700 W 41st Avenue, Suite #102, Anchorage, AK 99503 P: 907/258-2424; F: 907/258-2414; C: 907/343-9143; email: [email protected]

October 13, 2020

The Honorable Mike Dunleavy Governor of the State of 3rd Floor, State Capitol P. O. Box 110001 Juneau, AK 99811

Dear Governor Dunleavy:

The Alaska Broadcasters Association is the peak broadcasters’ organization in the state representing 121 radio and television stations. Our members serve communities in our state from the very smallest to largest and have deep connections to these communities.

Despite the enormous economic hardship many stations are feeling because of the pandemic, we continue to provide the important information and connection our listeners, viewers and digital and social audiences crave – professionally researched news, information and public affairs programming.

We understand that during the onset and early stages of the pandemic your administration was so laser focused (and rightfully so) on managing the State’s response, that normal press availabilities were perhaps challenging or unwarranted. The Alaska Broadcasters Association membership believes now is the time to move towards discussion on other issues of importance to our State.

We recognize and appreciate access to your administration’s Community Relations Liaison but this is not a substitute for media availabilities with you – it should be viewed as additive. Alaskans are looking to you as the highest elected official in the State to answer questions on important issues of the day and for your perspective, not surrogates answering questions on the administration’s behalf. This is why the Alaska Broadcasters Association is taking the unprecedented step of urging a Governor to hold open media availabilities – on at least a twice- monthly basis – without precleared, scripted questions or limits on topics for discussion and for media to be allowed to ask follow up questions.

The Fourth Estate is vital for our society, and limiting and controlling media access thwarts our ability to be able to play our role in bringing our vast audiences thoughtful, professional and timely information and crucial context to issues. It is the context and critical analysis of the issues of the day that only professional and dedicated media organizations can provide. The very federal licenses we hold demand that we serve our communities and our membership takes that very seriously.

Governor, we thank you for your kind consideration of our request. We trust that normal media relations can be resumed quickly in the interest of transparent government and open communication.

Respectfully, the Alaska Broadcasters Association Board of Directors:

DeeDee Caciari Kim Williams Station Manager/General Sales Manager Market President Gray Television, Inc. iHeartMedia KTVF/KXDF/KFXF-TV KAKQ/KIAK/KKED-FM; KFBX-AM Fairbanks Fairbanks ABA Board President ABA Board Vice President

Ed Ulman Matt Wilson President & CEO General Manager; KSRM Inc. KSRM & KSLD-AM; KAKM-TV/KSKA-FM KWHQ/KKIS/KFSE-FM Anchorage Kenai ABA Board Treasurer ABA Board Legislative Liaison

Scott Smith Bill Legere Market Manager– Alaska President & General Manager KAYO/KBRJ/KEAG/KMXS/KWHL-FM; KTOO Public Media KFQD/KHAR-AM Juneau Anchorage

Lauren Adams Patty Burchell General Manager General Manager KUCB-FM / KUCB-LPTV KICY-AM/FM Unalaska Nome

Ellen Simeonoff Richard Burns General Manager Chairman & CEO KVOK-KRXX Frontier Media Kodiak Juneau

Charles Sather Chief Operating Officer KNBA-FM Anchorage