Chilkat Valley News – Bias and Credibility

These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using an appeal to emotion or stereotypes).  The reporting is factual and usually sourced.  These are the most credible media sources. See all Least Biased Sources.

• Overall, we rate Chilkat Valley News Least Biased because it balances local reporting and clearly separates news from opinion. We also rate it High for factual reporting due to strong sourcing, transparent independent ownership, original local journalism, corrections when warranted, and a clean fact-check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED (-1.3)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.0)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Newspaper/Website
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Chilkat Valley News is an independent weekly newspaper and website serving Haines, Tlákwaan (Klukwan), and the Upper Lynn Canal in Southeast Alaska. According to its About page, the paper has published since January 3, 1966, and describes itself as the Chilkat Valley’s independent newspaper of record.

The newspaper publishes 50 weeks per year and covers local government, elections, schools, public safety, development, business, tribal affairs, community events, and regional issues.

Read our profile on the United States media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

Chilkat Valley News is independently owned by journalist Rashah McChesney, who acquired the newspaper before 2025 and continues to operate it as a small local news organization. Alaska Public Media reported that McChesney also co-founded the nonprofit Alaska News Coalition, which supports independent local journalism across the state.

The newspaper describes itself as reader-funded and generates revenue through subscriptions, advertising, and community support. Its website clearly identifies its owner, editor, reporters, physical address, telephone number, and newsroom contact information, providing strong organizational transparency.

Analysis / Bias

Chilkat Valley News primarily produces fact-based local journalism with little consistent partisan framing. Coverage generally relies on public records, borough meetings, government documents, direct interviews, and named community sources. For example, Local state house candidates lay out issues as Election Day nears presents both Democratic Rep. Andi Story and Republican challenger Annette Kreitzer discussing education, cost of living, flooding, and other district concerns without favoring either candidate.

Local government coverage is similarly neutral and detail-oriented. Assembly Briefs: A new budget, movement on the Lutak Dock and the question of a new tax summarizes spending, taxation, and infrastructure decisions primarily through meeting records and statements from borough officials rather than ideological framing. The newspaper also corrects developing stories when new information emerges, as seen in its election coverage after borough data-entry errors.

The opinion section includes a broad range of reader viewpoints. For example, Immigrant communities vital to our shared world strongly criticizes Trump administration immigration enforcement from a progressive perspective, while other letters criticize local political groups, government decisions, candidates, and community policies from differing ideological positions. Because these views are clearly separated from straight news and are primarily reader-submitted, they do not significantly alter the publication’s overall political balance.

In general, Chilkat Valley News maintains a low level of political bias through balanced local reporting, transparent sourcing, and clear separation between journalism and community opinion. Any slight leftward lean comes primarily from some opinion content and emphasis on community services, environmental issues, and social concerns rather than partisan reporting.

Failed Fact Checks

• None found from major fact-checking organizations.

Overall, we rate Chilkat Valley News Least Biased because it balances local reporting and clearly separates news from opinion. We also rate it High for factual reporting due to strong sourcing, transparent independent ownership, original local journalism, corrections when warranted, and a clean fact-check record. (D. Van Zandt 10/30/2026)

Source: https://www.chilkatvalleynews.com/