Local, independent news matters – together let’s preserve it
The world knows Napa County. It is a dream destination, a foodie paradise, and the winemaking capital of the world. But to residents, it is home — it is life — it is schools, shops and neighbors. Everyone who lives in Napa County knows there’s something special about living here — something deeper than what the rest of the world sees.
Regardless of how many times Napa is mentioned in news stories, on TV or in magazines and books, the topics are strikingly consistent: wine, food and travel. Even in publications with a regional presence that claim to serve Napa County, subjects such as school board meetings, planning commission decisions, bond measures or council candidate forums are rarely reported or even mentioned. And yet, these are the very things that impact the daily lives of all residents.
About 15 years ago, the phrase “news desert” entered the American lexicon. It refers to a region that is no longer served by any local, credible media outlet. Since 2005, more than 3,500 newspapers have closed — averaging roughly 175 per year. Whether due to acquisition, consolidation, fiscal insolvency or the absence of successors, the pace of closures hasn’t slowed in recent years — and the impact has been disproportionate on small, rural communities.
I am a staunch supporter of credible, local journalism. Being a reporter isn’t easy in today’s society — especially in areas where the cost of living is high and the prevailing wage is low, where political polarization has created widespread distrust of media, where the overwhelming influence of social media has all but erased objectivity, and where sweeping newsroom cuts can come at any time, without warning or concern for the community impact.
As the only independent, paywall-free and locally owned media organization serving all of Napa County, The Napa Valley News Group is the last credible source of news and information for residents from American Canyon to Calistoga and is the only thing standing in the way of Napa County becoming a news desert.
Founded in 2022 to save the Calistoga Tribune and Yountville Sun from closure, the not-for-profit Napa Valley News Group and Highway 29 Media have been committed to keeping local news local, relevant and free to the community. Funded through philanthropy, community memberships, advertising support and events, the organization has risen to the challenge in defense of the public’s right to know.
As other media companies pull back from covering topics important to Napa County residents — including schools, healthcare and business — your help is necessary to ensure that critical coverage doesn’t disappear. Local media, with the support of consumers and businesses, is financially sustainable. But reaching that point requires investment — upfront support and a shared commitment to the betterment of the community.
Community journalism in Napa County is at an inflection point, and your support can determine the future of democracy, open government and transparency for decades to come. Today’s Napa Valley News Group and Highway 29 reporting teams are passionate and deeply committed to the community. Your financial support will help amplify their efforts with colleagues who can strengthen financial stability through advertising, sponsorship and philanthropic contributions — as well as expand journalistic expertise.
Our goal is to raise $2.5 million to create a fund supporting ongoing operations and an endowment that ensures financial stability in the years ahead — following the successful models established in communities such as Santa Cruz and Berkeley.
The phrase “the only constant is change” has never been more true. Every day, we are bombarded with change — technological, medical, political, societal — the list goes on. The one thing that should not change, however, is the practice of objective, trustworthy community journalism. Your support will help preserve and protect local news in Napa County for generations to come.
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