January 1, 2026, by the Seward Folly Staff

It’s been just under a year since Seward residents could once again grab a cup of coffee and catch up on hometown happenings and the local news. In April 2025, a retired couple launched the Seward Folly, reviving independent reporting in a town that had lived two years without a newspaper.

The vacuum left by the Seward Journal’s closure in late 2023 was felt everywhere – at city meetings, school events, and group gatherings alike. The Journal’s final edition cited dwindling local ad revenue and rising costs as reasons for shutting down, leaving Seward without an independent news source. Social media became the default, but the results are uneven. Community posts often spread rumors, half-truths, or simply miss the bigger picture, leaving residents uncertain about what to trust.

The couple behind the Folly saw something bigger at stake: the overall health and connectedness of the Seward community itself. Civic involvement, they reasoned, hinges on reliable information. Conversations about local issues need facts, not rumors or half-truths. Community only works if people know what’s at stake.

Determined to fill the gap, they dove into research on how to make a local paper sustainable today. The answer was clear: printing a physical paper would cost at least $1,000 each week, not counting the need for layout, folding, and distribution. That expense, combined with staffing, just didn’t add up. An all-digital format meant they could focus on reporting, not delivery routes or print deadlines.

Top, left to right: MaryLynn and Bob Barnwell, Jessica Bamford, Michael Armstrong

Bottom, left to right: Tamara Filipovic, Bethany Waggoner (and baby Lemmy), Johnny Fraser

The Seward Folly is owned and operated by the Barnwells, MaryLynn and Bob. Their core team includes copy editor Jessica Bamford, longtime Alaska journalist Michael Armstrong, business manager Tamara Filipovic, and social media manager Bethany Waggoner. Regular contributor John Fraser brings fresh perspectives, and the Seward High School journalism class offers student reporting throughout the year. The Folly showcases a steady stream of contributions from Dreamland Books and Yarn’s weekly book reviews, Seward Prevention Coalition’s wellness biweekly articles, monthly updates from Qutekcak with Native News, and Pastor’s Corner from the Seward Ministerial Association. In addition, Seward Properties submits a quarterly update on the housing market on the Kenai Peninsula.

In just 40 weeks, the Folly has published a remarkable 439 hyper-local pieces. Seward residents can find coverage of city council decisions, in-depth reporting on the ongoing school crisis, a Seward events guide, and even the police blog (when it is available). One of its most popular features is the comprehensive Community Events page, a one-stop resource that lists everything happening in town, keeping locals informed and newcomers instantly plugged in. Weekly, readers see features on local arts, Qutekcak Native Tribe news, housing challenges, and the latest from organizations like the American Legion and Senior Center, even down to weekly menus.

The Folly’s coverage isn’t just filling an information gap; it’s energizing community participation. Last fall’s municipal elections drew 23% of eligible voters, up from 19% the previous year. Candidate forums and voter guides, co-hosted with partners like KBBI and the Clarion, helped make sense of complex issues and encouraged more residents to vote. Both the mayor’s race and council seats saw higher participation, with four candidates for mayor and six vying for two council seats, doubling candidate interest since before the Folly’s founding.

Confidence in local reporting has translated into citizens showing up for town halls, engaging more deeply with city surveys, and discussing city plans. Recent debates about the future of Seward’s electric utility have found a steady, factual platform in the Folly’s pages, with residents following developments and weighing in on decisions that will shape the city’s future. In a digital world full of fast-moving headlines and algorithm-driven summaries, the Folly’s editors have also managed to vet and publish 17 thoughtful opinion pieces on local issues.

Beyond politics, Seward’s stories are just as visible. Over 20 articles have spotlighted arts events. Forty-five pieces cheered on local athletes, particularly from Seward High School. Science and environmental news, such as spotlights on the Alaska SeaLife Center, have run 28 times. Obituaries are written with care, and milestones, like their “Hometown Hero” profiles and “Kudos and Shoutouts,” lift up the people who make Seward tick.

Across the country, the loss of local journalism has chipped away at community trust and public engagement, leaving many small towns struggling to stay informed. The Seward Folly proves that strong local news builds connection, sparks action, and reminds neighbors they really are part of something larger.

After one year, the Folly’s impact is clear. Even without a print edition, Seward once again has a place where facts matter, community spirit is revived, and local voices are heard. That’s news worth celebrating.