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As long as I’ve lived in Sonoma, apprx. 30-years, the Index-Tribune, owned and operated by the Lynch family, first Robert then son Bill, has been a mediocre (at best) small-town newspaper despite its own self-aggrandizement and self-promotion. It is in no way comparable to outstanding small papers such as the San Jose Mercury News, the Point Reyes Light, the Bay Guardian, the Anderson Valley Advertiser and the Russian River Times to name but a few. These are newspapers of note and substance, rife with investigative reporting and dedicated to uncovering the truth about local issues and connections to a broader spectrum, none of which is evident in the I-T for the last 30 years. The editorial pulpit under the aegis of the Lynch family was always biased toward the interests of the business community and its spokespeople the Chamber of Commerce. The I-T masked itself as politically Democratic and liberal leaning, but it was free-market and anti-economic equity for the working person all the way. Occasionally it paid lip service to liberal social issues, but that was pro forma in a Democratic county and civil rights oriented readership. In my opinion it always was and still is a mouthpiece for the primary business interests that run Sonoma.



The I-T and the Press Democrat is now owned by developer-lobbyist Darius Anderson and a few very rich friends he brought on board, along with two other county papers in what can only be considered an obvious ploy to control local print media. This was best exemplified during the current campaign to limit hotel size and growth in Sonoma that both newspapers condemned, and in particular the I-T stacked the amount of print given over to its position on the issue. Of course when Anderson & Co. took over these newspapers they made the standard claims of no interference with editorial content or positions. This is the standard slop readers are fed and ridiculous on its face.



The I-T covers (some) local news – council meetings, sports, education issues, religious page and so forth – all of which is standard fare, but so does Sonoma’s other weekly paper The Sun. The Sun is independently owned and operated by its editor-publisher and is as far as I can see free from editorial management or manipulation. As The Sun offers the same coverage of local goings-on as the I-T and also provides a regular forum for local columnists, among them some very good writers, and most important is beholden to no one and no entity’s particular interests it is, in this opinion, a far better alternative.



Lastly, when the I-T’s editorial reins were turned over to David Bolling some years ago it was a vast improvement in content and style. Bolling is smart, humorous, a good writer and has impressive environmental issues chops. The I-T became a better paper by leagues when Lynch dropped out and Bolling took over. Sadly that paper has been bought by commercial growth and development interests and can no longer be considered an honest broker. This may not be unusual in the newspaper business, but it’s a damn shame. Who’s going to tell the emperor he has no clothes on?



Anyone interested in knowing more about the political and investment dealings of Mr. Anderson the following are but a few samples of the newspaper and magazine articles about the gent:



Money & Company: Political power player Darius Anderson under scrutiny related to pension deals, Mark Lifsher, August 27, 2010

Press Democrat: Watch Sonoma County; Sonoma man pays $500,00 to settle corruption probe, Ted Appel, April 16, 2010

Bohemian: The Other Shoe Drops; Gabe Meline, Nov. 7, 2012

Anderson Valley Advertiser: Series of articles from 2009, winter.

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