How California’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper Covers Covid-19
Downieville, in western Sierra County, is home to California’s oldest running weekly newspaper, The Mountain Messenger. It’s been around since 1853. And it’s legendary around here – Mark Twain was a contributor. But earlier this year, the paper’s ink almost dried up, until a new owner stepped in to keep the presses running. Carl Butz is a newspaper editor who’s become a lifeline for folks here in this remote community, where local news about the coronavirus is hard to come by.
This story was produced for a California Report Magazine episode about how towns in the High Sierras are coping with the pandemic. Listen to the full episode here.