The community’s newspaper for 160 years

Thank you, Petaluma! From the first edition of the Petaluma Weekly Journal published on Aug.|

Thank you, Petaluma!

From the first edition of the Petaluma Weekly Journal published on Aug. 18, 1855 up to, and including, this latest edition of the Petaluma Argus-Courier, this newspaper has remained committed to excellence in serving our community.

Over the last 160 years, the newspaper has had several names, different owners, many publishers and editors and many more reporters, advertising account managers, production and distribution staffers. Though ownership, office locations and technology have changed, what has not changed is the newspaper’s strong commitment to award-winning community journalism.

Publisher Thomas Thompson, whose first issue of the Petaluma Weekly Journal featured agricultural news, vital statistics and a farmer’s page, would not recognize the Argus-Courier of today, nor would be recognize the Petaluma360.com website that publishes breaking news whenever it happens. It’s likely he never envisioned that what he created would last 160 years.

Not only is the Petaluma Argus-Courier a voice for Petaluma and its citizens, it is the oldest business in Petaluma, pre-dating the incorporation of the city by three years. It is also the fifth oldest newspaper in California.

Today, the Petaluma Argus-Courier is locally-owned by Sonoma Media Investments and carries on the tradition of community journalism. Hometown newspapers like the Petaluma Argus-Courier represent a longstanding American tradition encompassing the free exchange of local news, ideas and opinions aimed at ensuring an informed populace that is well equipped to build strong, healthy communities. Like other newspapers, the Argus-Courier thrives because of the shared commitment of its staff and the active and involved residents and businesspeople that we serve.

The privileges of operating a newspaper are weighed by several key responsibilities, primary among them the delivery of fair, accurate and thorough reporting on local news. Five times over the last decade, members of our editorial staff earned first place awards for general editorial excellence among all mid-sized weekly newspapers in California, extending a tradition at the Argus-Courier which has earned dozens of similar awards.

Our advertising staffers capably serve the needs of local businesses by developing effective, results-based advertising programs utilizing both print and digital platforms. All share a strong commitment to providing Petaluma with the best community newspaper possible.

Playing an equally critical role are the Argus-Courier’s advertising partners, without whom we simply would not exist. Their advertising messages help sustain this enterprise which is, after all, a business.

The dedication of our staff and the patronage of local businesses would mean nothing were it not for the thousands of Argus-Courier readers who wish to stay well informed about their community. It is our readers who have made us a success, and we thank all of them for helping us to identify community needs and problems, as often it’s their input which leads to stories and sometimes the uncovering of solutions or ideas which improve our community.

The Petaluma Argus-Courier is very much a community partnership, and we thank our employees for their hard work and commitment to excellence, our advertisers for utilizing the newspaper to build their businesses and our readers for maintaining a strong interest in their community.

Together, we’re preserving a rich and vital tradition of America’s community newspapers.

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