Oklahoma Gazette

Oklahoma Gazette
Name	Oklahoma Gazette
Type	Alternative weekly
Format	Tabloid
Foundation	1979
Owners	Beacon Communications?
Publisher	Beacon Communications?
Language	English
Headquarters	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Gazette Oklahoma Gazette is an alternative weekly newspaper based in Oklahoma City, serving the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and covering local Oklahoma City Council, Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma County news, arts, culture, dining, and entertainment. Founded in the late 1970s, the paper has reported on municipal politics including interactions with figures such as Mick Cornett and Elizabeth Warren-era national issues, regional arts institutions like the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Civic Center Music Hall, and events tied to the State Fair of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

History

The paper was established amid the alternative press movement that included publications like The Village Voice, LA Weekly, The Austin Chronicle, The Riverfront Times, and Phoenix New Times during the post-1970s expansion of weeklies. Early coverage intersected with local developments such as the Urban Renewal (Oklahoma City), the redevelopment of Bricktown (Oklahoma City), and the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing affecting institutions like the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and civic responses led by figures including Mayor Ron Norick and Mayor Mick Cornett. Over decades the Gazette covered issues connected to the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the Oklahoma Attorney General, and statewide politics involving leaders like Brad Henry, Mary Fallin, Kevin Stitt, and legislative sessions at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Publication and Distribution

Published weekly in a tabloid format similar to publications such as The Chicago Reader and East Bay Express, the paper distributes print copies across neighborhoods from Bricktown to The Paseo Arts District, and to surrounding suburbs including Midwest City, Yukon, Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma and Moore, Oklahoma. Distribution points often include venues associated with Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City Community College, music venues like Tower Theatre (Oklahoma City), and performance spaces such as Lyric Theatre (Oklahoma City). The Gazette has also maintained an online presence covering live music calendars for venues like The Jones Assembly and reporting on festivals such as Festival of the Arts (Oklahoma City), Red Earth Festival, and Arts Festival Oklahoma City.

Editorial Content and Sections

Editorially the paper blends news coverage, investigative reporting, arts criticism, and lifestyle features. Regular sections mirror those found in alternative weeklies such as local politics coverage of the Oklahoma City Council and state actors like the Oklahoma Legislature, arts reporting on institutions like the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, restaurant reviews referencing chefs at establishments near Western Avenue, and entertainment listings for performers at The Criterion (Oklahoma City) and touring acts appearing at the Paycom Center. Contributors have profiled cultural figures and institutions including Ellen DeGeneres-era media influences, regional musicians associated with The Flaming Lips, authors connected to T. C. Boyle-style literary scenes, and chefs from eateries in Film Row District.

Circulation and Readership

The Gazette’s readership spans students from University of Central Oklahoma, patrons of venues like Blue Note, workers at local corporations such as Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy Corporation (legacy), and audiences attending events hosted by Oklahoma City National Memorial and Oklahoma City Zoo. Circulation has fluctuated with trends affecting print media exemplified by shifts experienced by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and regional papers like the Tulsa World. Demographics include urban professionals, arts patrons, students from Oklahoma City University School of Law, and tourists visiting attractions like Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Ownership and Management

Over time the paper’s ownership and management have interacted with broader media groups comparable to entities such as Gannett, GateHouse Media, and independent owners common among alternative weeklies including those who previously ran publications like The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Management has needed to coordinate with municipal institutions like the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce for advertising partnerships, while editorial leadership has engaged with journalism networks tied to organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists and the Investigative Reporters and Editors association.

Awards and Recognition

The Gazette and its writers have been recognized in regional and national contexts similar to awards given by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, the Pulitzer Prize-winning ecosystem that highlights investigative journalism standards, and state-level journalism competitions administered by the Oklahoma Press Association. Coverage of arts and culture has paralleled reporting that earned accolades for outlets like Los Angeles Times (Calendar Section), and restaurant criticism has been compared to award-winning reviewers associated with the James Beard Foundation.

Controversies and Criticism

As with many alternative weeklies, the paper has faced disputes over editorial decisions, advertising policies, and coverage of contentious local issues involving entities such as the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and political controversies linked to figures like Governor Kevin Stitt and legislative debates at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Critics have compared conflicts to controversies experienced by outlets such as Village Voice and New Times Inc. involving newsroom management, advertiser influence, and community reactions to coverage of social movements like Black Lives Matter and local development projects connected to MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects).

Category:Newspapers published in Oklahoma