail travel business. Remember travel agencies? They’re still around–but the business has changed quite a bit. In the meantime, I started publishing an email travel newsletter, the Alaska Travelgram. Today, the newsletter has its own site, as well as a “blog”, at www.alaskatravelgram.com

Also, my good friend Gary Blakely convinced me to start an exciting project called “The Great Alaskan TourSaver”. Together, we publish a travel book full of 2-for-1 deals. This year is our 11th year–we’re still having a great time. Learn more here: www.toursaver.com

It’s not surprising that I should receive this message from the Anchorage Daily News as I’m preparing for an international trip. My desk is littered with passports, itineraries, a Mexican cell phone and a handful of pesos.

In fact, it’s an exciting adventure. Once we land in Manzanillo, on the west coast of Mexico, we hop in a car and hit the road. We’ll be driving into “colonial Mexico”, where we’ll be celebrating Christmas in Patzcuaro. Here’s a shot of the view from our condo in Manzanillo:

My wife, Christy, and I are taking the whole family, including our exchange student from Indonesia. You see–we love to travel. We love to experience new things, eat new foods, think new thoughts.

These are the lessons I learned from my grandparents. I’ve done my best to teach them to my children, Drew and David. It was always Thor and Mary’s idea, you see, that travel was the first leg of diplomacy. After all, once you have shared experiences and you’ve discovered common interests, it’s easier to get along. Wouldn’t you agree?

So, if you’ll excuse me–we’re off to Mexico on Alaska Airlines. If you read the Anchorage Daily News, you’ll be able to follow my adventures in the jungle. I’ll be filing stories on the road. Naturally, we’ll also have periodic updates in the Alaska Travelgram. Heck–I’ll also be a guest blogger for a Manzanillo travel blog.

After January 4, you’ll be able to find the latest travel tips and scoops in my blog, at www.alaskatravelgram.com . Sign up for the RSS feeds, or get the email travel newsletter. It’s free.

As you might imagine, the Anchorage Daily News shares a big piece of my heart. In particular, I’m grateful to my longtime editor, Jim Macknicki. Editor Pat Dougherty helped me many times, as did former editor Howard Weaver. Publishers Kay Fanning, Jerry Grilly and Fuller Cowell were inspirations to me. I have many dear friends at the Anchorage Daily News–some of whom I worked with at the Anchorage Times in 1978, including Don Hunter, Jackie Kimbrell, Kathleen Macknicki and Fran Durner. I’ve learned so much from so many, including Leon Unruh, Sheila Toomey, Julia O’Malley, Kathleen McCoy, Wesley Loy, Elizabeth Bluemink and Richard Murphy, among others. I wish them all the best success.

With today’s economic landscape and the corresponding travel environment, there are some great deals coming up in 2009. I hope you’ll have the opportunity to follow our periodic travel updates here: www.alaskatravelgram.com

  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Twitter
Tags: , , ,
Deals

13 Comments

  1. Scott Slone
    10/12/2008

    Scott,

    The greatest loss to ADN is the loss of authenticity. Your authenticity and passion behind your writing inspires many to pack their bags for the next plane, train, automobile, bike, or hike! You’re even guilty of getting people to buy travel gadgets and other assorted items :)

    I’ve had the honor to travel with you filming segments for Alaska HDTV — Each trip has been a window into your passion and knowledge for travel, and I appreciate all you share. I have no doubt People will continue to follow you, I know I will!

    As one ADN staffer pointed out in a presentation this past summer – “We’re bleeding out, and quickly!”, and for me… it was sad to hear honestly. I miss my paper, but I know where authenticity lives ;)

    I won’t go on here, but this is a time for many to reboot. You’re already there, and those who get it first will win!

    Have a great trip and get some sun will ya!
    Full Friend,
    Scott

    P.S. Watch out Alaska, there’s a travel journalist on the loose!

  2. Vince Thompson
    11/12/2008

    Scott, For so many of us you are of the voice of Alaskan travel. Thankfully that voice will still boom from the web. Here’s to many great years ahead!

  3. Mary Anne McMurren
    11/12/2008

    Scott,

    Thank you for faithfully walking in the footsteps of our grandparents. Your writing and stories of Alaska and other places in the world have deepened my life and the life of our family. I will miss your weekly column. You probably remember everywhere I have travelled in the world (from all parts of the U. S., Eugene, Oregon to Barcelona, Canterbury, Nice and Rome) I meet people from Alaska. They all know about the ADN and your column. They all feel they know you personally and appreciate your representation of their home state Alaska.

    Thank you for sharing your stories and adventures. We can follow you on your internet sites! Love from your sister- Mary Anne

  4. Linda Bennett
    11/12/2008

    Dear Scott, Like so many of your friends, we will miss your weekly column! Often times on my travels I would mentally write my paragraph for your FYI. Thank you for your years of travel info and especially taking on the airlines when it was necessary.
    The ADN is giving up the very personality that made it worthy to peruse- it started back with the demise of We Alaskans many moons ago.
    As for you Scott, as they say, when one door closes….
    We will call this the end of an era but new beginnings- they are always refreshing! Enjoy!

  5. John Wedin
    11/12/2008

    scott…

    for those of us who enjoy the snap and crinkle of fresh newsprint to start our day, your departure from ADN is not just another asynchronous beep in the paper’s vital signs.

    it’s the onset of rigor mortis.

    as for greener pastures, you’ve been tilling those for years now. you’ll be fine…in fact, your departure from ADN will no doubt provide a generous boost to hits at: http://www.alaskatravelgram.com/

    so…in a very real sense: CONGRATULATIONS!

    january 4th is my birthday. i turn 60. i will read your final column that sunday morning, and try to celebrate – rather than lament – the passing of an era, and another nail in the coffin of local print media. your column will be missed…by me and many others. and the paper will lose a little more of that news we can use in the process. in a state where the TRAVEL industry represents an enormous part of our culture, economy and lifestyle, ADN will lose it’s most viable and trusted touchstone…it will lose the voice, and much of the heart and soul of alaska travel.

    SO…in a year when more alaskans will be taking “STAYcations” than ever before…a year when your insights, tips and recommendations could really improve our quality of life as we opt to rediscover the wonders in our own backyard, we won’t be finding what we need in the ADN. but again…you’ll no doubt seen a big surge in hits at the Alaska TravelGram site on January 10th…and beyond.

    my final thought here…go to: http://www.adn.com/life/travel/ check the byline on (count ‘em!) EIGHT of the articles listed there. i think that byline pretty much says it all. and, for a little while longer anyway, it speaks VOLUMES.

    as do these lyrics i’ve heard you sing many times…

    All my bags are packed
    Im ready to go
    Im standin here outside your door
    I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
    But the dawn is breakin
    Its early morn
    The taxis waitin
    Hes blowin his horn
    Already Im so lonesome
    I could die

    But, Im leavin on a jet plane
    Dont know when Ill be back again
    Oh babe, I hate to go

    hey…have a great trip, scotty! we’ll all look forward to hearing about it soon.

    John

  6. Steve Chapman
    11/12/2008

    Scott…..
    As they say….”when one door closes, many more open”…Leaving ADN is another chapter in your life you can be proud of. Look forward and travel onward. Enjoy what you do, cause we enjoy what YOU do.
    Safe travels always

  7. Suz
    15/12/2008

    Scott,

    I’m new to your site, but very glad to have found it. Somehow fate & destiny certainly have a hand in timing. I’m trying to convince my parents to allow my brother to drive cross country with me (from Boston to San Diego). I’m 27, he’s 23. Why is this even their choice? He’s fallen victim to the current economy and has been living off them since graduating college in May – thus, they’re hesitant to let him continue his “cushy vacation”. He hasn’t been too many places outside of New England. My sister & I both traveled abroad while in college and have taken many eye-opening trips since. I just want to show him that there’s a bigger world out there, and give him the opportunity to grow as a person. Hopefully, I’ll be able to convince the parental units by showing them some of your posts.

    Thanks for the words of wisdom!

    Best,
    Suz
    “3 Troopin’ Travelers”

  8. Leigh Carrigan
    16/12/2008

    Scott,

    You are the carrier of the essence and allure of distance shores. I”ll follow you anywhere. To the web it is…

    Travel on, share often.

    Leigh

  9. Clyde Pearce
    17/12/2008

    As others have already mentioned I believe this closing of one door simply opens another and have no doubt you will continue to enjoy many new adventures in the future. I have enjoyed your column a lot through the years. In fact, it is one of the few parts of the ADN I read anymore, so for what’s left this may tip the scale to where it is no longer worth the buck-and-a-half for Sunday reading. I also travel a lot, tho not as much as you, of course, and it is interesting that you have a houseguest from Indonesia, a country I visited two years ago and enjoyed very much. Best of luck to you and thank you for keeping the active website.
    Clyde

  10. Louis F. DeLong
    17/12/2008

    This is excellent. My wife and I will definitely visit Mexico and the places you show in your presentation. Thanks for the information. Frank.

  11. Greg Schmitz
    09/01/2009

    Scott, you failed to mention why you were laid off, and why the Anchorage Daily News is down to only a few grams of paper and even less news. Unless I missed something it’s because a National corporate conglomerate purchased an Alaskan based concerned, killed off the competition and then sucked off the profits for many years. Now, they are in trouble (bad investments coupled with bad management) and now our local newspaper, that was profitable 2-years ago, is failing. McClatchy blames the failure of ADN on “national trends” when in reality it is McClatchy that is in trouble and folks here in Anchorage, Alaska will soon be without a news source because of McClatchy’s screw-ups. Most of the newspapers in the United States that are in trouble are in trouble because a) they killed off the competition and b) they are not locally owned, but are owned by large corporations. Flame off – you WILL be missed!!!

    Scott replies: Thanks for the kind words, Greg. First, I wasn’t “laid off”. As a free-lance writer, my relationship was week-to-week. Of course, over the 26-year tenure, it felt like year-to-year. But it was always the ADN’s choice whether or not to publish my columns.
    Regarding the national chain buying up the local paper, it’s fair to say the ADN would have folded up and blown away in 1980 had not McClatchy (then a small California-based chain of papers) stepped up and made a risky investment. The news has lasted more than a quarter-century because of McClatchy’s considerable resources. The future is murky, to be sure, but kudos to McClatchy for betting on the ADN (IMHO).

  12. The Ptarmigan Nest - Ptarmigan, the State Bird of Alaska. A peaceful little creature. » Why ADN is failing - we here in Alaska will suffer!
    09/01/2009

    [...] That’s pure B.S. ADN is in trouble because the owners, The McClatchy Company, has been demanding cuts (wage, costs, salaries) from all of the papers that they own. That in turn has diminished the [...]

  13. Michelle at Scribbit
    10/01/2009

    Wow, I’m so sorry–what a rotten thing. My cousin’s husband (long connection there I know) recently got a job with ADN and has mentioned how closely they’re paring things down. People around him keep getting laid off until he’s getting promoted by process of elimination.

    My husband was reading over my shoulder and said, “Hey I recognize him!” Apparently he’s heard you speak before–said you’re an expert in handling the press.

    Again, very sorry.

Leave a Reply