Chinese Newspapers in San Francisco

Sing Tao Daily

Sing Tao Daily is the largest Chinese newspaper in San Francisco. As the Chinese residents in San Francisco are predominately early Cantonese immigrants from southern China, and that most of Sing Tao Daily's readership is Cantonese speaking Chinese Americans, Sing Tao Daily remains the largest Chinese newspaper in San Francisco.

In March 2004, Sing Tao Daily purchased China Times that was founded by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of San Francisco in 1924. Until the purchase of China Times, China Times claims to be the longest running Chinese language newspaper in the United States. Sing Tao re-launched the newspaper in March 2004.

In San Francisco, Sing Tao Daily leads its two competitors in circulation and advertisement prices.

Chinese Daily News

(Also known as World Journal)

Chinese Daily News, also known as World Journal, is the second largest Chinese newspaper in San Francisco. Published by the Taiwanese United Daily News Group, the newspaper prints between 64 to 128 pages daily in traditional Chinese characters.

The China Press

The China Press is the third largest subscription based Chinese newspaper in San Francisco. Most of the China Press's readership is recent immigrants from Mainland China. A relatively young Chinese newspaper in San Francisco, it focuses its news content to those of Mainland China. Thus, it is considered a pro-Chinese government newspaper in San Francisco.

Statistics from "Newspaper war in the Bay Area" by Vanessa Hua of the San Francisco Chronicle published on August 3, 2004

Sing Tao Daily

Circulation: 130,000
History: Founded in 1938 in Hong Kong by Aw Boon Haw, who made his fortune in medicinal rub Tiger Balm. The newspaper opened its first international office in San Francisco in 1975. The newspaper is now part of the Global China Group, whose Chairman Charles Ho hails from a wealthy Shanghai family that fled to Hong Kong after the Communist revolution. The entrepreneur has since cultivated contacts on the mainland. Its editorial stand is ambiguous in issues related to China, Taiwan, the United States and Hong Kong.
Reader Demographic: Immigrants from Hong Kong and mainland China

China Times

Circulation: 30,000
History: Founded in 1924 in San Francisco, by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, it claims to be the longest running Chinese language newspaper in the United States. Purchased by Sing Tao and re-launched in March 2004. News focused on Chinatown family associations and other local events.
Reader Demographic: Old-timers in San Francisco's Chinatown

World Journal

Circulation: 65,000
History: Owner T.W. Wang, who died in 1996, was a longtime Kuomintang, or Nationalist powerhouse in Taiwan. U.S. edition started in 1976, as part of Taiwan's United Daily News Group, a global media conglomerate founded in 1951.
Reader demographic: Taiwan and mainland China

China Press

Circulation: Not available
History: Founded in 1990 in New York, its San Francisco office two years later. Has news and commentaries from mainland China with minimal local Chinese American news.