Lori Townsend
Chief Editor & Senior Vice President of JournalismLori is the chief editor, senior vice president of journalism and senior host for Alaska Public Media. She has worked in print and broadcast journalism for nearly 30 years.
Lori got her start in broadcasting at the age of 12 as the park announcer for softball games in her hometown of Deer Park, Wisconsin.
Radio brought her to Alaska in 1999 when she was hired as a broadcast trainer for Native fellowship students at Koahnic Broadcasting. She was hired by APRN as host of Alaska News Nightly and general assignment reporter in 2003. She became news director after the APRN merger with Alaska Public Media. In addition to running the newsroom, Lori hosts Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight.
Lori is an avid reader, a rabid gardener and loves to be outside, wandering the trails of Anchorage and Southcentral.
Reach Lori at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or 907-550-8452.
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We discuss historical and philosophical context on our democracy and what freedom requires of us all on this next Talk of Alaska. -
Share your ideas for an upcoming Talk of Alaska episode. Your answers may be shared on-air or on our website.
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How can communities best help those who have been displaced from their home countries? We discuss welcoming new neighbors on this Talk of Alaska. -
Social media can be fun. But it can also be dangerous, especially for children and teenagers. A U.S. surgeon general report found significantlinks between teen social media use, eating disorders and body dissatisfaction, especially for teen girls. But a bill that would have banned Alaskans under the age of 14 from social media stalled in the legislature. What controls are appropriate for parents and what do young people think about it? We’ll ask on the next Talk of Alaska. -
On this Talk of Alaska, we revisit our 2023 conversation with Alaskan authors and librarians to discuss book recommendations for Summer reading. -
How well have therapeutic courts like mental health and DUI courts performed in the last 25 years and what will the next 25 look like? -
While a bill to lower taxes didn't pass the legislature this year. Industry advocates say reclassification could offer some relief. -
The Endangered Species Act is 50 years old and through the decades the Act has helped numerous species recover and thrive. -
What are the best ways to protect your property and community from fire? We discuss the 2024 wildfire season on this Talk of Alaska. -
A Superior court judge recently threw out the laws supporting Alaska’s correspondence education program. Where does the program go from here?
