Reporter Kyle Hopkins on ”Alaska Daily” | Film Club #24

For this episode we're pivoting to TV, to talk about the new ABC drama "Alaska Daily." The show stars Hilary Swank as a journalist who takes a job at a newspaper in Anchorage, Alaska, after she is let go from her position at a national news outlet.

It was inspired by the reporting of Anchorage Daily News reporter Kyle Hopkins. His series “Lawless,” which provides the basis for some of the show’s storylines, won a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2020. 

Lawless explores stories of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Alaska, the lack of police resources in many villages throughout the state, and much more. It was published in May of 2019 in collaboration with ProPublica. 

ATMI producer Madison Knutson spoke with Hopkins about his reporting being turned into a network drama. He talks about his role as an executive producer on the show, helping to capture Alaska authentically, and the responsibility of a journalist turning their work over to be fictionalized.

They spoke on October 28th, 2022 just after the fourth episode of Alaska Daily aired.

Hosted by Edison Wallace-Moyer.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost. 

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including Alaska State Council on the Arts. The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors.