Avery Ellfeldt

I am a writer, reporter and photographer currently based in Southeast Alaska. I live in and report from Haines – a small, coastal town that borders Canada and sits alongside North America's deepest fjord.
I moved here in 2025 to join The Alaska Desk, a grant-funded team at Alaska Public Media. The Desk aims to boost local journalism – and provide regional context – in underserved parts of Alaska. I cover issues ranging from mining and international trade policy, to glacier loss in a state where temperatures are rising three times faster than the global average.
Previously, I covered climate change, insurance and housing for Politico's Energy & Environment News. I've also reported for NPR, Bloomberg Government and Wambra Radio, a grassroots journalism collective in Quito, Ecuador.
My favorite stories are those that regard a sense of community – how people in particular places respond uniquely to issues that are global in scope. When not at work, you can find me on one of Haines' many beaches, learning a new outdoor sport or catching up with my far-flung network of friends and family.