The newspaper was founded on November 2, 1912, as the Alaska Daily Empire.[2] It was founded by John Franklin Alexander Strong, who would later be the second territorial governor of Alaska.[3]
In 1969, Morris Communications bought the newspaper.[2] The paper laid off five employees, three people in the business office and two graphic designers, in September 2015. Several newspaper offices were also consolidated into one location in Anchorage.[4]
In 2017, Morris Communications sold its newspapers to GateHouse Media.[5] In 2018, GateHouse sold its Alaska papers to Sound Publications.[6] A staff photographer and a sports reporter were laid off in January 2020.[7]
On May 3, 2023, the Juneau Empire reduced its print frequency from five days a week to two. The paper has also shifted print production to a facility in Lakewood, Washington[8] and decreasing subscription prices 15-25%.[9] The press, a Goss Community Offset originally installed in 1986, has since been dismantled and shipped to Seattle for storage.[3]
In June 2025, the paper's editor Mark Sabbatini resigned and the company said he would not be replaced. Instead, the Empire was to be edited/managed remotely from Kenai.[10] Sabbatini then launched a rival news site called the Juneau Independent.[11] Soon nearly all newsroom staff at the Empire left to work at the Independent.[12]
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