Inside Opinion

If you have questions about how the Daily News makes editorial decisions, this blog has the answers. Editorial page editor Matt Zencey and writers Frank Gerjevic and Rosemary Shinohara will discuss what they're working on, answer questions and ask your perspective on issues facing Alaska.


Matt Zencey

Matt Zencey joined the Daily News as an editorial writer in 1985 and was named editorial page editor in May 2007. He has won several. "Best editorial writing" awards from the Alaska Press Club and was a Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard University. He lives on the west side of Anchorage, where he enjoys the best weather in town and easy access to the Coastal Trail. E-mail Matt at mzencey@adn.com

Frank Gerjevic

Frank Gerjevic has worked at the Daily News since 1978, where he's been sports editor, copy editor, reporter and columnist. He's been an editorial writer since 1998. He began his newspaper career with the Anchorage Times in 1975. E-mail Frank at fgerjevic@adn.com

Rosemary Shinohara

Rosemary Shinohara is an editorial writer who has lived most of her life in Alaska. She has spent most of her career as a reporter or editor at the Daily News. She covered construction of the Alaska oil pipeline, the Legislature, schools and urban affairs. She has also been an editor for NPR's All Things Considered, and has written for the Associated Press. E-mail Rosemary at rshinohara.com

About Palin's speech . . . - 9/4/2008 12:06 am

From the Palin for Governor archives.... - 9/3/2008 4:33 pm

Palin's responses to Eagle Forum questionnaire - 9/2/2008 4:07 pm

Palin's record: What ADN has said - 9/2/2008 2:19 pm

More commentaries on Sarah Palin - 8/29/2008 4:10 pm

A before-the-fact endorsement of Palin as VP choice - 8/29/2008 3:38 pm

More commentaries on Sarah Palin - 8/29/2008 3:28 pm

A great day for Alaska, but for the country...? - 8/29/2008 12:32 pm

Commentaries on Sarah Palin - 8/29/2008 11:53 am

Send us letters on Sarah as veep - 8/29/2008 10:30 am

Why are state energy conservation rebates so hard to get? - 8/28/2008 2:48 pm

An investigation of gas prices - 8/12/2008 2:33 pm

anti-AGIA stall continues - 7/31/2008 11:32 am

AGIA passes Senate committee unamended - 7/30/2008 10:11 pm

Begich Re: Monegan, circa 2006 - 7/21/2008 3:33 pm

Why Daily News editorials are not signed - 7/20/2008 10:28 am

Is ADN unfair to Ted Stevens with our op-ed policy? - 7/16/2008 5:07 pm

For troops, families and friends - 7/16/2008 2:24 pm

Good, bad, ugly photos - 7/15/2008 4:23 pm

Exxon ruling - ADN editorial - 6/25/2008 11:49 am

James Christianson's lucky day - - 6/19/2008 11:18 am

Would you read candidates' op-eds on the web? - 6/19/2008 11:10 am

Smoke? At that price?

The state Department of Health and Social Services reports that smoking declined 20 percent in Alaska from 1996 to 2007.

Only an estimated 21.5 percent of Alaskan adults smoke. Good news. But I wonder: How do those 21.5 percent afford cigarettes at $6 a pack?

Between the price of gasoline and the price of cigarettes, an old American vision is fading: Young guy with a pack of Luckies rolled up in his T-shirt sleeve, slack wrist on the wheel of his '57 Chevy. Cruisin'. Today he'd find himself stuck at the curb, tank dry, rolling his own with Bugler and Topps papers, wondering if he could afford lighter fluid for his Zippo.

At a bus stop in Mountain View a few years ago, I watched a young man bum a smoke and pay a quarter for it. So I guess he didn't bum it.

As an ex-smoker (when I quit a pack cost $1.39), I could have told there are plenty of good reasons to quit, including the retail price.


login or register to post comments

  2     June 26, 2008 - 2:24pm | beausweetbeau

Smoke? At what Price?

Keep your Nose out of other Peoples Pocket!

  1     June 18, 2008 - 5:39pm | iopialaska

Smoke at a LOW price

"Today he'd find himself stuck at the curb, tank dry, rolling his own with Bugler and Topps papers, wondering if he could afford lighter fluid for his Zippo."

This is not true. You can buy tobacco by the pound, cigarette casings are only $2.00 for over 150 of them, and a rolling machine. You can also go online and have them delivered to your door for $2.50 a pack.
When times get tough, you have to get savy. If you write an article, please research your subject further, instead of assume this is where smokers are right now, or where you would like them too be.