The North Bay Business Journal is a business news publication that covers the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The North Bay includes the Napa and Sonoma wine regions as well as Marin and Solano counties. Understanding who publishes the North Bay Business Journal can provide insight into the editorial focus, target audience, and business model of this regional business publication.
About the North Bay Business Journal
The North Bay Business Journal is a weekly print and online newspaper that provides news, analysis, and data on the business community of the North Bay region. It covers topics such as real estate, banking, biotech, energy, wine and hospitality. The newspaper was founded in 1986 and is based in Santa Rosa, California. It has a print circulation of around 6,000 and over 150,000 monthly website visitors.
The North Bay Business Journal is part of the larger Pacific Publishing company. Pacific Publishing is a family-owned community newspaper publisher founded in 1851. In addition to the North Bay Business Journal, Pacific Publishing owns papers such as the Press Democrat, Petaluma Argus-Courier, and Sonoma Magazine.
The North Bay Business Journal has a small staff of editors, reporters, and sales people. Its coverage focuses heavily on Sonoma and Napa counties, with additional reporting on Solano and Marin counties. Regular features include lists of top revenue companies, residential real estate transactions, legal filings, and executive promotions.
Pacific Publishing History
Pacific Publishing has a long history in the North Bay region of California:
| 1851 | Founded as Sonoma Democrat in the town of Sonoma |
| 1857 | Renamed Sonoma County Democrat |
| 1869 | Publication moved to Santa Rosa |
| 1876 | Renamed Santa Rosa Democrat |
| 1884 | Publication renamed The Press Democrat |
| 1897 | Ernest Finley acquires the Press Democrat |
| 1922 | Finley family acquires the Petaluma Argus-Courier |
| 1985 | Press Democrat begins publishing 5 days a week |
| 1986 | North Bay Business Journal debuts |
For most of its history the company was family-owned by the Finleys. In 1985, Ernest Finley III modernized operations. This expansion included launching the North Bay Business Journal in 1986.
The Finley family sold Pacific Publishing to Florida-based Freedom Communications in 1995. The Press Democrat and North Bay Business Journal are currently owned by Halifax Media Group after they acquired Freedom’s Northern California newspapers in 2012.
Ownership of the North Bay Business Journal
The North Bay Business Journal is currently owned by Halifax Media Group as part of their acquisition of the larger Pacific Publishing company.
Halifax Media Group
Halifax Media Group was formed in 2010 when a group of investors purchased the Daytona Beach News-Journal newspaper. The group then began acquiring other newspaper publications.
In 2012, Halifax purchased the Florida and North Carolina papers of Freedom Communications. This included Pacific Publishing and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
At its peak, Halifax owned over 30 publications concentrated in the southeastern United States. In 2015, Halifax was acquired by New Media Investment Group and merged with GateHouse Media.
New Media Investment Group
New Media Investment Group (NEWM) is a publicly traded publisher that focuses on local media assets.
After acquiring Halifax in 2015, NEWM became one of the largest newspaper publishers in the United States with over 145 daily newspapers and corresponding weekly publications. Other NEWM holdings include websites and business publications.
As part of NEWM, the North Bay Business Journal and other Pacific Publishing newspapers continue to focus on community news and local advertising in the North Bay region of California.
North Bay Business Journal Leadership
The North Bay Business Journal has a small team that oversees editorial content and operations.
Brad Bollinger – Publisher
As publisher of the North Bay Business Journal, Brad Bollinger oversees the paper’s business operations and partnerships. Bollinger has been with the paper since 1998 when he joined as an account executive. He later served as advertising director prior to becoming publisher in 2017.
Kimberly Malone – Director of Advertising
Kimberly Malone leads the North Bay Business Journal’s advertising sales and strategies. She has been in charge of the department since 2001 after starting as an account executive in 1999.
Jeff Quackenbush – Editor
Jeff Quackenbush directs the editorial and news coverage of the North Bay Business Journal. Quackenbush has served as editor since 2006 after first joining the paper in 1999 as a staff writer.
Eric Gneckow – Reporter
Eric Gneckow is a reporter for the North Bay Business Journal who covers the wine and beverage industries. Gneckow has been on staff at the paper since 2010.
Cheryl Sarfaty – Contributor
Cheryl Sarfaty is a regular contributor to the North Bay Business Journal. She covers healthcare, biotech, and lifestyle news. Sarfaty has been a contributor to the paper since 2011.
Coverage Focus
As a business publication focused exclusively on the North Bay region, the journal provides in-depth coverage of the key industries that drive the local economy:
| Real Estate | Residential and commercial real estate news, new projects |
| Wine & Hospitality | Wineries, hotels, restaurants, and tourism |
| Banking & Finance | Earnings, mergers, wealth management |
| Healthcare | Hospitals, clinics, biotech, medical technology |
| Tech | Startups, telecom, cybersecurity, software |
| Retail | Department stores, malls, small business |
| Industry | Manufacturing, distribution, supply chain |
| Legal | Law firms, regulatory issues, court cases |
This emphasis on regional business news allows the North Bay Business Journal to provide content and analysis not found in larger metro or national publications.
Evolution of the North Bay Business Journal
The North Bay Business Journal has evolved and grown significantly since it began publishing in 1986:
1980s
– Founded in 1986 by Pacific Publishing
– Initial circulation under 2,000 copies
– Monthly publication
– First office located in San Rafael, CA
1990s
– Expanded to weekly publication
– Relocated headquarters to Santa Rosa, CA
– Launched website NorthBayBusinessJournal.com
– Grew circulation to over 5,000
2000s
– Expanded real estate and wine industry coverage
– Introduced regular book of lists, showcasing top companies
– Moved printing from in-house to San Jose Mercury News facilities
– Grew readership through expanded Sonoma and Napa coverage
2010s
– Enhanced digital and mobile offerings
– Provided more newsletters, email alerts and social media
– Updated website and e-Edition digital replica
– Extended coverage to Solano and Marin counties
– Circulation grew to over 6,000
Advertising and Audience
As a weekly publication focused on regional business news, the North Bay Business Journal offers targeted advertising opportunities.
The print newspaper reaches over 6,000 subscribers, primarily business leaders and professionals in the North Bay area. The website NorthBayBusinessJournal.com has over 150,000 monthly unique visitors.
Popular advertising options include:
| Print ads | Various sizes and placements throughout paper |
| Premium positions | Front page strips, back page banners |
| Inserts | Pre-printed promotional inserts |
| Direct mail | Targeted mailings to NBJJ subscribers |
| Sponsored Content | Custom articles and news stories |
| Online ads | Banners, skyscrapers, text ads on website |
| E-mail ads | Sponsorships in email newsletters |
The North Bay Business Journal also produces a popular Book of Lists each year, highlighting top companies in the region. This leads to additional advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
The readership and business audience of the North Bay Business Journal offers advertisers a targeted way to reach decision makers in Sonoma, Napa, Marin, and Solano counties.
Conclusion
The North Bay Business Journal serves as a key source of news, analysis, and data on the regional economy of the North Bay area in California. While the publication has changed ownership several times, it maintains its focus on in-depth local business coverage under current owner Halifax Media Group. With a readership of over 150,000 through its weekly print product and website, the North Bay Business Journal offers businesses targeted advertising opportunities to connect with the North Bay professional community. The paper’s small but experienced staff is committed to providing content not available in larger metro or national publications. For over three decades, the North Bay Business Journal has informed and connected the local business community it serves.
