| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | Sonoma Media Investments |
| Founder(s) | W.M Shattuck |
| Publisher | Emily Charrier |
| Editor | Don Frances |
| Sports editor | John Jackson |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Sonoma County, California |
| Circulation | 7,400 |
| Sister newspapers | The Press Democrat, Sonoma Index-Tribune |
| Website | www |
| Free online archives | cdnc.ucr.edu (1950) |
The Argus-Courier is an American weekly paid newspaper which serves the city of Petaluma and surrounding Sonoma County, California. It is published weekly on Friday, with an estimated circulation of 7,400.[1]
It is edited by Don Frances.[2]
The Courier traces its history to 1876, with its establishment by W. M. Shattuck,[3] and after a series of sales was purchased in 1900 by the Olmstead family.[4] The Argus dates back to 1859, founded by J. J. Pennypacker.[3]
The two papers co-existed for some time, with their respective leadership playing prominent roles in the newly formed North of Bay Counties Press Association.[5] In 1928, the Olmsteds bought the Argus, and the Argus-Courier was first issued in July 1928 after the merger of the two papers.[6][7]
In 1995, the Olmsted family sold the paper to Scripps League Newspapers. In 1993, the paper, which had been daily since 1928, cut down to a two day a week schedule, citing financial pressures. The move left Santa Rosa's Press Democrat as the county's only daily.[8] Pulitzer Publishing Company bought Scripps League for about $230 million in 1996.[9] The New York Times Company bought the Argus-Courier in 2001.[10]
The New York Times Company sold its regional papers to Halifax Media in 2012; Halifax sold the Argus-Courier to Sonoma Media Investments later that year.[10]
Argus-Courier reporting has been featured in national news reporting, as with the story of Petaluma resident Polly Klaas's murder, where the paper served as a source of reporting,[11] and its staff served as commentators on the culture of the town.[12]
In 2017, the Petaluma Argus-Courier won 1st place in the General Excellence category in its division of California's Better Newspapers Contest, as well as awards in environmental reporting, breaking news, and online photo essays.[13]