Watsonville Register-Pajaronian
Encyclopedia
The Register-Pajaronian is a newspaper based in Watsonville, California
in Santa Cruz County
on California
's Central Coast
, published by the News Media Corporation. The Register-Pajaronian is published three days per week, but was for many years a daily paper. The newspaper has a circulation of 6,000 and covers the Watsonville City Council, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District
and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. The newspaper's coverage area includes the cities of Aptos, Corralitos, Watsonville, Pajaro, Aromas and most of North Monterey County. David Carkhuff is the managing editor of the Register-Pajaronian, which is owned by Illinois-based News Media Corporation.
The newspaper's roots trace back to 1868 when the Pajaronian was first published by J.A. Cottle. In 1894, a competing weekly newspaper owned by George W. Peckham began publishing daily and changed its name to the Register. In 1919, the Register was purchased by future Watsonville mayor Fred W. Atkinson, who then purchased the Pajaronian in 1930. After his death the two papers were purchased by the Scripps
syndicate and consolidated into the Register-Pajaronian in 1940.
In 1956 the Register-Pajaronian won the Pulitzer Prize
for an investigative series by photographer Sam Vestal, working under the leadership of its longtime editor Frank Orr and with assistance of Watsonville Police Chief Frank Osmer. These revelations led to the resignation of Santa Cruz County District Attorney Charles Moore, and the arrest and conviction of one of his associates.
Scripps
sold the Register-Pajaronian to News Media in 1995.
In 2003, articles by reporter Dave M. Brooks led to the ousting of Watsonville Mayor Richard de La Paz for his involvement in a bar room brawl. Months later, Brooks helped unravel the local chapter of the Latino Chamber of Commerce after his reporting revealed that chamber president Luis de la Cruz had been embezzling money from the group. De la Cruz was later sentenced to six months in jail.
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
on California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Central Coast
Central Coast of California
The Central Coast is an area of California, United States, roughly spanning the area between the Monterey Bay and Point Conception. It extends through Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County...
, published by the News Media Corporation. The Register-Pajaronian is published three days per week, but was for many years a daily paper. The newspaper has a circulation of 6,000 and covers the Watsonville City Council, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Pajaro Valley Unified School District is a school district based in Watsonville, California, USA. The Superintendent is Dorma Baker. The District is overseen by a seven members of the Board of Trustees that meets an average of twice a month....
and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. The newspaper's coverage area includes the cities of Aptos, Corralitos, Watsonville, Pajaro, Aromas and most of North Monterey County. David Carkhuff is the managing editor of the Register-Pajaronian, which is owned by Illinois-based News Media Corporation.
The newspaper's roots trace back to 1868 when the Pajaronian was first published by J.A. Cottle. In 1894, a competing weekly newspaper owned by George W. Peckham began publishing daily and changed its name to the Register. In 1919, the Register was purchased by future Watsonville mayor Fred W. Atkinson, who then purchased the Pajaronian in 1930. After his death the two papers were purchased by the Scripps
John P. Scripps Newspaper Group
John P. Scripps Newspapers was an American newspaper chain founded by John P. Scripps, a grandson of E.W. Scripps, in 1928, and headquartered in San Diego. Its newspapers were concentrated in the western United States. The E. W. Scripps Company bought John P...
syndicate and consolidated into the Register-Pajaronian in 1940.
In 1956 the Register-Pajaronian won the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for an investigative series by photographer Sam Vestal, working under the leadership of its longtime editor Frank Orr and with assistance of Watsonville Police Chief Frank Osmer. These revelations led to the resignation of Santa Cruz County District Attorney Charles Moore, and the arrest and conviction of one of his associates.
Scripps
E. W. Scripps Company
The E. W. Scripps Company is an American media conglomerate founded by Edward W. Scripps on November 2, 1878. The company is headquartered inside the Scripps Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its corporate motto is "Give light and the people will find their own way."On October 16, 2007, the company...
sold the Register-Pajaronian to News Media in 1995.
In 2003, articles by reporter Dave M. Brooks led to the ousting of Watsonville Mayor Richard de La Paz for his involvement in a bar room brawl. Months later, Brooks helped unravel the local chapter of the Latino Chamber of Commerce after his reporting revealed that chamber president Luis de la Cruz had been embezzling money from the group. De la Cruz was later sentenced to six months in jail.