Editor & Publisher magazine, the newspaper industry’s leading journal, has recognized the Santa Barbara Independent as one of 10 newspapers of note, in their annual, 10 That Do It Right feature (July, 2008 issue).
The Independent is the only California newspaper in the list, which showcases newspapers in the United States who are “performing in one particular aspect – from marketing to online video – that merits consideration and maybe even emulation by their peers.”
Editor & Publisher noted the July, 2006 exodus of top editorial talent at the Santa Barbara News-Press “handed The Independent the kind of juicy media story rare in small markets” and the “rest of the newspaper industry came to see the paper as an indispensable source of information as the News-Press newsroom seemed to be imploding.” The turmoil has also strengthened the weekly’s editorial and circulation position as #1 in their community.
In addition to picking up many of the daily’s best writers, The Independent‘s website-independent.com-was also the recipient of Best Weekly-Affiliated Website in the 2008 EPpy awards, sponsored by MediaWeek and Editor & Publisher magazines.