The Santa Barbara Independent is a news, arts, and entertainment newspaper published every Thursday in Santa Barbara, California.

History [edit]

The weekly paper was founded in November 1986, the result of a merger between the Santa Barbara News & Review (established 1973), and The Santa Barbara Weekly (established 1984).^[2] It is owned by four people within a corporation — Randy Campbell, publisher, who grew up in Santa Barbara, and is the former owner of The Santa Barbara Weekly, Marianne Partridge, who came to California from New York in the 1980s and is the editor-in-chief, and two silent partners Rick Grand-Jean and Richard Parker. Partridge, Grand-Jean, and Parker are all former co-owners of the Santa Barbara News & Review which they purchased in 1984.^[3]

Circulation [edit]

In 2010 the Independent had a circulation of 40,000, the largest circulated newspaper in Santa Barbara County.^[1] A December 2004 report by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies reported that the paper's audience was 68 percent female and that nearly half the readers were over 45 years old.^{[citation needed]}

Attributes [edit]

The paper includes news stories, arts, music, book, and film coverage, an entertainment calendar, a lifestyle section, and reviews of restaurants and culture. The Independent also does investigative reporting on a variety of issues, from the environment to local politics.^{[citation needed]}

After the beginning of the Santa Barbara News-Press controversy in 2006, the Independent implemented Web-based columns and news articles at independent.com. The internet edition is updated daily, and more frequently during some local events, such as the 2008 Gap and Tea brush fires and the Jesusita fire in 2009. A community-alert system called IndyAlert has also been developed to send out e-mail and cell-phone messages during disasters and community emergencies.^[4] The website, independent.com, was deemed the most-visited news website in Santa Barbara County.^[5]

In 2008, the newspaper industry magazine Editor & Publisher named independent.com^[6] the Best Weekly Affiliated Website in the United States. In 2008 the Independent was named one of "10 That Do It Right,"^[7] for exemplary newspaper publishing.

The newspaper has been described by editor-in-chief Marianne Partridge as somewhat liberal.^[8]

Lawsuit [edit]

Marianne Partridge filed a lawsuit on February 11, 2010, against Randy Campbell, alleging breach of contract after Campbell failed to sell his 51% controlling interest that he had offered to sell to her under the Corporation's buy-sell agreement. Campbell filed a cross-complaint claiming breach because Partridge had obtained a loan to purchase Campbell's shares. The lender was Joe Cole, a lawyer and a former publisher of the Santa Barbara News-Press.^[9] In November 2010, Campbell added Cole as a defendant and two new causes of action against Cole only: breach of fiduciary duty and injunctive relief prohibiting Cole from participating in, financing, or advising Partridge in her attempt to purchase Campbell’s shares.^[10]

Partridge's lawsuit was tried for six days in August, 2011. Judge Denise de Bellefeuille ruled that Campbell breached the buy-sell contract and must sell all his interests to Partridge. The Judge rejected Campbell's claims against Partridge.^[11] Campbell has appealed and an appellate decision is due May 5, 2013.^[12] The cross complaint against Cole is pending trial.^[13]

See also [edit]

• Santa Barbara News-Press controversy

References [edit]

1. ^ ^{a b} Verified Audit Circulation
2. ^ |from independent.com "Our History" page |
3. ^ file from independent.com, Partridge vs. Campbell complaint
4. ^ "Our History"
5. ^ Website traffic reports comparing Santa Barbara news sites
6. ^ independent.com, Independent.com Wins An Eppy, May 15, 2008
7. ^ independent.com, "Santa Barbara Independent Named One of “10 That Do It Right," August 3, 2008
8. ^ "Santa Barbara People: The Santa Barbara Independent". Santa Barbara Live!. Retrieved 2007-02-22. 
9. ^ | independent.com "Filling in the Gaps of the Indy Rumble," April 8, 2010 |
10. ^ | independent.com, "Indy Litigation Update," November 4, 2010 |
11. ^ | independent.com, "Indy Publisher Must Sell to Editor-in-Chief," August 8, 2011 |
12. ^ | 2nd Appellate District Case Summary page |
13. ^ | Santa Barbara Courts Civil Calendar, case #1341942 |

External links [edit]

• newspaper' website