• by Ray Schultz , July 30, 2023

The sudden closure of the Santa Barbara News-Press has left both readers and staff members feeling saddened—and perhaps relieved. 

“It’s been like watching a cancer victim die,” says Dawn Hobbs, a former News-Press reporter, according to The Los Angeles Times. “You are so sad at the end. But you’re almost relieved that the entity has been put out of its misery.” 

Billionaire Wendy McCaw bought the News-Press from The New York Times for $110 million in 2000.  

But the “reports of a match made in heaven proved greatly exaggerated, the Los Angeles Times alleges. “Within a few years, McCaw’s relationship with newsroom leaders — and then with many readers — began to crumble”. 

A ”bloodbath” exodus of top editors followed in 2006, the Los Angeles Times says, adding, "circulation swooned." 

“Many said the newspaper’s fate had been sealed ever since McCaw began warring with her staff and injecting her right-leaning, government-upbraiding views deep into the news pages,” the Times continues.  

The finale came on July 21 when parent Ampersand Publishing, LLC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, spelling the end of the 168 year-old news product. 

“I have some bad news,” Managing Editor Dave Mason wrote in an email to staff.  “Wendy filed for bankruptcy on Friday. All of our jobs are eliminated, and the News-Press has stopped publishing. They ran out of money to pay us. They will issue final paychecks when the bankruptcy is approved in court.” 

MediaPost was unable to get comment from McCaw at deadline. 

The bankruptcy filing indicates that there are no assets to pay creditors. Chapter 7 bankruptcy normally means liquidation.  

The publisher reported from 200 to 999 creditors and estimated liabilities totaling from $1 million to $10 million, according to the filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. The company listed assets of $50,000 or less.