East Bay Express
Encyclopedia
The East Bay Express is an Oakland-based weekly newspaper serving the Berkeley
, Oakland
, and East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area
. It is distributed throughout Alameda County and parts of Contra Costa County every Wednesday.
A typical issue of the East Bay Express contains one or two news stories; "Eco Watch" a column about environmental issues; a 2,000-6,000-word cover feature, events and music listings; a number of CD, live music, dining, and movie reviews; a culture column; and the syndicated columns Savage Love and Aquarium Age.
, which merged with the parent company of the Village Voice to form Village Voice Media in October 2005.
On 17 May 2007, Village Voice Media announced the paper was being bought by then-editor Stephen Buel and a group of investors. Jay Youngdahl acquired majority control of the paper in August 2010.
scandal.
The Express placed actor Gary Coleman
on the ballot for governor in the 2003 California recall election
as a satirical comment on the recall of Democratic Governor
Gray Davis
.
In February 2009, the paper uncovered an alleged extortion scam by the user review website Yelp, Inc. . After the story's publication, several lawsuits were filed against the company.
A 2005 profile of the environmentalist Van Jones
, in which Jones disclosed that he had, in his youth, identified as a "communist" and been a member of the activist group Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement
(STORM) became a prominent piece of evidence used by talk-show host Glenn Beck
and his supporters in a 2009 attempt to discredit President Barack Obama
's appointee's fitness for the position. Several public officials eventually called for Jones' resignation, which he delivered on September 5, 2009.
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, and East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. It is distributed throughout Alameda County and parts of Contra Costa County every Wednesday.
A typical issue of the East Bay Express contains one or two news stories; "Eco Watch" a column about environmental issues; a 2,000-6,000-word cover feature, events and music listings; a number of CD, live music, dining, and movie reviews; a culture column; and the syndicated columns Savage Love and Aquarium Age.
History
The paper was sold in 2001 to New Times MediaNew Times Media
Village Voice Media is a privately held corporation headquartered in Phoenix.The company owns the Village Voice, America's oldest and largest alternative weekly newspaper, as well as LA Weekly, OC Weekly in Orange County, California, Seattle Weekly, City Pages in Minneapolis-St...
, which merged with the parent company of the Village Voice to form Village Voice Media in October 2005.
On 17 May 2007, Village Voice Media announced the paper was being bought by then-editor Stephen Buel and a group of investors. Jay Youngdahl acquired majority control of the paper in August 2010.
Notable stories
In 2002, the paper's coverage played a crucial role in uncovering the Your Black Muslim BakeryYour Black Muslim Bakery
Your Black Muslim Bakery was a bakery opened by Yusuf Bey in 1968 in Santa Barbara, California, and relocated to Oakland in 1971. A power broker at the center of a local community, it was held out as a model of African American economic self-sufficiency. However, it was later linked to widespread...
scandal.
The Express placed actor Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman
Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman...
on the ballot for governor in the 2003 California recall election
California recall election, 2003
The 2003 California gubernatorial recall election was a special election permitted under California state law. It resulted in voters replacing incumbent Democratic Governor Gray Davis with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. The recall effort spanned the latter half of 2003...
as a satirical comment on the recall of Democratic Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
.
In February 2009, the paper uncovered an alleged extortion scam by the user review website Yelp, Inc. . After the story's publication, several lawsuits were filed against the company.
A 2005 profile of the environmentalist Van Jones
Van Jones
Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones is an American environmental advocate, civil rights activist, and attorney. Jones is a co-founder of three non-profit organizations. In 1996, he founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a California non-governmental organization working for alternatives to violence...
, in which Jones disclosed that he had, in his youth, identified as a "communist" and been a member of the activist group Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement
Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement
In 2010, various right wing web sites and blogs posted a document that claims to describe the history of a group called Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement , which was supposedly a left wing revolutionary cadre-based organization based in the Bay Area of the United States.It is...
(STORM) became a prominent piece of evidence used by talk-show host Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
and his supporters in a 2009 attempt to discredit President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's appointee's fitness for the position. Several public officials eventually called for Jones' resignation, which he delivered on September 5, 2009.