This so called "local paper" has taken a real dive in reporting the news. When I started my…read moresubscription in 1996, there were 100,000 paid subscribers. In 2023 that number had dropped to 38,000 ( digital and paper). I am assuming that number has now gotten lower since the Press Democrat won't release their subscription numbers for 2025. Why the drop? Well when you hire reporters who only fit "your culture" who don't know anything about Sonoma County and the North Bay, you get articles written based on social media feeds instead of talking to actual people involved in the local events. Also, when everyone on a newspaper organization thinks the same, you get biased reporting on events and issues only the newspaper team members feel are relevant, not the paid subscribers. You can see this in their online comments section for paid subscribers where commenters who think outside "the culture" of the Press Democrat get their comments deleted and sometimes get suspended by the unnamed Press Democrat Moderator. My subscription is coming up at the end of the year and I will be ending it after 29 years. I can go online and read the social media feeds myself without someone adding their own biased interpretation of events without paying nearly $300 a year. Bye bye Felicia!

3 stars, not 5. Reason? I like the coverage over all; Sherrie l where else can we get true local on…read morethe beet news? I enjoy some of the weekly papers out there like the gazette, but this is truly daily. But minus two stars for the business side. We became accustomed to the paper just stopping delivery of you didn't renew. I found a deal on their website and signed up for a new subscription knowing the old one was coming to an end. The old was very expensive, like $180 fit 3 months. This deal was $11 for first month, $63 approx for next 3 months, and every 3 months thereafter. But they started sending two papers and it turns out, they no longer just stop delivering when your subscription runs out, they just start a bill that becomes past due. I called to check in and they wanted to charge an additional $25 for an extra few days of the paper with the old rate. I complained and she reduced that to $12. I just paid to get off the phone after two calls to people assigned to billing that work in the Philippines. No more local billing. They said they no longer ever stop delivering unless you call to cancel. It will always now be a continued subscription of whatever you agreed to till you actually cancel yourself, and you will owe.

The North Bay Bohemian has experienced a decline in quality. Maybe it was when they prematurely…read moredeclared Hillary Clinton victor in the presidential race. They no longer do CD reviews (or rarely)... and pretty much, the only useful section is for current events, like knowing when the Suscol Intertribal Pow-Wow, the Blessing of the Olives, or SoCo Vegfest is held, complete with admission prices&location. Their events calendar is valuable. They now treat winery&restaurant reviews as optional (because TripAdvisor, OpenTable&Yelp do it as well?) which is too bad, since they had their own distinct perspective. As far as free, local papers are concerned, Portland's Willamette Week is substantial&superior. I used to avidly read the North Bay Bohemian weekly. I made sure to get a copy. Now I'm indifferent.

I want to give a thumbs-up for the Bohemian. Its reviews of movies and films are funky and often…read moreoriginal, they are the only ones attempting some modest investigative journalism (recently about the almost $500,000 missing from the Petaluma city coffers and hidden somewhere within a construction company?), their Open Mic contributions reflect the community spirit, and even the letters to the editor are entertaining. Special issues (about wine, beer, Fall Lit, etc.) are always worth a leisurely read with a good strong cuppa. The Bohemian shouldn't be compared to the Press Democrat, which is run-of-the-mill predictable, homespun (if you like that kind of gossipy familiarity and name dropping), and just a pale shadow of a copy of the NY Times. And the Bohemian is free. It's worth supporting, this lovable oddity.

I enjoy the articles and best of addition. They are a good source on who to do business with in the…read moreNorth Bay. I am new to the area and find it very informing and like the E addition on the WEB.

I have worked with the NorthBay Biz Magazine on several projects and they always assisted me in…read moreevery aspect of advertising. They helped me with ad creation and the campaigns we ran were a great success.

I was looking for news about Sonoma West Medical Center and this newspaper came up on the search…read morefeed, similar names. I read the one review of this paper here on Yelp the (one that was not recommended--couldn't help myself) and then continued looking up info about Sonoma West Medical Center as the two are apparently not related entities. I did read articles on the same billing issue about the laboratory in both the Sonoma West Times and The Press Democrat. I have to agree with the previous review of the Times--the writing is so-so, more a community newsletter in all ways except for the article about the medical center's laboratory. There it really does show a lack of professional journalism. The PD was factual but not accusing and actually quoted people involved, the Times was full of accusations but not substantiated, not professionally written with a neutral bias as all newspapers are supposed to try to attain. I'd recommend the Sonoma West Times for community event info based on some of the articles in the paper, definitely not a good source of news though. I know that a paper is not responsible for the comments that are written by readers, but, wow, some of the comments were not appropriate and way too political.

The newspaper does not check it's sources before printing materials that could be damaging or…read morehurtful to local businesses and individuals. Recently it published a headline story about a local tiny hospital that stated the hospital was part of an insurance fraud scheme with absolutely nothing cited indicating the newspaper had obtained any information from either the hospital or the insurance company. They implied that a court case was pending though there was no such thing. The Sonoma West Times also tends to cater towards a small group of wealthy individuals, vocal and ruthless in their intent on closing this district hospital that serves the area's poor and homeless. These individuals post items in the newspaper's opinion pages or blogs that are so incredible as to make one wonder if the newspaper actually has an editor. To wit: the newspaper allowed posting of an anonymous letter to the editor urging everyone to come to the hospital's next board meeting--it stated that the board was going to create a new property tax by vote at that meeting! Basic 6th grade social studies teaches that taxes cannot be voted in by a hospital board--or any entity! They must be voted upon by the public and passed with a majority. The editor of the paper knew this but still allowed the post to print. The mob that showed up disrupted the board meeting so badly that it had to be adjourned. The Sonoma West Times states in it's opinion and online blog instructions that no one may knowingly malign nor spread false or malicious information, but the newspaper has never enforced this--they appear to be encouraging the exact opposite by their own actions and articles. This tactic must be selling papers but If it were possible to rate them in negative integers I would. The district hospital was lauded in other newspapers as a hero in the recent Tubbs Lane Wildfire yet they struggle to stay open amidst attack by a newsprint bully. I used to be a faithful reader but now I would not recommend this rag for anything but birdcage liner.

Excellent local paper with interesting and informative articles!…read moreWitty editorial insight and gorgeous photos! Cutest dog (next to mine of course) on the planet in every issue!!

So when you drive into downtown Kenwood to visit the small food market or Ty Caton - Muscardini…read morewine tasting, get a free copy of the Kenwood Press from the newspaper box. It's our weekly "rag sheet" It features local news and gossip only. The news territory extends all the way down to Glen Ellen (4 miles away). For a hoot read the police blotter weekly report (Page 2) . You may wet your pants while laughing at what we locals consider a "crime" that requires police intervention. {Those darn kids down the street are playing their music too loud again!}

Very professional and kind. I Used them for a change of name posting which is required by the…read morecourt. They got the job done.

When modifying your business ownership, one has to file an updated Fictitious Business Name (FBN)…read moreStatement in Sonoma County advertise it for 4 consecutive weeks. The County gave me several newspapers to contact for that purpose that included the Press Democrat, a couple of others and The Community Voice. Contacting the PD was problematic for this purpose but quite easy for The Community Voice. A woman answered the phone took the info and credit card emailed whatever else and it was done. I thought it was quick and easy and the charge of $40+ is what was expected. It wasn't Hi-Tech and I couldn't do it on my cell phone but was quite satisfactory. I automatically received a certificate of advertising from them today after the 4 week period without having to follow-up. Good ole fashion service. Thanks! JL