Press Democrat Disabling Comments Section This Week
Starting September 4, 2025, The Press Democrat will no longer host comments on their News Group websites.
The News Group stated the following regarding the decision to disable comments:
We understand that comments can be a good way to discuss and debate the news, and to interact with other members of the community. However, website comments, because they can be difficult to moderate, sometimes run counter to our desire to host a free exchange of ideas in a manner that is courteous and respectful.
If you have a strong opinion you’d like to see published, you can send us a letter to the editor at letters@pressdemocrat.com.
If you want to reach us directly, our reporters’ email addresses can be found on our contact page. You can also send feedback to us at commenting@medianewsgroup.com.
We are active on social media, and we would be delighted if you would follow us on Facebook, X, BlueSky, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
The move to turn off comments will be timed with the launch of redesigned websites for The Press Democrat and its sibling publications on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Reactions
*Click on photos of comments to enlarge.
“Farewell to the PD and my subscription, recently renewed out of a desire to engage in this specific space. No doubt many of you disagree with my viewpoint as I vehemently disagree with yours, but I think we can all agree that our intellects and our community are better for our daily dialogues at the end of the article. As a native of Santa Rosa who grew up reading the Press Democrat as an elementary school student and teenager it pains me to say goodbye, but this is obviously the end of The Press Democrat as we have known it and I wish you all a fond farewell with best wishes for the dark years ahead.
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
-Frankly
That's OK, it's been fun for a while until the PD's real agenda reared its biased and prejudicial head, not to forget its censorship of the truth and the childish "CONTENT DEACTIVATED" algorithms.
“What the PD really needed in the comments was an open comments page for non articles and topics of which might have been needed to be brought up, like the following: Just yesterday a young adult male came by my residence to ask to see my PG&E meter, alleging that he could save me money on my PG&E bill. To which I stated he was perpetrating a scam and that he needed to leave my property. Upon hearing this, he threatened to "I'll knock you out(his words)," at which point the Police were called. No City permit to solicit, refused to provide proper identification, refused to provide the company name of whom he was working/soliciting for, no phone number, thus definitely a scam.
These groups seem to saturate the areas of towns every 3-4 months, and have become more aggressive and threatening. But, the Police refuse to do anything until, their words, the Police, they leave physical injuries apparent to having been attacked, and witnesses, or video proof. Thus these scammers will continue to do this and continue to get away with their threats and intimidation, until that is, someone takes it further agains them.
Lastly, good bye PD, mine too subscription will not be renewed.”
-Makai
Well, I never trolled anyone in that particular forum (I do that on FB), but it does seem to be a mistake. The paper will lose any vestige of connection to the community it purports to serve and lose the opportunity for immediate feedback on the job it's doing. Which is a shame, because it really doesn't do a very good job at all -- it's become just another mouthpiece for local and national government, with very little critical assessment of nationally-syndicated news stories. Basically, the PD is full of government-approved propaganda. I would say it's the end of an era, but in truth that era ended long ago.