The staff of three Alaska newspapers in Homer, Kenai-Soldotna, and Juneau resigned from an Alabama-based media company after complaining that an article was edited to remove anti-Charlie Kirk rhetoric and reposted online without their consent.
The article covering a Charlie Kirk vigil called Kirk a “far-right” activist with “racist and controversial views.” It called him a “Christian-Nationalistic icon” following the Turning Point USA founder’s assassination.
“He regularly toured college campuses across the country, engaging college students in debates where he defended his often racist and controversial views, including criticism of the Civil Rights Act and the work of Martin Luther King Jr., opposition to gun control and affirmative action, and his perpetuation of conspiracy theories, including COVID-19 and climate misinformation, as well as replacement theory,” the article stated.
State Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Alaska) emailed Tuscaloosa-based Carpenter Media Group with concerns. In a letter posted on her official Facebook page, Vance accused the paper of being biased.
Vance pointed out that the language in the article was “hate-baiting” and “inflammatory.”
“From the opening paragraphs, reporter Chloe Pleznac branded Charlie Kirk with prejudicial labels such as ‘far-right’ and ‘Christian-Nationalist icon,’ while smearing his views as 'racist,' ‘controversial,’ and 'conspiracy theories,' the letter read. “These are not facts; they are editorial judgments and political talking points. If the intent was to write an opinion piece, it should have been clearly marked as such.”
Vance said the article exemplified the erosion of public trust in the media.
A day later, the story was removed but later reposted with edits and without a byline.
Regional editor Erin Thompson, reporter Chloe Pleznac, reporter Jake Dye and sports editor Jeff Helminiak then sent a letter of resignation saying the action “gravely” undermined their ability to do their jobs.
“Though this decision is extremely painful for us, it is not difficult,” they wrote. “We cannot do our jobs knowing that pressure from an elected official can mean our stories are edited without prior consultation with us.”
Although the group gave a two-week notice, they reported that they were locked out of their email accounts.
There are now only two reporters covering news for the three newspapers.
Carpenter Media bought the paper out of insolvency last year. The company owns and operates community newspapers and magazines across the United States and Canada. According to its website, the company serves its communities from misinformation by offering excellent journalism.
Pleznac's past work includes an article praising left-wing causes such as "No Kings" rallies.
The staff in Alaska reportedly struggled to handle the transition to Carpenter Media. Dye told news outlets the resignations had been a long time coming. He said the experience has influenced him to leave the journalism field altogether.
“I was not aware of the internal conflicts within the paper at the time I made my complaint, nor did I anticipate that it would contribute to anyone’s resignation,” Vance said in reaction. “When I later learned of the departures, I was genuinely surprised. My concern has always been singular and straightforward; I want the Homer News to uphold the highest standards of journalism, to provide reporting that is fair, accurate, and free from bias.”
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