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The Press Democrat history
The Press Democrat company history timeline
The very first newspaper in Santa Rosa – the parent of today’s Press Democrat, was begun in 1857, just three years after Santa Rosa was chosen as the seat of Sonoma County and seven years after California became a part of the United States.
At the end of a year, Russell sold the paper to printer E.R. Budd, who sold it again in 1860.
Founded in 1879, the paper is now published twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, and also produces a website at
– Sonoma Democrat, August 9 1890
There he met Dollie Scribner and after their marriage in 1890 the couple moved to Santa Rosa, which likewise had about 5,000 residents.
Richards came to California in 1890, and worked constantly in the newspaper field, in which he was fast taking his place as a power, because of his clear, pungent and forceful style.
– Sonoma Democrat, December 31 1892
The Press-Democrat was established in 1893 by J. E. Hutchinson in Hennessey, Oklahoma Territory.
Ever since its origin in 1894 each year was a bigger event than the previous, and it was drawing considerable attention from Bay Area newspapers – it looked like Santa Rosa was finally getting noticed and maybe even gaining entry to the cool kids club.
– Sonoma Democrat, November 3 1894
– Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, December 23 1895
– Sonoma Democrat, December 28 1895
In 1895, W. P. Campbell, owner of the Hennessey Press purchased the subscription books of the Hennessey Democrat.
– Sonoma Democrat, September 12 1896
There was no apparent impact on the Democrat during the first year of competition in 1896.
Included in the group were E.C. Voorhies and Herbert Slater, making him undoubtedly the only man ever paddled by both a current state senator and a future one. It’s a cute story, but also revealing; keep in mind this was during 1896, and even as a goof it wasn’t the sort of thing that lined up with the Victorian ideal of propriety and manliness – yet they knew Richards would be a good sport about it.
– Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, October 7 1897
But as 1897 progressed, there was a steady decline in ads from stores promoting special sales.
The newspaper was founded in 1897 by Ernest L. Finley who merged his Evening Press and Thomas Thompson's Sonoma Democrat (originally created as a voice for the Democratic Party).
– Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, May 25 1898
29, 1898 – one week after Grant Richards died – Ernest Finley’s name appeared as editor of the Press Democrat for the first time.
(RIGHT: Ernest L. Finley portrait, Sacramento Evening Bee, June 30 1902)
In January of 1914, Grant Harris sold the paper and plant to Mabel Walker, the publisher of the Hennessey Clipper.
Finley also bought The Santa Rosa Republican, the paper's long-time competitor, in 1927.
The salvo began in 1932, when the PD published a “75th anniversary” edition.
She encouraged him, also, to establish radio station KSRO in 1936.
Finley’s other attack on Richards is found in the 1937 Sonoma County history edited by him.
In 1948 the Santa Rosa Republican and The Press Democrat were merged.
Finley's death in 1973, ownership of The Press Democrat passed to her son-in-law and daughter, Evert and Ruth Person.
In August 1985, three months after its takeover of the newspaper, The New York Times Company began construction on a $31 million, 78,000 square foot Rohnert Park production plant.
Evert and Ruth Finley Person sold the paper to The New York Times Company in 1985.
Gaye LeBaron, columnist for the Press Democrat newspaper and the Press Democrat leadership team, selected Sonoma State University to house her research collection in 2000.
Selected issues of Sonoma County newspapers, including the Press Democrat (2008 only) and the Geyserville Press are available from Google News.
In January 2012, the Press Democrat Media Company briefly joined Halifax Media Holdings, a Florida-based company, ending the Press Democrat’s association with The New York Times Company.
In November 2012, Sonoma Media Investments, LLC, (http://sonomamediainvestments.com) consisting of a group of local investors and community leaders, purchased The Press Democrat along with the North Bay Business Journal and the Petaluma Argus Courier, and all affiliated websites.
In 2019, Sonoma Media Investments acquired the Sonoma County Gazette of Forestville, a monthly newspaper.
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The Press Democrat competitors
| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque Journal | 1880 | $130.0M | 558 | 4 |
| Journal Community Publishing Group | 1972 | $87.0M | 350 | - |
| Journal Inquirer | 1968 | $120.0M | 560 | 2 |
| Dan's Papers | 1960 | $5.4M | 60 | - |
| The Mercury News | 1851 | $230.0M | 1,400 | - |
| SFGATE | 1994 | - | 609 | - |
| The Herald-Dispatch | 1909 | - | 5 | - |
| The Post and Courier | 1991 | $45.0M | 750 | - |
| Montgomery Advertiser | 1829 | $22.0M | 350 | - |
| Las Vegas Review-Journal | 1909 | $1.1M | 50 | - |
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