{{short description|Weekly newspaper in Santa Maria, CA, US}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Santa Maria Sun | caption = | type = Alternative weekly | format = Broadsheet | founded = {{Start date|2000}} | owners = News Time Media Group | editor = Camillia Lanham | circulation = 12,000 | circulation_date = 2023 | headquarters = Santa Maria, California | website = {{URL|santamariasun.com}} | founder = Steve Moss | publisher = | language = English | circulation_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=NTMG Media Kit 2023 by New Times, San Luis Obispo - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/ntmg/docs/2023-ntmg-media-kit |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref> | sister_newspapers = ''New Times'' }} The '''''Santa Maria Sun''''' is an American free weekly newspaper that serves Santa Maria, California and Santa Barbara County.<ref name=":anr">{{Cite web|url=http://gotoanr.com/documents/database/california.pdf|title=Research Newspapers by State: California|last=Stevenson|first=Paula|website=gotoanr.com|publisher=American Newspaper Representatives|language=en|access-date=21 October 2018}}</ref> Edited by Camillia Lanham,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usnpl.com/addr/aaddressresult.php?id=380|title=Santa Maria Sun|website=USNPL|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref> it is published on Thursdays.<ref name=":anr" />
== History ==
In 2000, Steve Moss, owner of the ''New Times San Luis Obispo'', founded the ''Santa Maria Sun''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nelson |first=Ashley |date=January 12, 2000 |title=New paper in Santa Maria announced {{!}} Publisher of New Times Plans Free Weekly |work=The Tribune |location=San Luis Obispo, California |pages=21}}</ref>
In 2001, Lompoc, California Economic Development Committee member Justin Ruhge contributed a controversial editorial to the Nov. 16 issue. It stated that "Muslims are out to destroy our world."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24730392/panelist_faces_ouster_over_antimuslim/|title=Panelist Faces Ouster Over Anti-Muslim Letter|date=November 24, 2001|work=The Los Angeles Times|pages=40|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
In 2005, Moss died.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24730223/steve_moss_56_started_two_weekly/|title=Steve Moss, 56: Started Two Weekly Papers and 55-Word Short Story Contest|date=May 17, 2005|work=The Los Angeles Times|last=Nelson|first=Valerie|pages=53|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> For fifteen years, Ryan Miller edited the ''Sun.<ref name=":0" />'' During the 2005 Michael Jackson trial in Santa Maria, Miller provided local commentary for national and international news outlets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4695863|title=Santa Maria: More than the Michael Jackson trial|last=Inskeep|first=Steve|date=June 9, 2005|work=NPR Morning Edition|access-date=May 16, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jan/31/usa.michaeljacksontrial|title=About a boy|last=Glaister|first=Dan|date=January 31, 2005|work=The Guardian|access-date=May 16, 2026}}</ref> Miller left ''the Sun'' in 2015.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://calcoastnews.com/2015/04/new-times-staff-riddled-by-departures/|title=New Times’ staff riddled by departures|last=Blackburn|first=Daniel|date=17 April 2015|work=Cal Coast News|access-date=May 16, 2026}}</ref>
==Awards==
In 2013, the ''Sun'' won an award for its investigation of a corrections officer's death at the Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc. The ''Sun'' uncovered a pattern of administrative malfeasance and abuse that may have contributed to the death of two corrections officers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nnaweb.org/article?articleId=630|title=‘We have got to be the people’s eyes, ears, and the squeaky wheel with our voices’|last=Saylor|first=Teri|date=10 September 2013|work=NNA News|publisher=National Newspaper Association}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Weekly newspapers published in California Category:Santa Barbara County, California Category:Newspapers established in 2000 Category:2000 establishments in California