Community Corner

After Buying Argus, Darius Anderson Looking at Another Paper

Sonoma Media Investments, headed by lobbyist Darius Anderson and former Congressman Doug Bosco, is looking to acquire another local publication

 

Sonoma investor and businessman Darius Anderson, who purchased the Argus Courier and The Press Democrat last year, is making a play for the Napa Valley Register, the Sonoma Valley Sun is reporting.

Posted as a three-line aside in the middle of a crime story in the Sonoma Valley Sun, was the following:

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Word on the street: Darius Anderson, whose Sonoma Media Investments owns “The Press Democrat” and “The Sonoma Index-Tribune,” among others, will soon add “The Napa Register” to the roster.

A call to Anderson on Thursday was not returned.

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At a January convention of the California Newspapers Publishers Association, where he was a keynote speaker, Anderson said that he was not done buying newspapers yet.

“We’re coming to a town near you soon,” he told the room full of fellow newspaper owners. “I plan to go to San Francisco and rape and pillage (publications) for the best and most talented workers...and bring back their talent to the North Bay.”

Anderson’s career in journalism is brief but active. He and his investors, Sonoma Media Investments,  purchased the Sonoma Index-Tribune in April 2012, and later that same year bought the Press Democrat from Halix Media, which acquired the paper from the New York Times.

His Kenwood Investments is also planning to build a $30 million boutique hotel just off the Sonoma Plaza, the one formerly known as Chateau Sonoma.

Anderson also supports many philanthropic endeavors including SSU's Green Music Center, Jackie Robinson Foundation, Institute of Governmental Studies at University of Berkeley and many others.”

Still, as reported from the January CNPA convention, Anderson’s ambition may not be solely financial. In his speech, he called for a “bigger role” of the newspaper industry in statewide affairs and for new, bolder leadership in government. He also offered himself for a possible run at statewide office in the future.

 The full video of Anderson's CNPA keynote speech can be found on this page.

Are you concerned about the growing media monopoly in the North Bay? Share your thoughts in the comments below.


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