R.I.P.: Martinez News-Gazette Shuts Down After 161 Years

The Martinez News-Gazette in California, which began in 1858, has published it final edition afterer 161 years.

The newspaper began publishing before the Civil War, reported through two World Wars and numerous periods of political upheaval.

Editor Rick Jones calls it a disturbing national trend, reports ABC-TV7.


Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder says the city relied on Gazette reporters who were there for every city council meeting.

"How is the truth going to get out?" Schroder said. "Blogs are not the way, social media definitely not, so it's a real concern of mine as mayor of this city."

There were some tears as staff got together for a final remembrance, but it was not all sad.  The paper's long-time legal editor, 93-year-old Barbara Cetko was queen for a day as the mayor proclaimed Friday, "Barbara Cetko Day" in Martinez.

Meanwhile, the state’s oldest weekly newspaper covering two rural counties northeast of Sacramento appears to be nearing its final days.

The Mountain Messenger’s editor-publisher told The L-A Times he is planning to retire by the middle of January, at which point publication will end. Don Russell said he spent the past year trying to sell the paper but he hasn’t received any offers.

The paper began in 1853 as a twice-per-month publication; its claim to fame is that Mark Twain once wrote there under his real name, Sam Clemens, while hiding out from the law. Known around the area as the “Mountain Mess,” the paper covered school board meetings, federal land use and other issues in rural Sierra and Plumas counties.