If you’re reading this in a copy of the News from a Whitehorse newsstand, then you might want to go back for a copy of the Whitehorse Star; today will be your last chance to do so.
When a 124-year-old community institution passes on, it bears mourning, but the mood at the Star’s office wasn’t entirely dreary in the lead-up to the printing of its final issue on May 17 as staffers and ownership reflected on good work done on “the first draft of the Yukon’s history.”
The building housing both the Star newsroom and its printing press at the corner of Second Avenue and Strickland Street was abuzz with activity as current staff worked to get the news of the day in print and some folks who formerly graced the paper’s masthead were back to pen some parting thoughts for the farewell issue.
Looking back to the turn of the last century and the earliest iterations of the Star, editor Jim Butler says he’s been thinking about the many thousands of people who have had some connection to the paper over the years — reading about themselves and their families members or clipping out a photo to grace their refrigerator doors.
He also spoke with pride about the historical events the Star’s coverage has touched on, such as the construction of the Alaska Highway, two world wars and Queen Elizabeth’s 1959 visit to the territory. He noted the unique occurrences covered such as Helen Klaben and Ralph Flores’s improbable survival for 49 days of Yukon winter after their plane went down in the wilderness near Watson Lake in 1963.
Butler has been the Star’s editor for 36 years of a total of 43 years with the paper.
“I hope we’re remembered as an organization whose employees were very dedicated to their craft and dedicated the principle of informing their readers to the best of their ability and in a nonpartisan way, showing sensitivity in cases of family deaths and accidents and such, accuracy in terms of recording so many city and provincial, territorial rather, and federal elections. Just basically a Bible of the first draft of history,” he said.
Michele Pierce, who owns the Star alongside her sisters Melanie, Jessica and Joni and sister-in-law Judy Gibbons, spoke proudly of the way the paper has supported non-profits like the Yukon Quest and River Quest and hopes that legacy of community support is remembered when the paper is out of print. The paper was passed on to them by the late Jackie Pierce who started working at the Star in the 1970s and took ownership of it in 2002.
Butler and Pierce reflected on the impressive careers the Star launched.
“It’s been a stepping stone for dozens of journalists, and other staff as well,” Pierce said.
Butler made particular note of the role that Massey Padgham, now at the Vancouver Sun and Province, played at the Star in the past.
Among the Star alumni back in the office working on some farewell pieces were the recently-retired Chuck Tobin and Rick VanSickle who had a long career with Ontario newspapers following his time at the Star.
“It's certainly a week of mixed sentiments. We're almost in shock that this is, it has come down to being our final week. So there's that sadness and sense of awe there, but also a lot of fun and having people like Rick and Chuck back for a few days,” Butler said.
Looking to the Star’s farewell issue, Butler said he expected about a dozen farewell columns from alumni staffers, mostly reporters.
Pierce said that rather than being miserable, everyone involved is making the best of the last few days at the Star.
Longtime Star photographer Vince Federoff’s tasks in the final week included poring over negatives from the days when the paper’s photography was done on celluloid not pixels to pick some out for the farewell issue.
With decades of his photos printed in the Star’s pages, Federoff can’t pick a favourite shot.
“There’s so many that I really like and enjoy for numerous reasons, you know, so I really couldn't isolate one or even 10, I don't think really. I don't know if I can even say 100,” he said.
Federoff was very clear on what made his time shooting photos for the Star gratifying, noting how good it feels when parents tell him he made their child’s day putting their photo in the paper. He said people will still certainly see him out with his camera.
A newspaper is, after all, a business and so it is prone to the same cost pressures and competition as others.
“It’s just too hard to keep up. It’s been a struggle now for many years and it’s just coming time now that we have to close,” Pierce said.
“Social media has been the death knell of newspapers all over North America. For years now. We've lost hundreds all around this continent. And now, unfortunately, it's our turn,” Butler added.
An effort to raise funds to purchase the Whitehorse Star coordinated by former editor Max Fraser has morphed into a new title, the Yukon Star, with a planned online launch early next week and a print edition promised for May 31.
An April 10 letter published by the Star owners states that they couldn’t accept the deal that was offered to them.
“It is important to note that the financial aspect of a purchase is not the paramount item for the selling group; rather, any offer needs to be based on a realistic plan to keep the Star operational long-term,” the letter reads.
“In our decades-long experience in this business, the start-up costs for a turn-around plan would be enormous.”
The most recent notice shared by the Yukon Star organizers states that Butler will be coming over as editor and other staff will also be hired.
The Whitehorse Star’s longtime motto, proudly displayed on the sign at its office, is Illegitimus non carborundum.
“Don’t let the bastards get you down,” Pierce said, offering a translation from Latin.
“And that can be anything. It could be the government. It could be business. It could be anything you want it to be.”
“Every time I received abusive phone calls, threats of violence, threats of legal action against myself as a person or the Star as a company, I'd hang up the phone after a very tense and unpleasant conversation and think of that motto. I found it a source of inspiration and support,” Butler said.
“It helps you take the high road. You have to in this business,” Pierce added.
Illegitimus non carborundum. Now and forever.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com