New editor brings new perspective

It is often said that the more things change, the more they remain the same. That’s certainly been the case with the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.

We’ve been in business for 68 years. That’s a lot of staff in a lot of different positions over the decades.

But through all those changes, our mission of being the community’s trusted source of comprehensive local news coverage has remained unchanged. That’s a trend we know will continue as we welcome our new managing editor to the fold.

Today (August 11) marks the first edition of responsibility for Matt Tunseth, and we’re thrilled to have someone of his caliber stepping into a challenging and demanding role for us. That name may ring a bell for veteran Frontiersman readers. Tunseth worked in the newsroom here from 2006-08, filling a dual role as sports and general news reporter.

That kind of versatility is part of the reason we’re excited to have him back, this time in a leadership position. A longtime Alaskan whose family has been in the state for more than 100 years, Tunseth has been a fixture in state journalism circles since his first job as a reporter at the Peninsula Clarion in Kenai, 15 years ago.

He brings a statewide perspective and a wealth of experience to the Frontiersman. In addition to previous reporting gigs at the Clarion and Frontiersman, Tunseth also worked as a reporter at the Anchorage Daily News, before going on to transform the Chugiak-Eagle River Star as that paper’s managing editor. He subsequently worked as editor of the Anchorage Press and, most recently, as a reporter for Alaska Dispatch News, where he covered the 2015 Iditarod, among other sports and outdoors news.

A 1996 graduate of Kenai Central High School, Tunseth went on to earn a college degree from Valley City State University in North Dakota, where he served as co-editor of the school newspaper.

“I’ve spent my entire career working in Southcentral Alaska, and my passion is for telling stories about the place I love,” he said. “I’m excited to return to the Frontiersman and the Valley, which has always been a place I've been fond of, both for its wealth of interesting characters and spectacular natural beauty.”

Although he describes himself as a “journalism nerd,” Tunseth is hardly one-dimensional. In addition to hobbies such as reading, listening to live music, writing short stories, following world politics, and spending time with family and friends, he is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing and hiking.

When he’s not in the newsroom, he can often be found exploring the Chugach Mountains. Some of his favorite local haunts include Bodenburg Butte, Matanuska Peak and Lazy Mountain.

While the change process rarely unfolds without a wrinkle or two, we look forward to a mostly seamless transition. We know we’ve enlisted some serious talent in Tunseth. So we look forward to where his vision will take us, and we are confident that readers will be happy to be along for the ride.