Daily News publisher takes reins at Lewiston Tribune
Nathan Alford takes the helm today as editor and publisher of both the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Lewiston Tribune.
Alford has been publisher of the Daily News since 2001 and plans to split his time between Moscow and Lewiston until a permanent replacement is found for the Daily News.
Alford represents the fourth generation of his family leading local papers. His father, A.L. "Butch" Alford Jr., is retiring as editor and publisher of the Tribune. His great-grandfather, E.L. Alford, and great-great-uncle, Albert H. Alford, founded the Tribune in 1892.
"It's a rarity in the industry to have newspapers make it through the fourth generation of a single family," Nathan Alford said. "It was quite an opportunity and a responsibility to see that through the fourth generation."
Alford said his interest in leading the paper began in 1998, when his father repurchased a majority interest in the Tribune and Daily News from TCI Cable.
"Once the newspaper returned to 100 percent family ownership, or to be more correct, 75 percent family owned and 25 employee owned, it caught my attention," he said.
Alford said it was "only a matter of time" before he transitioned from the Daily News to the Tribune.
He said the Daily News will conduct a traditional inside-and-outside search for a new editor and publisher in the coming months. He expects a permanent replacement by early next year.
"I think it's important to have a full-time leader of the news and business operations," he said.
He said the Daily News will remain an "independent, hard-working newspaper." He expects it to build on its tradition of an "aggressive newsroom and independent opinion page" while continuing to boost its online presence at DNews.com.
Alford graduated from Gonzaga University Law School in 2000 and earned his bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Idaho in 1995.
He lives in Lewiston with his wife, Joanna, their twin daughters, Scout and Avery, and a baby on the way.
