The San Francisco County Board of Supervisors convened on July 4, 2025, to discuss the designation of official and outreach advertising periodicals for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-2024. The meeting focused on ensuring adequate representation for various communities within the city.

The first item on the agenda involved a resolution designating several periodicals to serve as outreach community publications. Bar Media Inc., doing business as the Bay Area Reporter, was selected as the outreach periodical for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, as well as for the Castro, Noe Valley, and Dubose Triangle neighborhoods. The Wind newspaper was designated for the Chinese community and the Chinatown neighborhood, while Hakseon Latina, operating as El Tecolote, was chosen for the Mission neighborhood. Sullivan Communications, known as the San Francisco Bay Times, was appointed for the Castro neighborhood, and Hearst Communications Inc., through the San Francisco Chronicle, was designated for all underrepresented communities across the city.

The second item addressed the official advertising periodical, with Clinton Riley Communications, doing business as the San Francisco Examiner, being recommended as the sole responsive bidder for this role. The Office of Contract Administration (OCA) outlined the selection process, which adheres to administrative code requirements mandating that the official newspaper must be printed in San Francisco at least three times a week and have a circulation of at least 50,000 copies annually.

During the discussion, it was noted that while the OCA received multiple proposals for outreach periodicals, some communities, specifically the African American and Hispanic communities, were left unrepresented due to nonresponsive bids. The board emphasized the importance of ensuring that all neighborhoods are adequately covered and discussed potential amendments to include additional periodicals that could serve these communities.

Supervisors raised concerns about the limitations of print-only outreach, suggesting that the city may need to revisit its advertising strategies to include digital platforms, given the declining prevalence of print newspapers. The meeting concluded with a motion to amend the resolution to include additional neighborhoods for the designated periodicals, ensuring broader outreach and representation for the diverse communities within San Francisco.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the ongoing efforts to enhance community engagement through targeted outreach while addressing the challenges posed by the current media landscape. The board's commitment to inclusivity and representation remains a priority as they navigate the complexities of community needs and media availability.