This Week in Alaskan History: On September 19, 1903 the Weekly Fairbanks News was established. Today it’s known as the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. When C.W. “Bill” Snedden took over as the owner and publisher of the FDNM in 1950, the publication became instrumental in the Alaska statehood movement.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner’s Origins
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner began as the Weekly Fairbanks News on September 19, 1903. Before finally becoming the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner it went through several name changes. It went from the Weekly Fairbanks News to the Daily News, to the Fairbanks Daily News, Fairbanks Daily Times, Fairbanks News, Fairbanks News-Miner before finally landing on the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
The FDNM As Instrumental in the AK Statehood Movement
From 1903 to 1950 the publication changed hands, publishers and locations several times. C.W. “Bill” Snedden became owner and publisher of the FDNM in 1950. Under his leadership, the newspaper was instrumental in the Alaska statehood movement of the late 50s.
The FDNM and the Fairbanks Flood of 1967
When the Fairbanks Flood occurred in 1967, it stopped production and delivery by the FDNM for around a week. Fortunately, during that time, the Anchorage News stepped up and added the News-Miner template to its own editions, providing abbreviated reports from Fairbanks. When the Anchorage News shut down because of the Good Friday earthquake of 1964, the News-Miner had done the same for them.
The FDNM and Its Many Owners
In 1992 the Dick Scudder and Dean Singleton families bought the FDNM. Meanwhile, the Kodiak Daily Mirror purchased it six years later in 1998. The FDNM was purchased most recently in 2016 by the Helen E. Snedden Foundation. The Foundation maintains ownership of the News-Miner to this day.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Info Source: NewsMiner.com
Photo Source: Pixabay
