Tell Duke University To Cut Ties With The Hedge Fund That Is Pillaging Community Newspapers

Secretive New York hedge fund Alden Global Capital has been quietly looting its 200+ newspapers, including The Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News, and St. Paul Pioneer Press. Alden’s president is Heath Freeman (Duke Class of 2002). When Freeman buys newspapers, it’s not to invest in journalism. It’s to profit from laying off news workers, creating “news deserts” across the United States. Freeman is a significant donor to Duke and the advisory board chairman of Jewish Life at Duke. Duke even sends interns to learn from him.

Duke’s mission statement says it “promotes an intellectual environment built on commitment to free and open inquiry.” If Duke is serious about upholding those values and protecting the watchdog role of a free press, it must sever ties to Heath Freeman immediately.