Arctic Leadership Lecture Series: Journalism in the North

We’re proud to welcome journalists Diana Haecker, Ollie Williams, Sage Smiley, and Gary Black as the next guests in the Arctic Leadership Lecture Series. Together, they bring decades of experience reporting from across Alaska and the broader North—telling stories that connect communities, illuminate local realities, and hold power to account. In this panel on journalism in the North, they’ll share reflections on truth-telling, community storytelling, and the evolving role of northern media in shaping understanding and leadership across the Arctic.

This virtual lecture is free and open to the public.

Arctic Leadership Lecture Series presents: Journalism in the North

Featuring panelists Gary Black, Diana Haecker, Sage Smiley, and Ollie Williams

Date: Thursday, November 6th, 2025

Time: 5:30-7:00pm AKST

Location: Zoom

Zoom Option: https://alaska.zoom.us/j/89231879618

The Arctic Leadership Lecture Series is hosted by the UAF Political Science Department and the UAF Arctic and Northern Studies program. The series brings together influential voices from across the North to discuss leadership, policy, and the future of the Arctic. It is presented in partnership with the Arctic Leadership Initiative, which fosters leadership through education, dialogue, and collaboration.

Meet the panelists:

• Gary Black, Anchorage Daily News

Gary Black is a veteran Alaska journalist who spent nearly two decades at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner before joining the Anchorage Daily News. He has served as copy editor, managing editor, and features editor, shaping coverage that connects statewide issues to everyday Alaskans. Known for his mentorship and editorial rigor, he continues to champion quality regional journalism.

• Diana Haecker, The Nome Nugget

Diana Haecker is the owner, editor, and longtime reporter of The Nome Nugget, Alaska’s oldest weekly newspaper. Since 2003, she has covered the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and contributed to Mushing Magazine, chronicling Alaska’s mushing and rural life with insight and care. Her reporting highlights the resilience, humor, and challenges of life in Western Alaska’s remote communities.

• Sage Smiley, KYUK

Sage Smiley is the news director at KYUK in Bethel, Alaska, where she leads community-driven reporting across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. A lifelong audio storyteller, she began producing radio as a teenager and has since worked with Alaska Public Media, KDLG, and other regional outlets. Her journalism blends sound-rich narrative craft with a deep respect for place and people.

• Ollie Williams, Cabin Radio

Ollie Williams is the cofounder and editor of Cabin Radio, a Yellowknife-based independent media outlet serving the Northwest Territories. A former BBC journalist, he helped shape Cabin Radio into one of Canada’s most trusted northern news sources, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and local storytelling. His work amplifies Arctic and Indigenous voices while training the next generation of northern journalists.

Arctic & Northern Studies at UAF

UAF’s Arctic and Northern Studies program offers interdisciplinary degrees that explore the history, cultures, governance, and environment of the circumpolar North. Students develop deep regional knowledge while engaging with issues that matter to Alaska and the Arctic world.

UAF Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science prepares students to understand and engage with the forces shaping governance, policy, and political life in Alaska, the nation, and the world. With strengths in American government, political theory, public law, and international relations, the program offers a foundation for active citizenship and leadership.

Support the Programs
The Arctic Leadership Lecture Series is made possible through the dedication of the Arctic & Northern Studies and Political Science programs at UAF. If you’d like to support students, research, and public programming in these areas, please consider making a gift to either program. Your generosity helps us sustain opportunities that connect the university, Alaska, and the Arctic.

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