Alaska Public Media – Bias and Credibility

These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias.  They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes.  These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.

• Overall, we rate Alaska Public Media Left-Center Biased based on story selection that moderately favors progressive perspectives concerning public services, education, healthcare, environmental issues, and social policy. We rate it High for factual reporting due to strong sourcing, transparent ownership and funding, established editorial standards, substantial original reporting, and a clean fact-check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER (-3.0)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (0.5)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Alaska Public Media is a nonprofit public media organization based in Anchorage, Alaska. Its history dates to the launch of KAKM-TV in 1975 and KSKA public radio in 1978. The two stations merged in 1994 to form Alaska Public Telecommunications, Inc., which later expanded through a merger with the Alaska Public Radio Network.

Alaska Public Media launched AlaskaPublic.org in 2011 and today operates KSKA radio, KAKM-TV, the Statewide News network, and digital news services. It also distributes programming from NPR and PBS while maintaining editorial control over its locally produced journalism.

Read our profile on the United States media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

Alaska Public Media is operated by Alaska Public Telecommunications, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. According to its funding disclosure, Alaska Public Media previously received support through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Federal CPB funding was eliminated in July 2025.

Alaska Public Media now describes itself as fully community funded, with support coming from individual members, local businesses, foundations, underwriting, and other community partners. The organization publishes governance documents, financial information, organizational policies, and journalism standards through its Public Documents section.

Analysis / Bias

Alaska Public Media produces original statewide reporting on politics, energy, education, healthcare, the environment, Indigenous communities, and local affairs. Straight-news reporting generally uses neutral language and relies on government documents, named officials, interviews, and primary records.

For example, $164M: Auction for drilling rights in Alaska’s Arctic sets new records reports extensively on expanded oil development while presenting government and industry perspectives without significant editorial language.

Story selection nevertheless tends to moderately favor progressive concerns involving public services, environmental protection, education funding, healthcare access, and marginalized communities. For example, Why Alaska school districts are still facing deep cuts after last year’s funding increase focuses extensively on the consequences of inadequate public-school funding. Coverage of social and environmental issues generally reflects a similar mildly progressive perspective.

However, Alaska Public Media also provides substantial coverage of Republican officials, conservative candidates, and the oil and gas industry without consistently hostile framing. Its journalists follow NPR ethics guidelines and PBS editorial standards, and reporting is generally well-sourced and fact-based.

Failed Fact Checks

• None to date.

Overall, we rate Alaska Public Media Left-Center Biased based on story selection that moderately favors progressive perspectives concerning public services, education, healthcare, environmental issues, and social policy. We rate it High for factual reporting due to strong sourcing, transparent ownership and funding, established editorial standards, substantial original reporting, and a clean fact-check record. (D. Van Zandt 09/17/2026)

Source: https://alaskapublic.org/