The media in San Francisco not only refers to media produced and covered within the City and County of San Francisco, but also the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area. Generally speaking, San Francisco (along with the cities of Oakland, San Jose, and neighboring cities) is a technological powerhouse, with many Internet websites based in the City and throughout the region, including social networking giant Facebook and the largest search engine site Google. The region also hosts to one of the oldest radio stations in the United States still in existence, KCBS (AM) (740 kHz), founded by engineer Charles Herrold in 1909.
San Francisco media tends to be liberal in nature, as well as diverse, thanks to a number of factors, including continuous growth of immigrants moving to the region, the culture of liberalism that persisted for decades, and an affluent population that provides a niche for various media forms.
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The first newspaper published by Americans in California was The Californian, printed in Monterey in 1846 announcing the Mexican American War, written half in English and half Spanish. The press was moved to San Francisco and printing started up again on May 22, 1847 in competition with the weekly California Star, beginning that January. The first newspaper published solely in English in San Francisco was The Star published by Mormon pioneer Sam Brannan before San Francisco was renamed from Yerba Buena in 1847. Both efforts suspended publication in the face of the California Gold Rush. By August, The Californian had resumed publication, but by November 1848, both papers were bought and merged, then renamed the Alta California.
The press that once printed The Californian was moved to the Sacramento area to be used on the Placer Times. The press was again moved and began publishing the Motherlode's first paper, the Sonora Herald, then taken to Columbia to print the Columbia Star. Within a few years of the discovery of gold, mother lode towns all had multiple competing journals. Before 1860, California had 57 newspapers and periodicals serving an average readership of 290,000.
James King of William began publishing the Daily Evening Bulletin in San Francisco in October, 1855 and built it into the highest circulation paper in the city. He criticized a city supervisor named James P. Casey, who, on the afternoon of the story about him, ran in the paper, shot and mortally wounded King. Casey was lynched by the early vigilante committee. The Morning Call was established and began publishing in December 1856, and later merged with the Bulletin to become the long-running Call-Bulletin. The San Francisco Chronicle debuted in June, 1865 as the Dramatic Chronicle, founded by Charles and M.H. de Young aged 19 and 17.
In 1887, young William Randolph Hearst took over his father's Daily Examiner, which became the flagship of his national chain.
Fremont Older became editor of the San Francisco Bulletin in 1895 and took up the struggle against the powerful Southern Pacific Railroad and along with fellow Californian Lincoln Steffens, became a well-known muckraker and the first objective observer to accuse District Attorney Charles Fickert of the framing of labor radical Thomas Mooney.
The oldest African-American newspaper, still active in the 1930s, was the California Eagle. It appeared first in Los Angeles in 1879. The first French journals, the Californien and the Gazette Republicane both began in 1850, and were followed by the Courrier du Pacifique in 1852. Both the first German and first Italian papers, the California Demokrat (1852) and the Voce del Popolo (1859) were founded in San Francisco and had long runs. Chinese in California have published many newspapers, the first being the Gold Hills News in 1854.
Noted journalists, writers, cartoonists and publishers have passed through San Francisco's media world, including:
By the early decades of the 20th century, San Francisco supported four major dailies and numerous influential weeklies. The dailies were the San Francisco Call (later Call-Bulletin), the San Francisco Examiner, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Scripps-Howard, the Daily News. The weeklies included the Wasp, the ARGONAUT, the Labor Clarion, the Coast Seamen's Journal, Emanu-el, Liberator and the News Letter.
Today, several newspapers, covering community, regional, national, and international news, and community-specific papers, catering to niche markets and individual neighborhoods, are in circulation in the San Francisco Bay Area, including:
- San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco) - daily broadsheet
- The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco) - daily tabloid
- Oakland Tribune (Oakland) - daily broadsheet
- San Jose Mercury News (San Jose) - daily broadsheet
- Marin Independent Journal (Novato) - daily broadsheet
- San Francisco Bay Guardian (San Francisco) - weekly alternative
- SF Weekly (San Francisco) - weekly alternative
- Metro Silicon Valley (San Jose) - weekly alternative
- East Bay Express (Oakland) - weekly alternative
- Several other community-based papers, published on a daily or weekly basis
Aside from the major English broadsheets, the Bay Area also publishes newspapers catering to the large immigrant community living in the region, including:
- Sing Tao Daily (Brisbane) - Chinese
- Asian Week (San Francisco) - Pan-Asian
- World Journal (San Francisco) - Chinese
- Kanzhongguo Times (San Jose) - Chinese
- Oakland Post (Oakland) - African American
- Several other Asian and Hispanic newspapers
Several college newspapers also exist as well in the Bay Area, including:
- The Daily Californian (UC Berkeley)
- Synapse (UC San Francisco)
- Golden Gate [X]press (San Francisco State University)
- Pioneer (CSU Hayward)
- Spartan Daily (San Jose State University)
- San Francisco Foghorn (University of San Francisco)
Magazines published in the San Francisco Bay Area include:
- San Francisco magazine
- 7x7
- Mother Jones (magazine)
- The Believer (magazine)
- McSweeney's magazine and publishing house
Television
The San Francisco Bay Area is currently the sixth-largest television market in the United States, with all of the major U.S. television networks having affiliates serving the region, and it is host to various local, national, and international programming. With a large, diverse population spread throughout the region, the Bay Area provides channels specific to their needs, including Asian and Hispanic television stations, as well as foreign programming on digital sub-channels.
When television channels broadcast their identities, they would usually identify their channel in this order (it can be altered depending on the network's city of license, but always include San Francisco in the list): (channel/station ID), San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose. This also happens when radio stations (listed below) identify themselves on the top of each hour.
Currently, television stations that primarily serve the San Francisco Bay Area include: (Note: list does not include the stations' digital sub-channels)
Station | Channel | Network Affiliation | City of License | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
KTVU† | 2 | Fox | Oakland | Owned by Cox Communications |
KRON | 4 | MyNetworkTV | San Francisco | Owned by New Young Broadcasting |
KPIX† | 5 | CBS | San Francisco | Owned and operated by network |
KBKF | 6 | Independent | San Jose | Simulcast of 87.7 FM |
KGO | 7 | ABC | San Francisco | Owned and operated by network |
KQED | 9 | PBS | San Francisco | Public broadcasting |
KNTV† | 11 | NBC | San Jose | Owned and operated by network |
KDTV† | 14 | Univision | San Francisco | Owned and operated by network |
KOFY | 20 | Independent | San Francisco | Owned by Granite Broadcasting |
KAXT | 22 | Independent | Santa Clara | Owned and operated by KAXT |
KRCB | 22 | PBS | Cotati | Public Broadcasting |
KTSF | 26 | Independent | San Francisco | Ethnic (Asian) broadcasting |
KFTL | 28 | HSN | San Francisco | Owned by Family Radio |
KMTP | 32 | Independent | San Francisco | Ethnic broadcasting |
KICU† | 36 | Independent | San Jose | Owned by Cox Communications |
KCNS | 38 | RTV | San Francisco | Ethnic (Asian) broadcasting |
KMMC | 40 | Tr3s | San Francisco | Ethnic (Hispanic) broadcasting |
KBCW† | 44 | The CW | San Francisco | Owned and operated by CBS |
KSTS† | 48 | Telemundo | San Jose | Owned and operated by NBC |
KEMO | 50 | Azteca America | Santa Rosa | Owned by Una Vez Mas Holdings, LLC |
KQEH | 54 | PBS | San Jose | Public broadcasting |
KCSM | 60 | PBS | San Mateo | Public broadcasting |
KKPX | 65 | ION | San Jose | Owned and operated affiliate of network |
KFSF† | 66 | Telefutura | Vallejo | Owned and operated by Univision |
KTLN | 68 | TLN | San Rafael | Christian broadcasting |
Note: † - channel involved in a duopoly with another channel, owned by the same company or network.
In addition to local television channels, several television networks have regional news bureaus in the San Francisco Bay Area, including BBC, CNN, ESPN, MSNBC, and PBS. The Bay Area will also have its own news channel as well, NBC California Nonstop, which will be broadcast along with sister NBC O&O stations, KNBC-TV and KNSD-TV, on KNTV's secondary digital subchannel.
Radio
The San Francisco Bay Area is currently the fourth-largest radio market in the United States, with all of the major U.S. radio networks having affiliates serving the region.
When radio frequencies broadcast their identities, they would usually identify their frequency in this order (it can be altered depending on the network's city of license, but always include San Francisco in the list): (channel/station ID), San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose.
Currently, radio stations that primarily serve the San Francisco Bay Area include:
AM
Station | Frequency | Network Affiliation | Format | City of License | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
KSFO | 560 | ABC News Premiere Radio Networks |
News/Talk | San Francisco | Owned by Cumulus Media |
KEAR | 610 | Family Radio | Christian Radio | San Francisco | Owned and operated by the network |
KNBR | 680 | ESPN Radio | Sports | San Francisco | Owned by Cumulus Media |
KCBS | 740 | CBS | News | San Francisco | Owned and operated by the network |
KGO | 810 | ABC | News | San Francisco | Owned by Cumulus Media |
KTRB | 860 | ESPN Deportes | Spanish Sports | San Francisco | Owned by Comercia Bank |
KKSF | 910 | Fox News Radio | News/Talk | Oakland | Owned by Clear Channel Communications |
KNEW | 960 | CNN | News/Talk | Oakland | Owned by Clear Channel Communications |
KIQI | 1010 | Independent | Spanish | San Francisco | Owned by Multicultural Broadcasting |
KTCT | 1050 | ESPN Radio (secondary) Fox Sports Radio (primary) |
Sports | San Mateo | Owned by Cumulus Media |
KFAX | 1100 | SRN News | Religious Talk | San Francisco | Owned by Salem Communications |
KLOK | 1170 | Independent | Indian | San Jose | Owned by Principle Broadcasting |
KDYA | 1190 | Independent | Gospel Music | Vallejo | Owned by Baybridge Communications |
KDOW | 1220 | Wall Street Business Network | Business News/Talk | Palo Alto | Owned by Salem Communications |
KSFB | 1260 | Immaculate Heart Radio | Catholic Radio | San Francisco | Owned and operated by the network |
KMKY | 1310 | Radio Disney | Chidren's | Oakland | Owned and operated by the network |
KZSF | 1370 | Independent | Spanish | San Jose | Owned by Carlos Duarate |
KVTO | 1400 | Singtao Chinese Radio in Cantonese | Chinese | Berkeley | Owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation |
KVVN | 1430 | Independent | Vietnamese | Santa Clara | Owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation |
KEST | 1450 | Sino Chinese Radio | Chinese | San Francisco | Owned by Multicultural Broadcasting |
KSJX | 1500 | Independent | Vietnamese | San Jose | Owned by Multicultural Broadcasting |
KSFN | 1510 | Independent | Chinese | Piedmont | Owned by Mapleton Communications |
KZDG | 1550 | Independent | Indian | San Francisco | Owned and operated by CBS Radio |
KLIV | 1590 | NBC | News | San Jose | Owned by Empire Broadcasting |
KDIA | 1640 | Independent | Religious Talk | Vallejo | Owned by Baybridge Communications |
FM
Station | Frequency | Network Affiliation | Format | City of License | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
KSFH | 87.9 | Independent | Rock | Mountain View | Owned by St. Francis High School of Mountain View |
KECG | 88.1 | Independent | School | El Cerrito | Owned by El Cerrito High School |
KQED | 88.5 | NPR | Public Radio | San Francisco | Owned by Northern California Public Broadcasting |
KCEA | 89.1 | Independent | School | Atherton | Owned by Atherton High School |
KPFB | 89.3 | Independent | Public Radio | Berkeley | Simulcast of KPFA 94.1 |
KOHL | 89.3 | Independent | Top 40 | Fremont | Owned by Oholone College |
KMTG | 89.3 | Independent | School | San Jose | Owned by San Jose Unified School District |
KPOO | 89.5 | Independent | Variety | San Francisco | Owned by Poor's People Radio |
KFJC | 89.7 | Independent | College | Los Altos | Owned by Foothill College |
KCRH | 89.9 | Independent | College | Hayward | Owned by Chabot College |
KZSU | 90.1 | Independent | College | Stanford | Owned by Stanford University |
KOSC | 90.3 | Independent | Classical | San Francisco | Owned by University of San Francisco |
KSJS | 90.5 | Independent | College | San Jose | Owned by San Jose State University |
KALX | 90.7 | Independent | College | Berkeley | Owned by University of California Berkeley |
KCSM | 91.1 | Independent | Jazz | San Mateo | Owned by College of San Mateo |
KKUP | 91.5 | Independent | Variety | Cupertino | Owned by Assurance Science Foundation |
KALW | 91.7 | Independent | Public Radio | San Francisco | Owned by San Francisco Unified School District |
KSJO | 92.3 | Independent | Chinese | San Jose | Owned by Principle Broadcasting |
KREV | 92.7 | The Revolution | Top 40 | San Francisco | Owned by Royce International |
KRZZ | 93.3 | La Raza | Spanish | San Francisco | Owned by Spanish Broadcasting System |
KPFA | 94.1 | Independent | Public Radio | Berkeley | Owned by Pacifica Radio |
KBAY | 94.5 | Independent | Adult Contemporary | San Jose | Owned by Next Media Group |
KYLD | 94.9 | Wild | Top 40 | San Francisco | Owned by Clear Channel Communications |
KRTY | 95.3 | Independent | Country | Los Gatos | Owned by Empire Broadcasting |
KGMZ | 95.7 | Independent | Sports | San Francisco | Owned by Entercom Communications |
KSQQ | 96.1 | Singtao Chinese Radio in Mandarin Independent |
Chinese/Vietnamese/Portuguese | Morgan Hill | Owned by Coyote Communications |
KOIT | 96.5 | Independent | Adult Contemporary | San Francisco | Owned by Entercom Communications |
KLLC | 97.3 | Alice | Hot AC | San Francisco | Owned and operated by CBS Radio |
KFFG | 97.7 | Independent | Rock | Los Altos | Simulcast of KFOG 104.5 |
KISQ | 98.1 | Kiss FM | Urban AC | San Francisco | Owned by Clear Channel Communications |
KUFX | 98.5 | Independent | Rock | San Jose | Owned by Entercom Communications |
KSOL | 98.9 | Estereo | Spanish | San Francisco | Owned and operated by Univision Radio |
KMVQ | 99.7 | Now FM | Top 40 | San Francisco | Owned and operated by CBS Radio |
KBRG | 100.3 | Recuerdo | Spanish | San Jose | Owned and operated by Univision Radio |
KVVZ | 100.7 | Latino Mix | Spanish | San Rafael | Simulcast of KVVF 105.7 |
KIOI | 101.3 | Star | Hot AC | San Francisco | Owned by Clear Channel Communications |
KUZX | 102.1 | Independent | Rock | San Francisco | Simulcast of KUFX 98.5 |
KBLX | 102.9 | Independent | Urban AC | Berkeley | Owned by Entercom Communications |
KSCU | 103.3 | Independent | College | Santa Clara | Owned by Santa Clara University |
KOSF | 103.7 | Oldies FM | Clsssic Hits | San Francisco | Owned by Clear Channel Communications |
KFOG | 104.5 | Independent | Rock | San Francisco | Owned by Cumulus Media |
KXSC | 104.9 | Independent | Spanish | Sunnyvale | Owned by Principle Broadcasting |
KITS | 105.3 | Live FM | Rock | San Francisco | Owned and operated by CBS Radio |
KVVF | 105.7 | Latino Mix | Spanish | Santa Clara | Owned and operated by Univision Radio |
KMEL | 106.1 | Independent | Hip Hop | San Francisco | Owned by Clear Channel Communications |
KEZR | 106.5 | Independent | Hot AC | San Jose | Owned by Next Media Group |
KFRC | 106.9 | CBS | News | San Francisco | Simulcast of KCBS 740 |
KSAN | 107.7 | The Bone | Rock | San Mateo | Owned by Cumulus Media |
Online
Besides websites that are in addition to print publications, a large body of publications that only exist online have come into existence in recent years. They include:
- The Bay Citizen
- Bernalwood
- Beyond Chron
- The Bold Italic
- Burrito Justice
- Curbed SF
- Grubstreet SF
- Haighteration
- Mission Local
- Mission Mission
- Muni Diaries
- SF Public Press
- SF Citizen
- SFist
- Streetsblog SF
- The Tender
- SanFranPreps.com