Say hello to Editor Bosco... (Press Democrat is being sold!)

[b.w. rose]

Press Democrat sold...again.

https://bit.ly/Ppm2cl

[Barry]

While the below article refer's to Doug Bosco as a "Democratic party powerbroker", which I suppose is not altogether untrue, he seems to md to be the epitome of corporatist, with deep ties to the business community and questionable ethics.

Barry



Local group to buy The Press Democrat, affiliated publications
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121101/ARTICLES/121109973/1350?Title=Local-group-to-buy-Press-Democrat-affiliated-publications
By BRETT WILKISON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Last Modified: Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.

The Press Democrat and two affiliated publications in Sonoma County are being sold by Florida-based Halifax Media Group to a partnership that includes a group of local investors, the principals in the deal announced Thursday.

The buyers include Darius Anderson, a Sonoma-based developer and top Sacramento lobbyist and Doug Bosco, a former North Coast congressman, Santa Rosa attorney and Democratic party powerbroker.

The same group, called Sonoma Media Investments LLC, earlier this year bought the Sonoma Index-Tribune, the Sonoma-based newspaper that publishes twice a week.

The sale by Halifax Media Group includes the weekly Petaluma Argus-Courier and North Bay Business Journal in Santa Rosa and affiliated websites for The Press Democrat and the two weeklies.

The terms of the deal were not announced. The purchase is expected to close early this month.

Other key players in the purchase group include Steven Falk, former president and publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle and chief executive of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and Bill Hooper, president of Anderson's development firm, Kenwood Investments, and a former executive with Clear Channel Outdoor, the billboard advertising company.

Neither Halifax representatives nor the buyers could be reached immediately for comment.

The sale would end Halifax's brief ownership of The Press Democrat and the two weeklies, which it purchased in January along with 13 other newspapers and related websites — mostly in the Southeastern United States — from the New York Times Co. for $143 million.

The Times Co. had owned The Press Democrat, since 1985, when it purchased the newspaper from the Person/ Finley family of Santa Rosa.

You can reach Staff Writer Brett Wilkison at 521-5295 or [email protected].

[Barry]

Press Democrat Sold to... Doug Bosco?!
https://www.bohemian.com/BohoBlog/ar...-to-doug-bosco
POSTED BY GABE MELINE ON THU, NOV 1, 2012 AT 12:52 PM

As reported this morning, the Press Democrat has been sold by Florida-based interim owners Halifax Media Acquisitions to a group of local investors, including lobbyist and developer Darius Anderson and former North Coast Congressman Doug Bosco.

The company, Sonoma Media Investments LLC, also bought the Sonoma Index-Tribune earlier this year.
According to the report:

Other key players in the purchase group include Steven Falk, former president and publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle and chief executive of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and Bill Hooper, president of Anderson's development firm, Kenwood Investments, and a former executive with Clear Channel Outdoor, the billboard advertising company.

Darius Anderson has a long history in Sacramento as a lobbyist for companies like PG&E, Station Casinos, Microsoft, Catellus, and has worked for Clint Eastwood and been a fundraiser for Gray Davis. He currently wants to build a $30 million boutique hotel off the Sonoma plaza.

Doug Bosco is another beast entirely, and could wield the type of political influence over the Press Democrat that many of its newsroom writers may fear. With ties to the Savings & Loan scandal and, as a congressman, implicated in the check-bouncing scandal, Bosco is now a behind-the-scenes powerbroker with deep interests in gravel mining and development. His close friend, Eric Koenigshofer, is the attorney for the redwood-clearcutting Preservation Ranch project in northwestern Sonoma County, and appears to have Fifth District Supervisor Efren Carrillo in his back pocket. Another one of the "Bosco Boys" (yes, they have a cutesy name) is Robert Bone, responsible for the infamous race-mongering 2010 campaign mailer against Pam Torliatt.

Think we're going to get fair and balanced coverage out of this ownership?

Halifax hasn't been great to the Press Democrat, and all they've really done for the paper is put it up for sale to help recoup their purchase from the New York Times of 15 other news properties, all located in the southeast United States. Earlier last month, they imposed a gag order on the editorial board in endorsing candidates for elected office, but otherwise, they've kept the newsroom intact.

Let me be clear: I think local ownership of the daily paper of record is a good thing. But in his role as a self-styled political kingmaker, it's hard to imagine Bosco keeping his business interests away from the newsroom he now owns. You don't buy a newspaper in 2012 to get rich. You buy a newspaper in 2012 to gain influence. Remember that when you read the Press Democrat from now on.

UPDATE: An editorial source at the Press Democrat requesting anonymity tells us that we may be rushing to judgement here, and that maintaining business and journalistic independence for the paper is the very, very clear intention from everyone involved. The source also tells us that this point will be much clearer in the coming weeks.
We certainly hope so.

[b.w. rose]

The "powerbroker" assertion is altogether true since Mr. Bosco has for a couple years functioned as the "sixth supervisor." He masterminded the election of two supervisors and is working on a third. Perhaps that will be the subject of Coursey's next column. Or, maybe not.

[Barry]

The "powerbroker" assertion is altogether true

Agreed. It's the "Democratic" part of ""Democratic party powerbroker" that I take issue with. But maybe I'm just naive...

[Peacetown Jonathan]

Agreed. It's the "Democratic" part of "Democratic party powerbroker" that I take issue with. But maybe I'm just naive...

Not naive Barry. wise, measured and appropriately concerned. Thanks for providing an antidote to the PD's increasingly corporatist slant!

[Peace Voyager]

I was busy pounding this out before I read today's digest to see this thread.

www.waccobb.net/forums/showthread.php?94081-Martial-Law-new-content-controllers-for-the-P-D-CasiNO&p=159010#post159010

Now that Bleys Rose is off their payroll (I think); perhaps his insight would be free from the PD Editors' control which Coursey would be under?

What do ya say Bleys - how 'bout a WaCCo Media Watchdog blog? Would you be biting the hands that feed you as a Media Consultant if your raw truth was unleashed?

Without the truth we'll never be "free". What parades as the truth in most media outlets is nearly all GMO baloney with enough lard, salt & artificial flavoring for the masses to gobble down endless chunks, without knowing what it is, nor where it came from.

Colleen Fernald

Your local Collusion Analyst

The "powerbroker" assertion is altogether true since Mr. Bosco has for a couple years functioned as the "sixth supervisor." He masterminded the election of two supervisors and is working on a third. Perhaps that will be the subject of Coursey's next column. Or, maybe not.

[twodogs]

You obviously don't know Bleys or Coursey very well. They NEVER took marching orders from their editors or the publisher in their positions as reporters.

I was busy pounding this out before I read today's digest to see this thread.

www.waccobb.net/forums/showthread.php?94081-Martial-Law-new-content-controllers-for-the-P-D-CasiNO&p=159010#post159010

Now that Bleys Rose is off their payroll (I think); perhaps his insight would be free from the PD Editors' control which Coursey would be under?

What do ya say Bleys - how 'bout a WaCCo Media Watchdog blog? Would you be biting the hands that feed you as a Media Consultant if your raw truth was unleashed?

Without the truth we'll never be "free". What parades as the truth in most media outlets is nearly all GMO baloney with enough lard, salt & artificial flavoring for the masses to gobble down endless chunks, without knowing what it is, nor where it came from.

Colleen Fernald

Your local Collusion Analyst

[Peace Voyager]

TwoDogs,

I know very well what I have experienced with them both, and the rest of the PD staff for the last 10 years as: a concerned citizen advocate on many issues, as a media watcher, advertising consultant, candidate for public office, crime victim, and grieving mother.

The Press Democrat plays a big part in what's wrong in our region, the injustice in my personal and professional life. This sale to Bosco & Co. ensures that will only get worse. Those who think the PD is too liberal for our region; as many letters to the Editor state; are delusional about our county's demographics.

They have always leaned right, and I am always shocked when I see evidence of any story on important issues written in a fair and balanced manner. That is the occasional exception to biz as usual.

Most of the time the Fox News style coverage is due to the Editors, not Reporters. Pulitzer-worthy hero-type Journalist fight for the truth, or find work where it will be printed and can do some good.

The Press Democrat and the mainstream media have not been held accountable for their collusion in the major crimes of the last decade. They failed to investigate the truth, and reported lies as fact in everything from the basis for invading Iraq, to the banking scandal of the 2008 bail out. Fast news cycles = not enough fact checking, resulting in our community, country and planet being fleeced.

To blame these failures on poor intelligence from the sources only indicates that intelligence is not functioning in the media's executive staffroom; greed is.

How much advertising revenue was generated by those profiting from these crimes. How much more is acquired when the big bad banks like Wells Fargo, or Gulf of Mexico oil spill polluters take out full page color ads to improve their image after the damage to their brand has been done?

When the full truth locally is set free and investigated, you may have a different idea about what you believe about many things.

When Supervisor Carillo was thrown in jail on felony charges of assault, it was Bosco in the PD's own headlines, who opened up the pipeline to grease the wheels for those deemed above the law.

Did any reporter question the victim or witnesses? Would any Editor let them? When it's so easy to buy off cops, DA's and judges; especially when your party's presidential candidate is swinging through the state and the rising star politician working for the 1% is needed to pull in Latino votes; it's the real Journalist who make the case by bringing the facts to light that the authorities, and unquestioning voters would rather not know.

I started working in media at 18 when I found a job with the LA Weekly. I've also worked for 4 non-mainstream print publications in Sonoma County over the last 2 decades; with radio and TV production work done during the 80's & 90's.

I know the difference between Investigative Journalism; (which is nearly extinct in any mainstream media); and people who "report"; now referred to as Repeaters, not Reporters.

The Press Democrat has many, many times printed lies, and lies about me. This includes stories by both Mr. Rose and Mr. Coursey, which they have refused to make corrections for, or print my side.

Now these lies relate to the death of my child as I was running for US Senate, which continue to go uncorrected after numerous attempts, and as I now run for City Council. This is grounds for Libel. They have little fear from those with little income - we'll see how that goes.

It's naive to think the Editors did not muzzle the truth, when one of their big advertisers was linked to my daughter's death - Sonoma Academy. SA was also muzzling the truth about her, which is in part why she did not get the help she needed in time. The PD has ties to SA which go way deeper than just advertising revenue.

The truth I have experienced is very dangerous for those who have gotten away with harming me, my child, and our region's quality of life. This is why the PD is so afraid and unwilling to tell it; and why it is so important it is told.

Because several well protected criminals are not being held accountable; I am at risk; and the truth may forever be distorted and untold.

So I've thrown many chunks of troublesome truth on WaCCo and other BBs, as a way for it to get documented; in case I am unable to get the full story out in a timely manner, and any future investigations are enabled to go forward.

This truth is too big, too painful and way too important for me to tell alone, and I lack the needed writing skills. I hope to soon dispatch some of the world's best investigative reporters to tackle all the muzzled, distorted, twisted and corrupted truth that matters most.

Whichever Investigative Journalist/s is/are able to weave my body of evidence for the short attention spanned public's awareness; and this could include Bleys or Chris; may be destine for a Pulitzer, & could help save the world one watershed at a time with me.

Please stay tuned, with your mind set to: OPEN w/BS filters on maximum capacity.

Thank you,

Colleen Fernald

Sebastopol's Only Constitutional Candidate
For Peace Through Justice

www.campaignforpeace.org

Some of "the truth" from the brilliant John Lennon

Ah, I'm sick to death of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted
Narrow-minded hypocrites
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now

I've had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic
Pig-headed politicians
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now

All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
All I want is the truth

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn85BeeiwZo

You obviously don't know Bleys or Coursey very well. They NEVER took marching orders from their editors or the publisher in their positions as reporters.

[Peace Voyager]

TwoDogs,

They have always leaned right, and I am always shocked when I see evidence of any story on important issues written in a fair and balanced manner. That is the occasional exception to biz as usual.

Most of the time the Fox News style coverage is due to the Editors, not Reporters. Pulitzer-worthy hero-type Journalist fight for the truth, or find work where it will be printed and can do some good.

I want to make it clear I am not referring to Bob Norberg's recent Press Democrat coverage of me in the Sebastopol City Council race. He was fairly accurate, and fairly fair.

He and the rest of the Reporters were kept by the Editors, Publishers, + ?, from covering me, and the other US Senate candidates in the 2012 Primary. Same goes for the indy weekly Publishers and Editors.

The Press Democrat is great as a food, arts & entertainment information provider. The new Towns section is nice; they saw the benefits of having a Green Living special edition 4 x's a yr.

But content control in the wrong hands is deadly.

What it is to be Green and Progressive has been co-opted and diluted to unsafe levels. Most members of the media are part of that collusion.

If you want the unvarnished truth, here's an important link: www.projectcensored.org/

In full disclosure; the North Bay Progressive, the newspaper these folks put out some years ago; was one of the 4 I worked for selling advertising.

Trying to help the Go Local economy and the uncensored truth Investigative Reporters thrive at the same time; now that was an enjoyable right livelihood!

FYI They're having a great event in the East Bay tonight; it will be streamed.

www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/project-censored-book-release-party/
Project Censored Book Release Party!

Censored Notebook, Events Nov 1, 2012 digg


Saturday–November 3rd–7:30PM

Moe’s Books

2476 Telegraph Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94704

Join Project Censored and contributors to the 2013 edition of Censored: Dispatches from the Media Revolution in celebrating the new book’s publication. The event is free and open to the public.


From signs of an emerging police state, to NATO war crimes in Libya, and education “reform” as a Trojan horse for privatization, Censored 2013: Dispatches from the Media Revolution features Project Censored’s annual list of the top 25 underreported news stories for 2011-2012, and it analyzes underlying patterns in those stories in the form of Censored News Clusters
.

Censored 2013 acclaims the importance of independent journalism for democratic self-government, and it holds to account the corporate media for their failure to provide the public with complete, relevant news coverage.
The book’s additional chapters include original analysis on drones and targeted killing, “GuatánamoSpeak,” the democracy movement in Kashmir, corporate education “reform,” the status of Iraqi refugees, the 1970 Kent State massacre, and the global network of the ruling 1%. Each chapter deconstructs the official narratives and propagandized news frames featured in corporate news coverage. Censored 2013 also includes the latest on Junk Food News and News Abuse, and updates from last year’s top censored stories.

Published by Seven Stories Press, Censored 2013: Dispatches from the Media Revolution is available now directly from Project Censored. It is available in bookstores around the country on October 30, 2012.
No Lies Radio (https://noliesradio.org/) will live stream the event on the Internet.

Similar Posts:

• Dispatches from the Media Revolution
• Video-cast from SF Bay Area_Murder at Kent State: 40-Year Coverup Exposed
• 13. Education “Reform” a Trojan Horse for Privatization
• Dispatches from the Media Revolution_on Project Censored

[Peace Voyager]

I know this all too well!

[Webb Pierce]

Colleen, the more I read the more I think you are unfit for office.

[jbox]

I know this all too well!

Colleen,

Aside from the conspiracy directed against you personally by the press and the courts and the police, and the district attorney, are you saying you prefer the Halifax group over local ownership?

[Peace Voyager]

What is best for the readership is not just about local vs non-local. It's uncensored, unbiased coverage on the full truth, or all major sides, of the issues.

This group is the worst kind of local. This kind of local is why our social and environmental gains are being stalled and eroded.

This group makes the wheels of the 1% go 'round. Much more harm than good. The way content control is used as social engineering for the sole gain of them; it is imperative I call this out.

Critical thinking skills are being misdiagnosed as "conspiracy theory".

The old fashioned way we "moved our money" was through a boycott. If the content of the news is directed, and not cleanly reported, the public is needed to inform the publication and its advertisers to cease and desist; until the the truth is fully illuminated.

Now it's time to get the Sebastopol Farmer's Market, and Occupy Sebastopol's first birthday.

Hope to see ya'll there!

Colleen,

Aside from the conspiracy directed against you personally by the press and the courts and the police, and the district attorney, are you saying you prefer the Halifax group over local ownership?

[Sara S]

"ya'll"??

First, that's spelled "y'all".

Second, are you from the South? This reminded me of Romney in shirtsleeves, shakin' hands with some voters!

What is best for the readership is not just about local vs non-local. It's uncensored, unbiased coverage on the full truth, or all major sides, of the issues.

This group is the worst kind of local. This kind of local is why our social and environmental gains are being stalled and eroded.

This group makes the wheels of the 1% go 'round. Much more harm than good. The way content control is used as social engineering for the sole gain of them; it is imperative I call this out.

Critical thinking skills are being misdiagnosed as "conspiracy theory".

The old fashioned way we "moved our money" was through a boycott. If the content of the news is directed, and not cleanly reported, the public is needed to inform the publication and its advertisers to cease and desist; until the the truth is fully illuminated.

Now it's time to get the Sebastopol Farmer's Market, and Occupy Sebastopol's first birthday.

Hope to see ya'll there!

[Peace Voyager]

This conversation looks to be monitored by SF Chronicle folks. Good to see it get some traction.

The new owners' sense of community is in league with the Chamber of Commerce and Las Vegas casinos; not the kind of community that fits the 99%.

Prominent locals to buy Santa Rosa paper

John Wildermuth

Published 9:20 p.m., Sunday, November 4, 2012

Read more: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/artic...#ixzz2BMlwfjM4

Big political players

One of his clients is Las Vegas' Station Casinos, the deep-pocketed partner in the controversial Indian hotel-casino under construction on 64 acres in Rohnert Park. Neighbors and others in the county fought unsuccessfully for nearly a decade to block the gambling hall, which is expected to open late next year with 3,000 slot machines.

Anderson is no stranger to controversy. A friend and fundraiser for leading Democrats like former San Francisco mayors Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom, former Gov. Gray Davis, and many others, he has been accused of using those political connections to help build his various businesses. Kenwood Investments, for example, is one of the developers of San Francisco's $1.5 billion Treasure Island project, and his company is a lobbyist for the proposed waterfront arena for the Golden State Warriors...

...Since the sale of the Press Democrat was announced last week, local websites and blogs have been buzzing with questions of whether Anderson and Bosco's local interests and battles will influence the paper's news coverage.

'Sense of community'

That's not going to happen, Falk said. "Clearly the ownership of this paper is not going to meddle in the journalism of this newspaper," he said. "Credibility is all any newspaper has, and we're not going to lose that.

"It's an interesting group of people who are involved here, but they're involved because of a strong sense of community, not for some other agenda."

****

Yeah right; I bet they want to sell us a bridge made in China too.

[Peace Voyager]

"ya'll"??

First, that's spelled "y'all".

Second, are you from the South? This reminded me of Romney in shirtsleeves, shakin' hands with some voters!

Yes I'm from the South, and have never noticed another way to spell what I considered a combo of ya, (slang for you, like "How ya doin'?"); and all.

How you can match Romney with me in any way is curious.


https://breakingthespine.blogspot.co...l-vs-yall.html

A Crasis Crisis: Y'all vs. Ya'll


Last night, my husband and I met our weekly trivia group at a sports bar, and I learned a new word: crasis. It means: a contraction of two vowels (as the final and initial vowels of united words) into one long vowel, or into a diphthong (example: y'all).

What? There's a specific word that relates to one of my biggest pet peeves, and I just now learned it?

I can't stand it when I see y'all spelled ya'll. In my opinion, y'all is the combination of the phrase, typically Northern, "you all." When you take away the "ou" the apostrophe replaces it.

I'm constantly seeing references that use ya'll, and I just don't think it's grammatically correct...I think people just like the way it looks, for some reason, and don't think about the placement of the apostrophe as being a technical issue.

Just to tie this in to a book blog...Paula Deen's autobiography, edited and produced in the North, used ya'll throughout (I could barely make it through it). However, her magazine, edited and produced in the South, consistently uses y'all.

However, I recently got into a debate with a friend of my parents about this. He maintained:

The word ya'll isn't a contraction of the words "you all" as many people think. It is a word of other distinct origin, indigenous to the rural South: ye aw. This evolved in a modern-day variation of y'all, where some put the apostrophe after the "a" (ya'll). So, ya'll could be a contraction for ya all.

Also, I was raised also using ya'll as a contraction of the words "ya will" in which case the apostrophe would replace the "wi"...thus, ya'll.

I'm not at all convinced by his argument, but I'm opening this up for debate. Thoughts?

[Webb Pierce]

OK,

Since we changed the subject.

My pet language peeve is the restaurant listing for a French Dip Sandwich.

French Dip with Au Jus. Or worse with Au Jus Sauce.

French Dip Aus Jus, will do.

[Barry]

Getting this thread back on subject... Here's a couple of articles from the Bohemian. The first has more background on Doug Bosco, one of the new owners, and the second discloses that among the new owners is Sandy Weill, former Citigroup CEO and Jean Schulz, widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. Sure is an interesting bunch!

Barry


Empire News
Press Democrat sold to local group, including lobbyist Darius Anderson and political powerbroker Doug Bosco
https://www.bohemian.com/northbay/empire-news/Content?oid=2320906

THE OTHER SHOE DROPS The Press Democrat is once again locally owned, with its owners' connections under scrutiny.

The Press Democrat has been sold by Florida-based Halifax Media Group to a group of local investors, including lobbyist and developer Darius Anderson and former congressman Doug Bosco.

The sale marks a return to local ownership for the 115-year-old newspaper. Halifax purchased the Press Democrat last year along with 15 other regional newspapers from the New York Times Company, which owned the daily since 1985.

The announced sale, expected to close in the coming weeks, includes the Press Democrat, the Argus-Courier, the North Bay Business Journal and their websites. (Anderson's group, Sonoma Media Investments LLC, also bought the Sonoma Index-Tribune earlier this year.) No sale price has been disclosed.

The group also includes Stephen Falk, a former publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle, and Bill Hooper, president of Kenwood Investments.

The four men share intertwining histories. Anderson and Bosco have worked together since the 1980s, when Anderson interned in Bosco's congressional office. Anderson serves on the board of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, where Falk is chief executive. Kenwood Investments, led by Hooper, is Anderson's development firm.

But it's the group's business interests, lobbying and political connections that have raised concern about the influence the ownership group could wield over the newsroom.

The client list of Anderson's lobbying firm, Platinum Advisors, includes Clear Channel, Pfizer and Microsoft. Other clients include CVS, currently involved in a controversial development proposal in Sebastopol; PG&E, which has battled public power, an option that is currently being explored by Sonoma County; and Sutter Health, whose nurses recently striked in Santa Rosa.

Anderson's lobbying firm also represents Station Casinos, partners with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria in building an Indian gaming casino in Rohnert Park. Anderson also has plans to build a $30 million hotel near the Sonoma plaza.

In 2010, the Press Democrat's Ted Appel reported on a $500,000 settlement by Anderson's Gold Bridge Capital in a corruption probe that involved private equity firms managing public pension fund investments. Before that, Anderson sued a Kenwood neighbor for "emotional distress and loss of social reputation" after she called the police on a loud party at Anderson's estate, as reported by the Press Democrat's Paul Payne.

Neither story was mentioned in the newspaper's reporting of its own sale or profiles of its new owners last week.

Doug Bosco's involvement in the acquisition will likely face scrutiny from a worried environmentalist community. Longtime county environmental advocate Bill Kortum notes that Bosco was voted out of office largely for claiming he was against offshore oil drilling, but acting otherwise, at a time when urban growth boundaries and open space districts were being set to preserve the county's natural beauty. With Bosco as a co-owner of the newspaper, "he'd be in a position to break that will of the people," Kortum says.

Bosco is also well-known as a behind-the-scenes heavyweight in Sonoma County politics, with interests connected to gravel mining and lumber. His close friend, Eric Koenigshofer, is the attorney for the Preservation Ranch project in Sonoma County, which would clear-cut 1,769 acres of second-growth redwood trees to develop 1,100 acres of vineyards.

Bosco and Koenigshofer also help fund political candidates, including Fifth District Supervisor Efren Carrillo, who provided key votes to approve two contentious Bosco-supported projects: the Russian River gravel mine near Geyserville and the Dutra asphalt plant in Petaluma. Carrillo also helped approve the Fort Ross tasting room, a project opposed by neighbors but supported by Bosco.

In the 1980s, Bosco, a self-described "conservative Democrat," was involved in both the Savings and Loan and congressional check-bouncing scandals. Now, with his wife, retired county judge and logging scion Gayle Guynup, Bosco often hosts political get-togethers in his McDonald Avenue home with donors and elected officials.

To the San Francisco Chronicle last week, Falk expressed the new ownership's commitment to objective journalism at the Press Democrat. "Clearly, the ownership of this paper is not going to meddle in the journalism of this newspaper," he said. "Credibility is all any newspaper has, and we're not going to lose that."

Reporters and editors at the Press Democrat contacted for this story were unwilling to go on the record but said that the independence of the newsroom is the goal of all parties involved.

Newspapers owned by lobbyists remain rare, although that is shifting, says Kelly McBride, senior faculty in ethics at the Poynter Institute.

"With papers being so cheap, we are seeing a lot of partisan owners scooping them up," she says of the Press Democrat's sale. "The San Diego Union-Tribune is another California paper that's experienced this phenomenon. Everyone wants to know if the owners will keep their hands off the editorial product and let it independently serve the audience. Only time will tell on that question."


Press Democrat Ownership Includes Sandy Weill, Norma Person, Jean Schulz, More
POSTED BY GABE MELINE ON THU, NOV 8, 2012 AT 1:36 PM

As reported in this week's news story, the Press Democrat is being sold to a local group of investors, including lobbyist Darius Anderson and former congressman Doug Bosco.

The sale of the Press Democrat was completed today, with additional investors in the 115-year-old paper announced just now.

They include:

Norma Person, whose late husband, Evert Person, sold the Press Democrat to the New York Times in 1985. She lives in Santa Rosa.

Sandy Weill, former Citigroup CEO with an active role in repealing the Glass-Steagall act and donor to the Green Music Center. He lives on Sonoma Mountain.

Jean Schulz, widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. She lives in Santa Rosa.

Gary Nelson, founder of Nelson staffing. He lives in Sonoma.

Bill Jasper, CEO and president of Dolby Sound from 1983 to 2009. He lives in Sonoma.

Les Vadasz, founding member of Intel Corporation. He lives in Sonoma.

The makeup of the Press Democrat's ownership is getting very, very interesting. The involvement of Norma Person is welcome, surely—when owned by the Persons, the Press Democrat had a decidedly local feel. But expect plenty of noise to be made about Sandy Weill, whose $12 million donation to the Green Music Center was not without considerable scrutiny, even in the pages of the Press Democrat itself. A reliable source confirms that Weill wasn't pleased with the Press Democrat for the criticism his history on Wall Street was garnering. You know what they say: if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em.

Best of luck to our many friends over at the Press Democrat as this sale goes through. Often, change of ownership is a reason to cut staff and restructure benefits, and we truly hope that this isn't going to be the case for the newspaper's employees. More importantly, we hope that what ownership spokesman and former San Francisco Chronicle publisher Stephen Falk says is true: that this new ownership won't meddle in the objective reporting of the newsroom.

[Shepherd]

Following is today's PD article on recent Sonoma County resident, one percenter Sandy Weill, being one of the key people to buy the PD. How many more of the super-rich can we expect moving to "wine country" and further corporatizing it? How will this impact the PD and our county?
Shepherd


Six prominent Sonoma County philanthropists join deal

By JEREMY HAY
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 3:00 a.m.
Six prominent Sonoma County philanthropists stand behind the principals of Sonoma Media Investments. They are:

-- Bill Jasper: President of audio-tech firm Dolby Laboratories from 1983 to 2009 and CEO from 1979 to March 2009. He earned $1.6 million in his final year with the company, according to Forbes magazine. He joined the company in 1979 and helped take it public in 2005.

He received a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from UC Berkeley.

In 2006, he told the New York Stock Exchange magazine that he was an avid clarinetist who performs with other members of San Francisco's Bohemian Club, a private men's club that holds an annual retreat at the Bohemian Grove in Monte Rio.

--Gary Nelson: Founder and retired chairman of Nelson Family of Companies, a staffing and recruiting firm that opened in Sonoma in 1970. The company had sales of $435 million in 2011, when it was the 44th-largest staffing company in the country.

The company this year sold a controlling interest in its largest division, WorkforceLogic, which delivered employee management software. The price was not disclosed.

The Nelson companies have about 175 employees; 75 are based in Sonoma.
Nelson and his wife, Marcia, who live in Sonoma, oversee the Nelson Community Care Fund and Endowment and this year gave $3 million toward the construction of Sonoma Valley Hospital emergency center.

--Norma Person: President of the Ernest L. and Ruth W. Finley Foundation, which has jump-started and supported institutions, including Santa Rosa's Finley Community Center, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Person, who lives in Santa Rosa, is the widow of Evert Person, a leader in post-World War II Sonoma County and former publisher of The Press Democrat. He sold the newspaper to the New York Times Co. in 1985.
Her involvement in The Press Democrat purchase brings the deal a circular historical element. The Finley Foundation is named for Ernest Latimer Finley and his wife, Ruth. In 1895, Finley started the Evening Press newspaper and in 1897 he bought the Sonoma Democrat newspaper, creating The Press Democrat.

--Jean Schulz: Schulz's late husband, Charles Schulz, created the “Peanuts” comic strip. Her philanthropic ventures have included SSU's high-tech Schulz Information Center, considered one of the state's top academic libraries.

She has thrown her support to the Green Music Center, the Sonoma Land Trust, the Council on Aging and Canine Companions.
Schulz, who has served as a volunteer with a range of organizations, also co-founded the Community Foundation of Sonoma County in 1983. The foundation manages hundreds of endowed charitable funds aimed at supporting area causes. She is chairwoman of the board of Charles Schulz Creative Associates and president of the board of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.
Schulz lives in Santa Rosa.

--Les Vadasz: A native of Hungary who was educated as an engineer at McGill University in Canada. He left Fairchild Semiconductor in 1968 to help found Intel Corp., now the world's largest semiconductor chip maker.
He retired in 2003 as Intel's executive vice president. A former board member of the company, he also was the founder and president of its investment unit, Intel Capital. In 2001, he was paid $275,000 in salary and $468,600 in bonuses, according to federal documents.

In 1997, he and his wife, Judy, founded the Vadasz Family Foundation. In the Sonoma Valley, the foundation has funded projects to blend science and English language development in elementary school classrooms, pre-school classes to teach English to Spanish-speaking students who live in poverty and an Intel-sponsored computer clubhouse at the Boys and Girls Club.
The Vadaszes live in Sonoma.

--Sanford I. Weill: A financier and philanthropist better known as Sandy, he was chairman and CEO of Citigroup when it was the world's largest bank.
His career in finance included stints as chief of American Express Co. and Travelers Group, Inc., which he led into a $76 billion merger with Citicorp in 1998.

His lobbying efforts played a key role in the 1999 repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act. That development eliminated many barriers between banks, investment firms and insurance companies and, Weill's critics say, ushered in an era of lending practices that led to the 2007 housing collapse and foreclosure crisis.

He and his wife, Joan, arrived in Sonoma County in 2010, buying a 362-acre estate in the hills west of Sonoma for $31 million. Last year, he gave $12 million to Sonoma State University -- the largest gift in university history — that enabled the completion of the concert hall at the $145 million Green Music Center. That allowed SSU to fully open the music center after work had stalled. Weill also arranged a $15 million Mastercard sponsorship toward an outdoor pavilion at the music center.

Copyright © 2012 PressDemocrat.com — All rights reserved. Restricted use only

[Peace Voyager]

Is Bill Jasper related to Dane Jasper of Sonic.net?

Bill Jasper, CEO and president of Dolby Sound from 1983 to 2009. He lives in Sonoma.

[meherc]

So what's so wrong and shady about these people?. They're rich? Is this going to turn into another ridiculous endless breastbeating about leafblowers?

Following is today's PD article on recent Sonoma County resident, one percenter Sandy Weill, being one of the key people to buy the PD. How many more of the super-rich can we expect moving to "wine country" and further corporatizing it? How will this impact the PD and our county?
Shepherd ridiculrid

[Peace Voyager]

So what's so wrong and shady about these people?. They're rich? Is this going to turn into another ridiculous endless breastbeating about leafblowers?

The answer to your question is the the current Bohemian article; did you read it?

There is nothing wrong with being rich. There is something wrong with 1% getting to set the direction 99% of the time; and the majority the rest.

There's a problem when opinions are paraded as news; and fact are not checked, nor corrected; and opposing positions not getting equal time.

I hope to get many more people to be bay area media watchers; and share how the news gets filtered. A good example is the 2 takes on the story of the head of the CIA stepping down by the Press Democrat, and the SF Chronicle regarding Feinstein's role.

In the PD; which has not yet changed hands I believe; it queries why the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee is left out of an FBI operation on the CIA; in the Chronicle, she's just quoted as Petraeus' cheerleader. Understanding the ownership of the Chronicle, explains why she often gets a pass on issues with her; no hardball at all.

The PD failed us all with their lack of news coverage of the candidates for US Senate in the Primary last 2 times times Feinstein ran; even though there were 2 local contenders running to stop failed foreign policies this year.

I try to stay rather informed, but did not know till I voted, that Rosanne Barr & Cindy Sheehan were in the presidential race. It really is a disservice to the public for the big daily papers to not fully inform the voters on all the choices.

When the switch at the PD is made; this difference between these 2 papers, I predict, will diminish. Willie Brown is in bed with the new PD owners, on more than just one of their client's issues; such as Stations Casinos planned mega complex for Rohnert Park.

In the area of PG& E - the Chronicle has done a rather good job of investigating their misconduct, as well as, a little of the CPUC's regarding lack of oversight in San Bruno, & PG&E's general infrastructure safety and record keeping.

Here's a list of some issues of concern for many in our community which will not likely get unbiased coverage besides leaf blowers: dangers and cost of the plan for local water fluoridation; vaccinations; dangers of cel phones, towers & Smart Meters; organic food benefits, GMO risks & truth about it's benefits; consequences of poisoning and over drafting our water supply for the sole benefit of the wine industry; return to unbridled growth; synthetic chemical, pharmaceutical & bioengineered solutions as a "cure" for everything, as opposed to nature based ones; weather modification, and plenty more.

In other words, even though they claim to be Democrats, they don't support our progressive call to uphold the precautionary principle. We get a diminished quality of life when what it is to be Green is greenwashed right here by the so-called choir because, as someone recently pointed out, the Chairwoman of our Board of Supervisors has had a "Bosco Lombotomy". This explains more than a few things.

Now that influence will spread. What we love so much about our community is getting more and more diluted when the checks and balances, are absent.

Now if you don't want to hear about community members trying to support the peace and carbon reduction benefits of leaf blower regulations, etc. here; just scroll yourself to another topic. This is somebody's news and/or views, which many may find has merit.

We are free to receive, or free to leave. I hope to learn as much as from others, as they do from me. It's our unbiased, (sometimes), well vetted (often), collective intelligence which helps us refine just what the truth is.

It would be nice if WaCCo had a media partner, so our West County style could inform and expand our broader regional greater good.

BTW, as this thread was first airing, I was in the process of buying my copies of the PD and Chronicle, when none other than Bleys Rose himself was next to me in line. We conversed on the topic for a bit, and he clarified some of my analysis. It's now confirmed "they" are lurking amidst our posts here.

So now that we've taught "them" that Green is good; and "they" think Faux Green is good enough; let's demonstrate how the deeper the true Green; the bigger the triple bottom line benefits. That the undiluted truth, sells better than the spin dried & muzzled version.

Furthermore, serving the needs of the 99% pays off better than just the 1%; and provides a sustainable future the owners' and investors'children could be truly proud of.

Long live WaCCo!

Colleen Fernald

Unvarnished Truth Reporter at Large

[Peace Voyager]

Can't wait to see how soon stock prices plunge for GMO food makers when we don't feed the beast as we feed ourselves.

What you feed your mind is at least that important; right?

If it turns out the new Press Democrat ownership is playing games with the truth; we can always get to work on informing their advertisers we will be moving our money and withdrawing support for their businesses, until they demand a correction from those in charge. Just boycotting the paper is not enough; they'll have to feel it in their bottom line in a big way to effect a lasting change.

Just how much sway WaCCo, alt. media, etc. has, will be interesting and useful to see.

Fair warning PD.

[Peace Voyager]

Interesting question! On a whim, I decided to research the question and while I didn't find out the answer to the original question, I did find this:

ISP Sonic.net & Dane Jasper fought secret WikiLeaks court order! In a “Dane vs. Goliath” twist of the WikiLeaks saga, the Wall Street journal today reported that California-based ISP Sonic.net, led by CEO Dane Jasper, has put up an expensive fight against a secret US court order aimed at the contacts of Jacob Appelbaum. The order sought to require the ISP Sonic.net to turn over the emails and contacts of WikiLeaks volunteer and noted internet technologist Jacob Appelbaum. While unsuccessful in their legal response, Sonic.net CEO Dane Jasper commented that their costly investment in protecting the privacy of Sonic.net customers was “the right thing to do.”

A few years ago Sonic got a huge infusion of cash; the source of which gave me concern. It happened just as I signed up with them for more privacy and going local. Gave me doubts about both.

Only wish I had the time for a new career as an investigative journalist, or private investigator; and get to solve some mysteries on the job.

[BobHeisler]

That's weird. How long did the Halifax Media Group own the Press Democrat? 20 minutes?

[Rue]

Read the article in the Bohemian for a little more insight, and check out the Citi Bank investor. Local is re-defined with this effort.

onward!

[Rue]

Thanks for posting the Bohemian articles. I read them and hoped others would too.

Citi"group" not Citi Bank - sorry about the error.

Isn't he the fellow who is in court for his shenanigans?

have a great sunny Sunday!

[Peace Voyager]

While the below article refer's to Doug Bosco as a "Democratic party powerbroker", which I suppose is not altogether untrue, he seems to md to be the epitome of corporatist, with deep ties to the business community and questionable ethics.

Barry

You are quite right to question his ethics. People like Bosco and Willie Brown are both very dirty and very protected. Let's see if they get caught before their time on earth expires.

Bosco was the "fixer" for Efren Carrillo's felony assault charges in San Diego. I know because the person who was tasked to do it told me. But where are the authorities on doing something about it? The Santa Rosa Police would not even have a cop take a report when I went to their HQ, even though they noted it was a crime to interfere with a case. What does that tell you about the SRPD being in bed with these white collar criminals?

Buying the PD is a money saver for folks who usually have to use other means to twist the truth.

2 of these new owners are Lobbyist for PG&E and Station Casinos; think you'll get the full truth on issues related to them?

Going local is a sham if the locals are so dirty they stop at nothing to protect their interests.

Everyone has reason to be concerned.

In time, you can bet the truth will come out; if the witness have the guts to be whistle blowers.