The Press Democrat
Yovanna Rodgers (Bieberich) possesses extensive experience in journalism and editorial roles, currently serving as Editor at Sonoma Index-Tribune since September 2024, and as a Content Producer/Copy Editor at The Press Democrat since December 2015. Previous roles include Community Editor, Reporter, and Lead Page Designer at Petaluma Argus-Courier from February 2000 to December 2015, and Entertainment Editor and Reporter at Sonoma State STAR between August 1998 and December 2000. Yovanna began the editorial journey as an Intern and Editorial Assistant at The Bohemian/Sonoma County Independent in 1999. Yovanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Sonoma State University (1998-2000) and completed undergraduate studies in Communications at Santa Rosa Junior College (1990-1997), along with graduating with honors from Sonoma Valley High School.
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The Press Democrat
The very first newspaper in Santa Rosa, the parent of today's Press Democrat, was begun in 1857, just three years after Santa Rosa was chosen as the seat of Sonoma County and seven years after California became a part of the United States. Called the Sonoma Democrat this newspaper was a four-page weekly. Its name reflected the politicsof the Santa Rosa and Russian River valleys, which were settled in the 1840s and '50s by farmers from Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. The founding publisher was Alpheus Russell, a merchant with some newspaper experience who came to open a general store on Third Street. John Taylor, a prosperous rancher south of the new town, encouraged Russell to establish the paper, giving him a five-dollar gold piece for the first subscription. At the end of a year, Russell sold the paper to printer E.R. Budd, who sold it again in 1860. The new owner was Thomas Thompson, a young Virginian who had edited Petaluma's Sonoma County Journal five years earlier at the age of 17.