Corporate Profile

The little Northern paper that could

In 1960, Ken Shortt's dream of running a newspaper that everyone in the Yukon would want to read came true when the Yukon News (née Advertiser) started rolling off the presses. The weekly paper struggled to survive, competing with the Whitehorse Star, a fixture in Whitehorse since 1900. But Shortt's hard work and his teaming up five years later with Dave Robertson eventually turned the thriving weekly into a daily. In 1965, the Yukon News expanded to become the North's first daily newspaper since 1906. Time magazine took note.

The Yukon Daily News failed to survive the pace of five weekly printings and switched back to a weekly paper several years later. Shortt, again running things alone, was exhausted, and so decided to sell to a conglomeration of businessmen. They never quite got the knack of things and Shortt used his savings to rescue the paper. He ran for it a few more years before he finally found a buyer — his old pal, Robertson.

So simple, it worked

Robertson's simple business philosophy was to give Yukoners some good journalism to read. It worked. In 1986, circulation surpassed that of the Whitehorse Star for the first time.

Robertson's approach continued under his son Stephen, who bought the paper in 1989 at the age of 26, after spending more than a decade learning the business. The paper expanded to a thrice-weekly in 1998. Advertisement sales and staff more than doubled and, under Stephen's direction, a distinct philanthropic personality emerged. Yukon News remains especially dedicated to United Way Society of the Yukon, Adopt a Family, Yukon Learn and Yukon Arts Centre.

Today, the Yukon News is distributed for free to all of the Yukon's 13 disparate communities outside of Whitehorse, reaching a potential readership of all Yukon's 31,000 residents. Total circulation on Fridays is 8,000-weekly over 17,000 in total for the 3 editions.

Excellence that endures

The Yukon News' solid reputation for quality writing and investigative work persists. Year after year, the News carries home awards both regionally and nationally for its excellence in journalism, photography, editorials, editorial cartoons and graphic art. High caliber young journalists are attracted to it for its rarity as an independently-owned newspaper with an owner who is hands-off in the editorial department and editors who strive for distinction. Stephen Robertson, currently president of the British Columbia and Yukon Newspaper Association, continues to run the business side of his newspaper with vision. "Our goal is to continue to improve our service to the community," says Robertson.

Recent Awards

The Yukon News is not only the most widely read newspaper in the territory it is also the territory's most awarded paper. Year after year, the News succeeds in defending its place as one of Canada's highest ranking community newspapers. Our top notch team of journalists, photographers and graphic artists make it the most intriguing and eye-catching read around, and the most popular local medium for advertising

2005 Better Newspaper Competition

(Canadian Community Newspaper Association)

Blue Ribbon for General Excellence
Best Feature Story, first prize, Barbara McLeod
Outstanding Reporter Initiative, second prize, Barbara McLeod
Best Sports Photo, third prize, Mike Thomas
Best Feature Photo, third prize, Mike Thomas
Best Sports Photo, second prize, Jillian Rogers
Best Photo Essay, second prize, Mike Thomas
Best Business Writing, first prize, Darrell Hookey
Best Ad Design, third prize, Louise Skookum

2005 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards

(British Columbia and Yukon Newspaper Association)

Best Feature Photo, gold, Derek Crowe
Best Sports Photo, gold, Derek Crowe
Best Sports Photo, silver, Mike Thomas
Best Spot News Photo, bronze, Mike Thomas
Best Cartoonist, silver, Wyatt Tremblay
Best Ad Campaign, gold, Louise Skookum
Best Ad Design (Spot Colour), silver, Marcella Nowatzki