Happy 30th to Northern Express

Celebrating three decades of independent local journalism

By Lynda Wheatley | May 29, 2021

We don’t normally like to toot our own horn, but we couldn’t let the month go by without a nod to the 30th anniversary of Northern Express. Launched in Traverse City in May 1991 by Bob Downes and George Foster, this local paper was modeled after the nation’s equally small but mighty alternative presses — among them New York City’s The Village Voice, Detroit’s Metro Times, and Minneapolis’ City Paper.

Remembers co-founder Bob Downes: “There were about 200 such papers across the country in the ’90s, and we all ran the same columns by Rob Brezsny [“Free Will Astrology], the “Advice Goddess” [Amy Alkon], cartoons by Tom Tomorrow, and other syndicated material.”

In keeping with the nature of northern Michigan, the founders included coverage of the region’s myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation, too; both were ardent runners, cyclists, and triathletes. (“We were also single,” adds Downes, “so that was helpful in covering local nightlife.”)

After more than 20 years manning this inky ship, the founders retired in 2014, passing the paper’s reins to current owner and publisher Luke Haase.

Although much has changed since Northern Express’ early days, the mission remains the same: to deliver on-the-ground stories about the people, communities, recreation, arts, culture, and businesses that call northwest Lower Michigan home.

Amy Alkon is still with us. Rob Brezsny is, too. So are several longtime staffers and freelancers, Nite Life, and (OK, a little horn tootin’ here) the North’s most popular and robust events calendar.

Today, we cover 13 counties and reach 90,000 readers each week. And (bear with us; another toot) unlike many local publications, even a pandemic couldn’t keep us from printing, though, truth be told, it did prevent us from planning a big party to celebrate this 30-year milestone.

Nevertheless, whether you’ve newly arrived on these pages or have been an Express reader from the start, we want to thank you for sticking with us. And since we can’t party with you in person this anniversary, we invite you instead to head out to your local bar, restaurant, or retailer — who very likely is an advertiser that’s helped make our three-decade commitment to independent journalism possible — and buy yourself a lil something to celebrate … and maybe, just maybe, keep this thing going another 30.