Santa Barbara News-Press: End of an Era as Longest-Running Newspaper Declares Bankruptcy

The Santa Barbara News-Press, the longest running daily newspaper in Southern California, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased publication. The paper's owner, Ampersand Publishing LLC, filed for liquidation with estimated assets of up to $50,000 and liabilities between $1,000,001 and $10 million. The bankruptcy was approved by the LLC, and all jobs have been eliminated. The News-Press had transitioned to an all-digital format a month ago. The bankruptcy filing reflects the ongoing struggles faced by medium- and large-sized city papers, compounded by the loss of advertising revenue and the shift to digital platforms.