What�s the connection between the ADN publisher and the �Unity Ticket�
I�ve been a journalist most of my life. Reported on thousands of stories. I covered legislatures at three different states. I�ve taught 400 level journalism classes at a university level. I�ve been a regular Sunday columnist and now I host a radio talk show. Despite the fact that I am no longer a journalist but instead a commentator, I come to the topic of journalism with a lot of experience. I�ve been on the inside of newsrooms and know how they work.
In all my years of practicing and observing journalism I have never witnessed the level of bias displayed by the Alaska Dispatch News when it comes to this Governor�s race. It borders on the absurd.
I have come to believe Alice Rogoff and Tony Hopfinger see themselves as activists and not journalists. They�ve obviously dropped all pretense of fairness and decided to go after Governor Parnell with all they�ve got. It�s Joe Miller all over again.
Ms. Rogoff I am told has close ties to the so-called �Unity Ticket� but I cannot ask her about it because she has not returned my many emails and phone calls asking about her connection to the ticket. I�ve also left messages for Tony Hopfinger, and editorial manager Frank Gerjevic but neither will return my call. What do they have to hide?
On Friday during a debate I moderated I asked Byron Mallott about the Rogoff connection and he clearly knew the question was coming. He proclaimed emotionally �absolutely not!� But then he admitted Rogoff was at the Captain Cook at the same time they were meeting to form the �Unity Ticket� but not in the same room. Mallott said Rogoff passed them a note during the meeting and maybe that�s why some believe she was involved in forming the ticket. That sounded like a �in case someone saw Rogoff there� cover our butt answer. But I may be wrong about that.
We do know Rogoff was at the unveiling of the �Unity Ticket� press conference. She may have been there as a journalist but I doubt she was at Parnell�s announcement. Also on August 2nd Ms. Rogoff wrote a rare column in her paper calling for state unity. But again circumstantial evidence.
But in the end other than the painfully obvious biased coverage coming out of ADN.com we really don�t have any real evidence Rogoff helped formed the �Unity Ticket.� Does she support it? If she has any say at her paper the evidence is overwhelming she is all about the �Unity Ticket.�.
By the way just in case some of you Walker supporters slam me for this post, keep in mind one day in another election season Rogoff and Hopfinger may go after a candidate you support. Ask Joe Miller supporters.
It�s no secret Alice Rogoff is a big fan of Lisa Murkowski. As owner of the Alaska Dispatch she used her full resources to make sure Joe Miller lost. The pattern continues. Now Rogoff owns the much more powerful ADN.com and she has clearly committed her almost limitless resources to take down Sean Parnell. Who will be next on her hit list? My advice to you if you want to run for office. Cozy up to Rogoff. She�d be glad to use her paper to take down your opponent.
The question for Alaskans is what are we going to do about it? Can someone with almost unlimited money control our political process under the guise of newspaper publisher? Will we eventually wake up to this?
https://danfagan.us/2014/11/whats-connection-adn-publisher-unity-ticket/
