Retiring Maine weekly owner Alan Baker a gentleman, a champion for his community, and an advocate for 'real news'

Alan Baker

Alan Baker, the retiring owner and publisher of Maine weeklies The Ellsworth American and Bar Harbor's Mount Desert Islander, leaves big shoes to fill. The 88-year-old has received numerous awards, including the National Newspaper Association's James O. Amos Award, one of the highest recognitions in community journalism. "His retirement is the end of a distinguished career in service to community newspapers and to we, the readers," Jill Goldthwait writes for the American. In addition to his years of experience as an East Coast journalist, Baker brought to the table "character and personality that added immeasurably to both his job and to the life of his community."

Baker was "unfailingly polite" and notoriously well-dressed, but knew that being a gentleman was "more than skin deep," Goldthwait writes. "He has a deep attachment to Ellsworth and has worked tirelessly to promote the city and to initiate or support changes to help with economic development."

Baker also challenged President Trump's criticism of the press as "fake news" and changed the American's masthead to read "Real people. Real place. Real news." in January 2017. "There is nothing fake about Alan Baker or the newspapers he published. He set the standard for reporting local news fairly and accurately. When he was wrong, he said so," Goldthwait writes.

Baker now hands the reins to Reade Brower, who owns almost all of Maine's dailies and many of its weeklies. Baker said that multiple small papers in the same area can't stay viable in the digital age and believes Brower will bring "intelligent consolidation," Fred Bever reports for Maine Public.