Hubbry Logo
Alaska DailyAlaska DailyMain
Open search
Alaska Daily
Community hub
Alaska Daily
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Alaska Daily
Alaska Daily
Alaska Daily
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Alaska Daily
GenreCrime drama
Created byTom McCarthy
Inspired byLawless: Sexual Violence in Alaska
by Kyle Hopkins et al. for the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes11
Production
Executive producers
  • Kyle Hopkins
  • Tom McCarthy
  • Bert Salke
  • Hilary Swank
  • Melissa Wells
  • Ryan Binkley
  • Peter Elkoff
ProducerDavid A. Rosemont
Production locationsNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, Northwest Territories, Anchorage, Alaska
Running time47 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseOctober 6, 2022 (2022-10-06) –
March 30, 2023 (2023-03-30)

Alaska Daily is an American crime drama television series created by Tom McCarthy for ABC, starring Hilary Swank as a journalist seeking a fresh start in Anchorage, Alaska.[1] It premiered on October 6, 2022 and ended on March 30, 2023.[2] In May 2023, the series was officially announced canceled.[3] The series was completely removed from Hulu's streaming selection menu on July 1, 2023.[4]

Synopsis

[edit]

Eileen is a New York journalist who moves to Alaska for a clean start and who looks for redemption both personally and professionally after joining a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage.[5] In Anchorage, she works with Roz Friendly,[6] to complete and release reports on the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis in Alaska.[7]

Cast

[edit]

Main

[edit]
  • Hilary Swank as Eileen Fitzgerald, a former high-profile investigative reporter in New York City, she comes to Alaska after burning bridges in her previous job.
  • Jeff Perry as Stanley Kornik, Eileen's former boss and managing editor of the Daily Alaskan.
  • Grace Dove as Roz Friendly, an Alaskan native and star reporter for the Daily Alaskan whom Stanley assigns to write with Eileen on the investigation of a murdered indigenous woman. Having a family member who was a victim of an unsolved crime, Roz has a personal connection to the story and that drives her to keep searching for the truth.
  • Meredith Holzman as Claire Muncy, veteran Daily Alaskan reporter who helps Eileen and Roz with the investigation. She deals with a personal struggle to find the balance between work and home life as a mother of two.
  • Matt Malloy as Bob Young, Daily Alaskan senior reporter and acting news editor.
  • Pablo Castelblanco as Gabriel Tovar, a chatty Daily Alaskan employee.
  • Ami Park as Yuna Park, a Daily Alaskan cub reporter who quickly learns that reporting the truth isn’t always easy.
  • Craig Frank as Austin Teague, a Daily Alaskan reporter who isn’t afraid to challenge his colleagues and represent the community.

Recurring

[edit]

Guest

[edit]

Episodes

[edit]
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [8]Prod.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Tom McCarthyTom McCarthyOctober 6, 2022 (2022-10-06)1HMH013.59[9]
2"A Place We Came Together"Tom McCarthyTom McCarthy & Gabriel ShermanOctober 13, 2022 (2022-10-13)1HMH023.04[10]
3"It's Not Personal"Clark JohnsonTeleplay by : Stuart Zicherman & Miranda Rose Hall
Story by : Stuart Zicherman		October 20, 2022 (2022-10-20)1HMH032.94[11]
4"The Weekend"Danis GouletLiz TuccilloOctober 27, 2022 (2022-10-27)1HMH042.89[12]
5"I Have No Idea What You're Talking About, Eileen"Patricia RiggenChitra SampathNovember 3, 2022 (2022-11-03)1HMH052.63[13]
6"You Can't Put a Price on a Life"Oliver BokelbergSandra ChwialkowskaNovember 17, 2022 (2022-11-17)1HMH062.50[14]
7"Enemy of the People"Craig MacNeillTeleplay by : Jay Beattie
Story by : Peter Elkoff & Jay Beattie		March 2, 2023 (2023-03-02)1HMH072.76[15]
8"Tell a Reporter Not to Do Something and Suddenly It's a Party"Ruba NaddaGabriel ShermanMarch 9, 2023 (2023-03-09)1HMH082.50[16]
9"Rush to Judgement"Michael PressmanMiranda Rose Hall & Michael J. RezendesMarch 16, 2023 (2023-03-16)1HMH092.91[17]
10"Truth is a Slow Bullet"Catriona McKenzieAndrew MacLeanMarch 23, 2023 (2023-03-23)1HMH102.79[18]
11"Most Reckless Thing I've Ever Done"Bosede WilliamsVera StarbardMarch 30, 2023 (2023-03-30)1HMH112.75[19]

Production

[edit]

The pilot was written and directed by Tom McCarthy. The showrunner for the series is Peter Elkoff. Tom McCarthy's Slow Pony Productions, 20th Television, and Hilary Swank acted as producers.[20][21] Filming for the series began on August 8, 2022, and concluded on January 5, 2023, in New Westminster, British Columbia.[22]

The series' credits indicate the program was inspired by the 2019 Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica article series Lawless: Sexual Violence in Alaska, as well as subsequent related reporting by the project's lead reporter Kyle Hopkins. The Daily News agreed to work with the show's producers, resulting in Hopkins as well as ADN president Ryan Binkley being credited as executive producers on the TV series; however, Alaska Daily is not a dramatization of the specific events documented in the Lawless project.[23]

On May 12, 2023, ABC canceled the series after one season.[3]

Broadcast

[edit]

Alaska Daily premiered on October 6, 2022 on ABC.[2] The final five episodes of season 1 aired from March 2, 2023 to March 30, 2023.[24] The series was removed from Hulu on July 1, 2023.[4]

Alaska Daily premiered on Disney+ (Star hub) in Hong Kong on November 9, 2022. It also premiered on Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand as part of the Star content hub on January 4, 2023 and weekly from February 8, 2023 in the UK and Ireland[25] and Spain.

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 74% approval rating with an average rating of 6.6/10, based on 19 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Alaska Daily awkwardly straddles the sensibilities of network TV and edgier streaming fare, but the core message about the importance of local journalism is fit to print."[26] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 67 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[27]

Ratings

[edit]
Viewership and ratings per episode of Alaska Daily
No. Title Air date Rating
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Pilot" October 6, 2022 0.3 3.59[9] 0.2 2.68 0.5 6.27[28]
2 "A Place We Came Together" October 13, 2022 0.3 3.04[10] 0.2 2.44 0.4 5.48[29]
3 "It's Not Personal" October 20, 2022 0.2 2.94[11] 0.2 2.40 0.4 5.34[30]
4 "The Weekend" October 27, 2022 0.3 2.89[12] 0.2 2.37 0.4 5.25[12]
5 "I Have No Idea What You're Talking About, Eileen" November 3, 2022 0.2 2.63[13] 0.2 2.62 0.4 5.25[31]
6 "You Can't Put a Price on a Life" November 17, 2022 0.2 2.50[14] 0.2 2.72 0.4 5.22[32]
7 "Enemy of the People" March 2, 2023 0.2 2.76[15] — — — —
8 "Tell a Reporter Not to Do Something and Suddenly It's a Party" March 9, 2023 0.2 2.50[16] — — — —
9 "Rush to Judgement" March 16, 2023 0.2 2.91[17] — — — —
10 "Truth is a Slow Bullet" March 23, 2023 0.2 2.79[18] — — — —
11 "Most Reckless Thing I've Ever Done (FKA News Is What People Don't Want You to Know)" March 30, 2023 0.2 2.75[19] — — — —

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Golden Globe Awards January 10, 2023 Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama Hilary Swank Nominated [33]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Alaska Daily

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is an American crime drama television series created by Tom McCarthy that premiered on ABC on October 6, 2022, and concluded its single season on March 31, 2023. Starring as Eileen Fitzgerald, a high-profile investigative from New York who relocates to , following a professional scandal, the series follows her efforts to rebuild her career at a struggling local while tackling underreported stories, particularly the crisis of . The program drew inspiration from real on and unsolved cases in , emphasizing the high rates of violence against Indigenous people in the state, which ranks among the highest nationally for such incidents. Despite featuring Alaska Native actors like and aiming for authentic representation, including consultations with local journalists, the series received mixed reviews for its procedural format and perceived reliance on familiar broadcast tropes rather than deeper innovation. ABC canceled Alaska Daily in May 2023 after failing to build sufficient viewership, marking it as one of several short-lived dramas in the network's lineup, though it garnered praise from some for spotlighting persistent social issues like the epidemic.

Premise

Plot Summary

Alaska Daily centers on Eileen Fitzgerald, an award-winning investigative reporter whose career in New York is derailed by a professional scandal involving a leaked source, prompting her relocation to Anchorage, Alaska, to join the staff of the fictional Daily Alaskan newspaper. There, Fitzgerald collaborates with a small team of journalists, including editor Stanley Cornik and reporter Roz Granger, to pursue underreported local stories amid the paper's financial strains and Alaska's remote challenges. The narrative arc emphasizes high-stakes investigations into cold cases and systemic issues, such as the epidemic of , which draws on documented real-world disparities in where Indigenous women face violence rates up to 10 times the national average according to federal data. Ensemble dynamics highlight ethical tensions in , including , community impacts, and balancing with truth in a state where geographic isolation complicates verification and response times for .

Cast and Characters

Main Cast

Hilary Swank stars as Eileen Fitzgerald, a tenacious investigative who relocates from to , after her career unravels due to a major reporting error that costs her job and reputation. , a two-time Academy Award winner for her performances in Boys Don't Cry (1999) and (2004), embodies Fitzgerald's relentless pursuit of truth amid personal and professional redemption, drawing on her history of portraying characters defined by moral fortitude and depth. Jeff Perry plays Stanley Cornik, the seasoned of the Daily Alaskan , who hires Fitzgerald and provides guidance rooted in decades of experience from major metropolitan dailies. Cornik serves as a stabilizing force in the , balancing ethical with the practicalities of a struggling local paper. Grace Dove portrays Rosalind "Roz" Friendly, an Alaska Native reporter specializing in stories affecting Indigenous communities, including investigations into . Friendly's role highlights cultural perspectives and on-the-ground reporting in , collaborating with Fitzgerald on high-stakes exposés.

Supporting and Guest Roles

Meredith Holzman portrays Claire Muncy, a veteran reporter at the Daily Alaskan who assists lead investigators with sourcing and fieldwork while navigating personal challenges, including family health issues that intersect with dynamics. Her role underscores the operational support provided by experienced staff in under-resourced local s, mirroring real-world journalistic teams where seasoned reporters handle subplots of internal politics and ethical dilemmas without overshadowing primary probes. Irene Bedard plays Sylvie Nanmac, an Iñupiaq community member whose interactions with the news team reveal tensions in Native relations and local crime reporting, contributing to subplots on cultural barriers in investigations. Bedard's heritage from the Native Village of Koyuk informs the portrayal, emphasizing authentic informant roles that reflect empirical challenges in sourcing data on indigenous issues, such as underreported violence statistics from state agencies. Shane McRae recurs as Aaron Pritchard, the newspaper's publisher, who manages budget constraints and advertiser pressures, embodying administrative hurdles in sustaining amid declining print revenues—evidenced by U.S. closures averaging 2.5 per week in per Pew Research data integrated into similar series narratives. His character facilitates subplots on financial viability, distinct from editorial focus. Notable guest appearances include as Jindahaa, an Native PhD student providing contextual expertise on regional disparities during targeted story arcs, highlighting how academic informants aid in verifying crime patterns like the crisis, where federal data shows rates four times the national average. Other one-off roles feature experts and locals, such as those consulting on forensic or demographic details, expanding verifiability in probes without recurring ties.

Production

Development and Conception

Alaska Daily was created by Tom McCarthy, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for directing Spotlight, which chronicled at . McCarthy developed the series concept around a disgraced reporter relocating to a small Alaskan , emphasizing the challenges and of local . His inspiration stemmed from real-world in , particularly the Anchorage Daily News's in-depth coverage of systemic issues like violence against indigenous women. The series draws directly from the and ProPublica's 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative series "Lawless: Sexual Violence in ," authored by Kyle Hopkins and colleagues. This reporting exposed failures in and justice systems regarding assaults on women, including high rates among Native populations, based on data from over 1,000 cases spanning years. McCarthy cited Hopkins's work as a key influence, aiming to highlight journalism's role in uncovering overlooked truths rather than prioritizing sensational narratives. The collaborated with McCarthy and ABC during pre-production to inform the portrayal of newsroom operations and Alaskan realities. ABC greenlit the pilot script in September 2021, positioning Alaska Daily as a serialized amid network television's shift toward higher-caliber programming to compete with streaming services. Development focused on authentic depictions of journalistic rigor, contrasting with broader media trends favoring opinion over empirical verification, as McCarthy visited Anchorage Daily News facilities multiple times to ground the narrative in verifiable practices. This approach reflected concerns over declining viability, with U.S. dropping 57% from 2008 to 2020 per data, underscoring the series' intent to valorize fact-driven reporting.

Casting Process

Hilary Swank was selected as the lead Eileen Fitzgerald, a disgraced investigative relocating to Anchorage, due to her expressed interest in narratives grounded in real journalistic exposés of systemic issues like violence against Indigenous women. Swank cited being drawn to the project's inspiration from the and ProPublica's "Lawless" series, which documented pervasive in , as a key factor in her attachment. Supporting roles emphasized cultural authenticity for storylines addressing (MMIW) cases, with Indigenous actors cast in prominent positions to reflect Alaskan Native perspectives. , a performer, was chosen as Rosalind "Roz" Friendly, an Alaska Native reporter partnering with Swank's character on cold cases, to ensure credible representation of Indigenous investigative dynamics. Additional Native actors filled key supporting parts, supported by Indigenous writers and authentic props like traditional jewelry, prioritizing empirical fit over generic casting to align with the series' focus on underrepresented crises. The ensemble rounded out with seasoned performers suited to ensemble journalism dramas, including Jeff Perry as editor Stanley Cornik for his gravitas in authority figures and as publisher Bob Young for comedic timing in tense settings. announcements for regulars occurred in May 2022, balancing narrative demands with actors' proven versatility in procedural formats.

Filming Locations and Techniques

Principal photography for Alaska Daily took place primarily in , , with and surrounding areas such as , , and Squamish serving as stand-ins for . This choice was driven by British Columbia's established film infrastructure, milder weather conditions compared to Alaska's harsh winters, and financial incentives like credits, which reduced costs relative to on-location shooting in the state. Limited exteriors were filmed in , to capture authentic local landmarks and atmosphere. Additional northern scenes were shot in Canada's , including the around and the community of Dettah, which provided rugged, icy landscapes resembling Alaska's remote areas without the logistical challenges of extreme cold and isolation. Filming commenced on August 8, 2022, and concluded on January 13, 2023, spanning approximately five months to cover the single-season production. The production emphasized practical sets over extensive digital effects to enhance realism, particularly in depicting the newsroom environment. Designers studied attire and layouts from the Anchorage Daily News's former offices to construct an on-set newsroom that mirrored real journalistic workflows, fostering authentic interactions among actors portraying reporters and editors. This approach prioritized tangible props, lighting, and spatial dynamics to convey the intensity of deadline-driven reporting, contrasting with more stylized, CGI-reliant productions in the genre.

Episodes

Season 1 Overview

The first season of Alaska Daily comprises 11 episodes, which aired on ABC from October 6, 2022, to March 30, 2023. The series premiered with the pilot episode on October 6, 2022, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursdays, following a standard network broadcast schedule. Production of the season included a midseason hiatus after the sixth episode aired on November 17, 2022, with the final five episodes resuming on March 2, 2023, due to network programming adjustments amid the 2022–2023 television season. No episodes were left unaired, and there were no reported changes to the intended episode order during production or broadcast. The season adopts a serialized format, integrating standalone journalistic investigations—often procedural in nature, focusing on real-time reporting and case resolution—with overarching narrative arcs centered on character development, including the protagonist Eileen Fitzgerald's professional redemption following a career . This structure emphasizes continuity in interpersonal dynamics within the Anchorage while advancing multi-episode storylines tied to broader investigations.

Episode Summaries

"Pilot" (October 6, 2022)
Fiercely talented investigative journalist Fitzgerald, following a professional scandal, leaves her New York career to join the Daily Alaskan newspaper in Anchorage, where she encounters and begins integrating into the local newsroom while hinting at her past errors. "A Place We Came Together" (October 13, 2022)
Roz and obtain a lead in the disappearance of Gloria Nanmac, an Indigenous woman, prompting to call in a favor to identify a ; concurrently, reporter Claire examines the corporate acquisition of a cherished local , highlighting tensions between interests and business expansion. "It's Not Personal" (October 20, 2022)
, Roz, and intern Sylvie travel to the town of Meade to investigate a linked to Gloria's case, facing resistance from the local police chief; meanwhile, Austin uncovers questionable financial connections involving a endorsed by the newspaper's owner, forcing editor Stanley to weigh against ownership pressures. "The Weekend" (October 27, 2022)
Gabriel's reporting uncovers an unforeseen development, bolstered by 's guidance; and Roz experience divergent personal weekends before reconvening to push forward on the Gloria Nanmac investigation, advancing the inquiry central to the season. "I Have No Idea What You're Talking About, " (November 3, 2022)
A visitor from 's New York past disrupts the newsroom, while she and Roz secure a fresh lead in Gloria's case, deepening the probe into systemic issues surrounding Indigenous disappearances in Alaska. "You Can't Put a Price on a Life" (November 17, 2022)
As two local women—one Indigenous and one non-Indigenous—go missing, Roz expresses frustration over disparate media and investigative attention to the cases; Bob provides Roz and with a crucial tip on Gloria Nanmac's disappearance, underscoring disparities in responses to crises. "" (March 2, 2023)
becomes a during a , compelling the team to act urgently to resolve the standoff amid escalating threats tied to their reporting. "Tell A Reporter Not To Do Something And Suddenly It's A Party" (March 9, 2023)
In the aftermath of the newsroom incident, the staff rallies for support while pursuing emerging leads in Gloria Nanmac's case, maintaining momentum in the MMIW storyline despite personal and professional fallout. "Rush to Judgment" (March 16, 2023)
A new development implicates a known figure as the prime suspect in Gloria Nanmac's case, spurring and Roz to report swiftly; Austin and Claire trace developer Conrad Pritchard's activities in , revealing potential conflicts in local development and . "Truth Is A Slow Bullet" (March 23, 2023)
Advancements in Gloria's investigation coincide with career offers for Eileen and Roz, prompting reflection on their futures beyond ; Bob ventures beyond his routine role, and Austin faces deteriorating custody arrangements. "Most Reckless Thing I've Done" (March 30, 2023)
Rumors of a competing prompt the team to assess threats to local ; Eileen and Roz scrutinize Gloria Nanmac's final phone call to avert a potential , concluding the season's arcs on the MMIW case with unresolved elements following the series' cancellation after one season.

Broadcast and Distribution

Domestic Airing

Alaska Daily premiered on the (ABC) on , , occupying the Thursday 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time slot immediately following . The series aired its first six episodes consecutively on Thursdays: ("Pilot"), October 13 ("A Place We Came Together"), October 20 ("It's Not Personal"), October 27 ("The Weekend"), November 3 ("I Have No Idea What You're Talking About, Eileen"), and November 10 ("You Can't Put a Price on Stories"). After the November 10 episode, ABC placed the show on hiatus, citing insufficient viewership to justify continued fall scheduling in the competitive night lineup. The network resumed airing the remaining five episodes on March 2, 2023: March 2 (""), March 9 (""), March 16 ("Truth Is a Slow Bullet"), March 23 ("Most Reckless Thing I've Ever Done"), and March 30 (season finale). This midseason return aligned with ABC's strategy to burn off episodes of underperforming series amid stronger spring programming options. Nielsen ratings underscored the airing decisions, with the premiere attracting 3.59 million live viewers and a 0.32 rating among adults 18-49, modest figures for the post-Grey's position. Subsequent episodes saw further declines in live-plus-same-day metrics, averaging below 3 million viewers, prompting the hiatus as ABC prioritized higher-rated content like holiday specials and sports preemptions in other slots. Despite delayed viewing boosting season averages to 5.4 million total viewers and a 0.4 demo rating with Live+7 adjustments, the initial live performance failed to meet renewal thresholds, influencing the truncated broadcast run.

International Release

Alaska Daily was made available internationally through Disney's streaming services and select local broadcasters following its U.S. premiere on ABC. In , the series aired on CTV simultaneously with the American broadcast, debuting on October 6, 2022. Several countries, including , , , and , received episodes via internet platforms—primarily —on the same premiere date of October 6, 2022. The rollout varied by region, with some markets experiencing delays. In the and , Disney+ released the first two episodes on February 8, 2023, several months after the U.S. launch. This staggered approach aligned with Disney's strategy for international content distribution, though the series' single-season run limited broader syndication efforts. In 2024, secured licensing rights for the , enabling linear television broadcasts on channel and availability on UKTV Play during the summer. No significant cultural adaptations were reported, as the series retained its original format focused on themes. International availability reflected the production's ties to ABC and , prioritizing streaming over extensive traditional syndication in most territories.

Streaming Availability and Changes

Alaska Daily episodes became available for next-day streaming on for U.S. viewers following their initial ABC broadcast, accessible with a standard Hulu subscription. This arrangement aligned with Disney's standard distribution model for ABC network programming during the show's 2022-2023 run. On July 1, 2023, the entire series was removed from ahead of its typical license expiration, as part of Disney's broader initiative to cull licensed content and record a multibillion-dollar impairment charge on unamortized production costs. The decision affected multiple underperforming titles, with Alaska Daily's early exit—despite its recent cancellation—reducing its visibility and free accessibility to 's over 45 million subscribers at the time. This purge reflected Disney's strategic shift toward prioritizing high-engagement originals over legacy network content, impacting long-term discoverability for one-season shows like this. As of October 2025, Alaska Daily remains unavailable on major U.S. subscription streaming platforms such as , , or Disney+, with no free ad-supported options widely reported. Viewers can access the series through digital purchase or rental on services including (Season 1 for $19.99), Apple TV, Vudu, and , typically at $2.99 per episode or $19.99 per season. No official release, such as DVD or Blu-ray, has occurred, further constraining options beyond paid digital ownership. These changes have notably diminished the show's post-cancellation footprint, shifting it from subscription-based streaming to transactional models that require upfront payment for access.

Reception

Critical Reviews

On , Alaska Daily holds a 74% approval rating from 19 critic reviews, reflecting a mixed but generally positive assessment of its execution as a network drama. Critics praised the series for its realistic depiction of newsroom operations and , with the noting its close approximation to authentic journalistic processes within the constraints of broadcast television. The highlighted strengths in portraying the challenges of covering issues like (MMIW), crediting the show's HBO-like premise adapted effectively for ABC's format, including detailed attention to Alaska's social realities. However, several reviews critiqued the series for formulaic storytelling and predictable character arcs, with describing it as comprising "three different shows" where elements of investigative thriller felt uneven and occasionally contrived. The Hollywood Reporter faulted its "ham-handed" approach to blending prestige drama tropes with network procedural elements, arguing that the idealized portrayal of journalists as unrelentingly principled overlooked more nuanced professional dynamics. Variety echoed this by observing that the protagonist's fish-out-of-water narrative recycled familiar tropes without sufficient innovation, diluting the potential depth of its journalistic focus. Professional critiques often noted an overemphasis on heroic in the , which some argued sanitized the portrayal of media operations compared to documented real-world instances of institutional biases and echo chambers that skew coverage away from diverse ideological perspectives. This idealization, while effective for dramatic tension, was seen as limiting the series' ability to interrogate broader systemic issues in contemporary , such as the underrepresentation of conservative in mainstream outlets. Despite these flaws, the consensus affirmed the show's value in spotlighting underreported Alaskan stories, particularly MMIW cases, through a lens of procedural realism.

Viewership Metrics

The premiere episode of Alaska Daily, aired on October 6, 2022, attracted 3.59 million same-day viewers and a 0.32 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic according to Nielsen measurements. Incorporating seven-day delayed viewing, the episode's 18-49 rating rose to 0.5, reflecting significant growth from DVR and streaming playback. Multiplatform data extended this further, with the premiere accumulating 12.3 million total viewers over 35 days, including an 844% increase in the 18-49 demo to 3.02. Across its single season of 11 s, the series averaged approximately 5.4 million total viewers and a 0.4 rating in adults 18-49 when accounting for Live+7 viewing, though same-day figures hovered lower around 3-4 million per early on before stabilizing. Live+7 averages through late April 2023 stood at 5.3 million viewers and 0.4 in the demo, indicating consistent but modest delayed-viewing lifts that did not offset weaker initial linear performance. In Nielsen rankings, Alaska Daily ranked sixth among 10 p.m. programs in total viewers during its early weeks but lagged behind established procedurals and network hits in both live and demo metrics, failing to crack top-tier new drama standings for the 2022-2023 season. The disparity between higher total viewership and subdued 18-49 performance highlighted a skew toward older audiences, common for serialized dramas but insufficient to sustain renewal amid rising production costs. The on March 30, 2023, held steady with prior episodes in Live+7 but underscored the overall trend of underwhelming linear engagement relative to competitors.

Awards and Nominations

Alaska Daily received modest recognition in awards circuits, primarily through nominations for lead actress Hilary Swank's performance and the series' production standards, but secured no major competitive victories. This limited acclaim aligns with the show's single-season run and mixed viewership performance. At the on January 10, 2023, Swank earned a nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for her portrayal of Eileen Fitzgerald, though she did not win. The series also received a nomination for Best Broadcast Network Drama Series at the 3rd Astra Television Awards in 2024, recognizing its place among network dramas, but lost to 9-1-1. In terms of production equity, Alaska Daily was awarded for the 2022–2023 television season, certifying gender-balanced hiring practices in front of and behind the camera across at least 50% of key roles. This non-competitive honor highlights efforts toward representation but does not denote artistic or popular success. The absence of Primetime Emmy or Critics' Choice Award nods further underscores the show's empirical shortfall in broader industry validation.
AwardYearCategoryRecipientResult
2023Best Actress in a Television Series – DramaNominated
Astra Television Awards2024Best Broadcast Network Drama SeriesAlaska DailyNominated
2023Gender-Balanced Hiring CertificationAlaska Daily (Season 1)Awarded

Themes and Analysis

Journalism Ethics and Realities

Alaska Daily underscores journalistic principles by centering narratives on meticulous fact-verification and source safeguarding, drawing directly from the Anchorage Daily News' 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning "Lawless: Sexual Violence in Alaska" investigative series, which exposed systemic failures in addressing violence against Indigenous women through exhaustive and victim interviews. The show's reporters, such as Eileen Fitzgerald, exemplify ethical commitments to corroborating evidence before publication, often delaying stories to protect vulnerable informants amid threats of retaliation, a practice rooted in guidelines prioritizing harm minimization. This portrayal aligns with real-world standards where investigative outlets like , collaborators on the original series, employ multiple verification layers to combat misinformation. Ethical tensions arise in the series from the industry's contraction, with 2,600 U.S. newspapers closing since 2005 and ad revenues plummeting 60% from 2006 to 2020, forcing characters to weigh rapid digital competition against accuracy. Episodes depict dilemmas like publishing preliminary findings under deadline pressures versus awaiting confirmatory sources, echoing critiques from scholars that speed erodes depth in an era of 24-hour news cycles. Protagonists resist editorial shortcuts, advocating for transparency in and , as seen in their handling of flawed initial reports that risk public trust erosion. While lauding these ideals, the series sidesteps into institutional biases prevalent in , such as surveys indicating 28% of U.S. journalists self-identify as left-leaning versus 7% right-leaning, potentially skewing coverage priorities. Unlike self-critical works examining narrative-driven reporting, Alaska Daily idealizes the without probing how outlets tied to its inspiration, like the , face accusations of selective framing from conservative analysts who argue such coverage amplifies certain social issues while downplaying others. This omission reflects network television's tendency toward uncontroversial heroism, prioritizing over causal analysis of media incentives that favor alignment with dominant cultural narratives over unvarnished .

Social Issues in Alaska

The series centers its narrative on the crisis of (MMIW), portraying investigations into cases that reflect 's disproportionate rates, where the state ranked fourth nationally for such incidents behind New Mexico, Washington, and Arizona as of a 2017 Urban Indian Health Institute analysis. This depiction aligns with empirical data from the indicating that 84.3 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women have experienced severe physical violence or assault in their lifetime. FBI reports further substantiate the vulnerability, documenting patterns of violent and sexual crimes against AI/AN females at elevated rates from 2021 to 2023, often linked to jurisdictional gaps in rural and tribal areas. Beyond MMIW, the show examines broader rural isolation, where Alaska's sparse —averaging one person per square mile statewide—and extreme hinder access to services, amplifying social decay. Alaska's violent crime rate stands at 1,194 incidents per 100,000 residents, the highest in the U.S., with rural communities bearing staggering burdens due to understaffed and limited . State reports from the Alaska Department of Public Safety note a 2022 overall decrease of 1.6 percent but persistent elevations in rural violent offenses, including homicides that reached 7 per 100,000 people by 2021 after peaking at 10.7 in 2019. These elements are woven into plotlines revealing how geographic remoteness fosters unchecked cycles of abuse, without resorting to unsubstantiated external attributions. Causal factors depicted include chronic underfunding of policing in remote villages—where response times can span days—and entrenched issues like alcohol dependency, which official analyses tie to cultural dislocation and in Native communities. The series grounds such portrayals in verifiable patterns, such as AI/AN populations facing rates exceeding national averages by factors of up to ten in certain counties, emphasizing resource shortages over ideological narratives. This approach underscores how isolation compounds and family violence, with Alaska's 2021 crime data showing sustained high incidences despite statewide declines.

Portrayals of Media Bias and Critiques

Alaska Daily presents its protagonists, particularly investigative reporter Eileen Fitzgerald, as principled journalists untainted by institutional flaws, emphasizing their pursuit of truth amid external threats like and public distrust. This depiction contrasts with broader critiques of corporate media environments, where echo chambers and selective reporting have eroded public confidence, as evidenced by declining trust metrics reported by organizations such as Gallup, which showed only 16% of Americans expressing high confidence in media accuracy in 2022. Critics argue that the series irresponsibly overlooks internal media biases by portraying mainstream outlets as "saintly protagonists whose objectivity is beyond reproach," failing to depict "hacks who work for once-respectable publications" now compromised by partisanship. In the seventh episode, for instance, an article by Fitzgerald attributes attacks on journalists primarily to right-wing "" claims, while neglecting parallel critiques of left-leaning media distortions, such as amplified narratives on social issues without counterbalancing evidence. Viewer commentary on platforms like highlights the show's aversion to scrutinizing corporate media's contributions to societal polarization, including the prioritization of over factual balance and suppression of inconvenient data, such as environmental trade-offs in "green" policies. These reviews contend that the absence of conservative viewpoints in story resolutions normalizes one-sided journalistic norms, rendering the portrayal preachy and disconnected from real-world dynamics where media outlets often dismiss dissenting perspectives. Such omissions reflect a broader pattern in network television, where depictions of journalism rarely interrogate systemic left-leaning institutional biases documented in studies like those from the , which analyzed coverage slants in major outlets. By idealizing the without this self-examination, Alaska Daily contributes to critiques that it reinforces rather than challenges the chambers it purports to combat.

Cancellation and Legacy

Announcement and Reasons

On May 12, 2023, ABC announced the cancellation of Alaska Daily after its single 22-episode season, confirming earlier speculation amid network upfront planning. The move aligned with the axing of other underperforming first-year dramas like The Company You Keep, reflecting ABC's empirical assessment of rather than narrative or critical potential. Viewership data underscored the core rationale: the series averaged 5.4 million total viewers and a 0.4 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic across its run, including Live+7 delayed viewing, placing it among ABC's lowest-rated scripted entries. These figures, while bolstered modestly by multiplatform streaming on (e.g., the premiere episode's demo rating rose to 3.02 after 35 days of viewing), insufficiently offset high production expenses for a prestige drama featuring Oscar winner , especially as linear TV ad dollars increasingly demand robust same-day audiences. In the streaming-dominated era, where platforms like and Disney+ erode broadcast shares, networks like ABC prioritize cost-efficient formats with proven retention, such as procedurals that facilitate easier episode-skipping and syndication viability over serialized tales requiring sustained viewer commitment. This cancellation exemplified a data-driven pivot, as Alaska Daily's modest multiplatform lifts failed to compete with genre staples yielding higher per-episode returns.

Industry Impact and Viewer Response

The cancellation of Alaska Daily after one season contributed to broader industry trends in content lifecycle management, as the series was among those removed from Hulu effective July 1, 2023, amid Disney's $1.5 billion content write-down strategy to optimize streaming libraries and reduce licensing costs for underperforming titles. This removal exemplified the precarious archival status of short-lived network series, with releases absent and digital access fluctuating; however, by May 2025, episodes became available via The CW app, mitigating long-term inaccessibility for retrospective viewing. Such shifts underscore causal pressures on broadcasters and streamers to prioritize high-engagement content, as low-sustained viewership—despite an initial multiplatform premiere reaching 8.7 million viewers—rendered maintenance uneconomical. Viewer responses post-cancellation revealed polarized sentiments on and forums, with dedicated audiences expressing frustration over the abrupt termination, particularly citing Hilary Swank's compelling portrayal and the untapped potential for serialized narratives amid the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes. On platforms like , fans decried ABC's decision to axe the show alongside similar dramas, viewing it as emblematic of network risk-aversion toward substantive procedurals in favor of lighter fare. Conversely, broader metrics indicated limited , with the series averaging insufficient linear ratings to justify renewal, empirically signaling a preference for escapist over issue-heavy dramas that demand sustained investment in real-world journalistic . In terms of legacy for the genre, Alaska Daily's trajectory highlighted empirical vulnerabilities in broadcast journalism-themed series, where critical acclaim failed to translate into the demographic performance needed against streaming competitors; through April 2023, it garnered around 5.3 million multiplatform viewers per episode but lagged in key 18-49 demos, reinforcing causal realism that audience retention favors narrative-driven over didactic explorations of media realities. This outcome parallels other one-season network attempts at prestige-style dramas, prompting producers to recalibrate toward hybrid formats blending procedural elements with broader appeal to avert similar fates.

References

  1. https://deadline.com/2023/05/alaska-daily-canceled-abc-after-one-season-hilary-swank-1235360637/
  2. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/alaska-daily-hilary-swank-tom-mccarthy-abc-1235232457/
  3. https://abc7.com/post/abc-alaska-daily-hilary-swank-tom-mccarthy/12297039/
  4. https://www.adn.com/arts/film-tv/2022/10/06/qa-what-is-alaska-daily-what-is-it-based-on-and-whos-involved/
  5. https://nativenewsonline.net/arts-entertainment/new-abc-drama-alaska-daily-highlights-mmiw-crisis
  6. https://alaskapublic.org/news/2023-05-23/a-real-alaska-native-character-writer-reflects-on-alaska-daily-cancellation
  7. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/alaska-daily-review-hilary-swank-tom-mccarthy-1234604020/
  8. https://nativenewsonline.net/arts-entertainment/alaska-daily-cancelled-abc-drama-highlighted-mmiw-crisis
  9. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/alaska_daily
  10. https://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/hilary-swanks-alaska-daily-is-great-network-television-and-that-may-be-its-downfall.php
  11. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15421858/
  12. https://www.cowboysindians.com/2022/10/new-show-alert-abcs-alaska-daily-spotlights-a-true-epidemic/
  13. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-10-06/alaska-daily-abc-hilary-swank-tom-mccarthy-review
  14. https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2022/10/5/23387233/alaska-daily-review-hilary-swank-series-abc-jeff-perry-anchorage
  15. https://www.hcn.org/articles/indigenous-affairs-arts-culture-an-indigenous-affairs-reporter-reviews-alaska-daily/
  16. https://parade.com/tv/alaska-daily-hilary-swank-exclusive
  17. https://abc7chicago.com/post/hilary-swank-alaska-daily-2022-oscars/12301144/
  18. https://www.looper.com/1122218/why-stanley-cornik-from-alaska-daily-looks-so-familiar/
  19. https://screenrant.com/cast-of-alaska-daily-character-guide-where-youve-seen-actors/
  20. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/alaska-daily-grace-dove-1.6622284
  21. https://nativeviewpoint.com/grace-dove-on-her-role-as-the-mmiw-investigative-journalist-roz-co-starring-with-hilary-swank-in-abcs-alaska-daily/
  22. https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/alaska-daily/cast/1001054788/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22409426/
  24. https://alaskadaily.fandom.com/wiki/Season_1
  25. https://www.thewrap.com/alaska-daily-cast-martin-sensmeier-la-brea-actor/
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15421858/fullcredits/
  27. https://www.adn.com/arts/film-tv/2022/10/07/review-alaska-daily-comes-as-close-to-an-authentic-journalism-drama-as-network-tv-can-get/
  28. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/abc-development-head-greys-anatomy-alaska-daily-interview-1235233909/
  29. https://alaskapublic.org/news/2022-10-05/alaska-daily-tv-show-debuts-this-week-with-roots-in-the-real-life-anchorage-daily-news
  30. https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2022/10/01/alaska-daily-what-this-new-tv-series-is-and-isnt-and-how-adn-is-involved/
  31. https://www.forbes.com/sites/anneeaston/2022/10/05/alaska-daily-shines-a-light-on-the-plight-of-local-journalism-and-the-topic-of-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women/
  32. https://d23.com/how-abcs-alaska-daily-exposes-ugly-truths-in-the-northern-lights/
  33. https://www.tvguide.com/news/hilary-swank-reveals-why-she-was-consumed-by-the-inspiration-for-alaska-daily/
  34. https://www.newsweek.com/hilary-swank-interview-alaska-daily-abc-murder-indigenous-women-1749461
  35. https://www.cowboysindians.com/2022/10/ci-qa-grace-dove-of-alaska-daily/
  36. https://thenewsette.com/2022/11/14/grace-dove/
  37. https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-abcs-alaska-daily-filmed/
  38. https://www.hollywoodnorthbuzz.com/2022/08/new-abc-series-alaska-daily-with-hilary-swank-starts-filming-in-vancouver.html
  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15421858/locations/
  40. https://cabinradio.ca/106547/news/yellowknife/dettah/alaska-daily-partly-filmed-in-dettah-debuts-on-thursday/
  41. https://www.hollywoodnorthbuzz.com/2022/06/abcs-alaska-daily-series-with-hilary-swank-filming-in-vancouver-this-summer-fall.html
  42. https://epguides.com/AlaskaDaily/
  43. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15421858/episodes/?season=1
  44. https://www.tvinsider.com/show/alaska-daily/
  45. http://hollywoodnorthbuzz.com/2022/05/alaska-with-hilary-swank-lands-thursday-night-slot-on-abc-this-fall.html
  46. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15421858/episodes/
  47. https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/62057/alaska-daily/episodes
  48. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/abc-alaska-daily-multi-platform-ratings-1235244733/
  49. https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/alaska-daily-season-two-has-the-abc-drama-tv-series-been-cancelled-or-renewed-yet/
  50. https://www.tvline.com/ratings/ratings-alaska-daily-season-1-finale-renewed-cancelled-1234954115/
  51. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15421858/releaseinfo/
  52. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15421858/companycredits/
  53. https://whatsondisneyplus.com/alaska-daily-arrives-on-disney-uk-ireland/
  54. https://whatsondisneyplus.com/uktv-play-license-multiple-disney-originals-including-a-small-light/
  55. https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/alaska-daily/1001054788/
  56. https://deadline.com/2023/06/alaska-daily-the-company-you-keep-to-be-removed-early-from-hulu-1235425481/
  57. https://www.thewrap.com/hulu-alaska-daily-the-company-you-keep-content-purge/
  58. https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/alaska-daily
  59. https://www.amazon.com/Alaska-Daily-Season-1/dp/B0B8NM22D3
  60. https://reelgood.com/show/alaska-daily-2022
  61. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/alaska_daily/s01
  62. https://variety.com/2022/tv/reviews/alaska-daily-review-hilary-swank-tom-mccarthy-1235389697/
  63. https://www.metacritic.com/tv/alaska-daily/
  64. https://www.adn.com/arts/film-tv/2022/10/07/review-alaska-daily-turns-an-hbo-ready-premise-into-broadcast-tv-and-it-works/
  65. https://deadline.com/2022/11/alaska-daily-premiere-abc-delayed-viewing-ratings-1235180910/
  66. https://www.adn.com/arts/film-tv/2023/05/12/alaska-daily-big-sky-the-company-you-keep-canceled-at-abc/
  67. https://www.pasadenanow.com/weekendr/what-were-watching-fire-country-draws-seasons-largest-premiere-audience/
  68. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15421858/awards/
  69. https://goldenglobes.com/tv-show/alaska-daily/
  70. https://www.reframeproject.org/stamp/tv/recipients
  71. https://pipestoneflyer.ca/2023/03/31/opinion-alaska-daily-provides-a-peak-behind-the-scenes-of-journalism/
  72. https://alaskawatchman.com/2022/10/06/adn-helps-launch-fictional-tv-show-to-rehabilitate-image-of-local-reporters/
  73. https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2022/10/05/scott-d-pierce-alaska-daily-is/
  74. https://www.bia.gov/service/mmu/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-people-crisis
  75. https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-releases-violence-against-american-indian-or-alaska-native-females-2021-2023-special-report
  76. https://www.axios.com/2025/09/01/violent-crime-rates-south-homicides-fbi-red-states
  77. https://dps.alaska.gov/AST/PIO/PressReleases/DPS-Releases-Annual-Crime-in-Alaska-Report
  78. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/explaining-patterns-crime-native-villages-alaska
  79. https://www.ncai.org/section/vawa/overview/key-statistics
  80. https://dps.alaska.gov/AST/PIO/PressReleases/Annual-Crime-in-Alaska-Report-Shows-14-5-Decrease
  81. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22409436/reviews/
  82. https://www.thenationalherald.com/alaska-daily-a-case-study-of-blatant-shameless-hollywood-indoctrination/
  83. https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/alaska-daily-big-sky-the-company-you-keep-canceled-abc-1235604653/
  84. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/company-you-keep-big-sky-alaska-daily-canceled-abc-1235486942/
  85. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/alaska-daily-canceled-abc-drama-124052597.html
  86. http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2023/05/alaska-daily-canceled-by-abc.html
  87. https://borg.com/2025/05/22/alaska-daily-another-short-lived-single-season-winner/
  88. https://hiddenremote.com/posts/alaska-daily-being-cancelled-before-season-2-wasn-t-surprising-but-it-was-disappointing-01hq62tcaxsn
  89. https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/1b81fkg/abc_killing_shows_like_big_sky_and_the_company/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.