For the last eight years, we have published this newspaper alongside The West Marin Citizen, competing against it for advertising, readership and moral support. The Citizen, whose founders included former employees and contributors of the Light, is the longest-running competitor in our 67-year history. Over time, both its founding publisher and editor stepped away, and in recent years Linda Petersen assumed their roles, and became the paper’s sole owner. She has continued its tradition of community news that so many people have treasured since 2007. This winter, Linda asked us if we wanted to buy her paper. She expressed her belief that our two newspapers could not ultimately survive in West Marin, where they strain to generate enough advertising, subscriptions and street sales revenue to pay staff and overhead expenses. She also felt that to come together in this symbolic way would set an example of community rapprochement. We agreed.
Tess Elliott and David Briggs, the editor and photographer/office manager of this newspaper, found the funding necessary to meet her offer, and are now drafting a contract. The two of us are contributing to the purchase, but we could not do it without a handful of local donors—the same that made the last sale of this newspaper possible—whose gifts come with no strings attached. We hope to complete the purchase next month. As has been true since 2010, our editorial team has been solely responsible for all editorial decision-making—there is no editorial board or secret hierarchy of control—and our business staff is responsible for all business decisions. Marin Media Institute, which a member of the Point Reyes Light Publishing Company (the newspaper’s owner), has no editorial or financial role.
Last week a former Light and Citizen employee publicized our plans, and since then many of you have expressed sorrow at the loss of the Citizen. We understand. We want to do all we can to reach toward it editorially, inviting the voices that have found a place in its pages and incorporating lessons we have learned from its successes. This purchase, then, will be made in the spirit of a merger. Later this spring we will hold a community meeting so you can tell us what you want more and less of, and give any other feedback you may have. Our doors are open to your thoughts and suggestions.