San Francisco — September 28, 2004 — Beginning with the issue on stands Sept. 22, 2004, the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s classifieds offer free advertising for non-commercial advertisers. This change has been made in an attempt to make the classifieds section a more valuable resource to readers and advertisers, and to continue to be competitive in a shifting classified market.

Concurrent with the free private party initiative, the Guardian has begun updating its online classifieds every day. Ads placed with a classified rep will appear on the Web site within 24 hours and then in the following Wednesday’s print edition. Because of the redesign of our Web site and the upcoming election season, the Web site’s page-views jumped to 1,250,000 a month this summer, making it an increasingly important vehicle for the Guardian and reinforcing its importance as an alternative voice in local and national politics.

The Bay Guardian, which celebrates its 38th anniversary on Oct. 20, 2004, has a readership of 645,960 (four-week cumulative, 2001 Scarborough Research), making it the nation’s largest independently owned alternative weekly. Visit the recently redesigned www.sfbg.com for the current issue and web exclusives.

Please contact Bruce Wallace at (415) 487-2534 or BruceW@sfbg.com for more information.