The Mercury News
A Silicon Valley daily covering the Bay Area, technology and business.
The Mercury News at a glance
The Mercury News is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #413 in the country. It was founded in 1851 by Not publicly disclosed and is headquartered in San Jose, CA, USA. Today The Mercury News is owned by Alden Global Capital (MediaNews Group). Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 25 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through subscriptions, digital advertising. Its closest rivals include sfchronicle.com, sfgate.com, latimes.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 23.5 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 24.3 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 25 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 26.5 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct37%
- Organic search34%
- Social18%
- News aggregators8%
- Email3%
Audience & demographics
- Men55%
- Women45%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
- Age 25-3422%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 7.5 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| the mercury news | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| breaking news | Top 10 | High | — |
| today's headlines | Top 10 | High | — |
| live coverage | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 79% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading news & media apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- mercurynews.com
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- Alden Global Capital (MediaNews Group)
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Not publicly disclosed
- Founded
- 1851
- Headquarters
- San Jose, CA, USA
- Employees
- 200+
- Ownership
- Alden Global Capital (MediaNews Group) controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $100 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $100 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
The Mercury News operates a news and media publisher focused on United States. A Silicon Valley daily covering the Bay Area, technology and business. Revenue comes mainly from subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Subscriptions
- Digital advertising
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #413 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in United States
- Global rank
- 3500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| sfchronicle.com | ≈ 15 million / month | #414 class competitor | — |
| sfgate.com | ≈ 11.2 million / month | #415 class competitor | — |
| latimes.com | ≈ 7.5 million / month | #416 class competitor | — |
What is The Mercury News?
The Mercury News (mercurynews.com) is a news and media publisher serving users in United States. A Silicon Valley daily covering the Bay Area, technology and business. It ranks #413 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns The Mercury News?
The site is operated by Alden Global Capital (MediaNews Group), founded by Not publicly disclosed. The company was established in 1851 and is headquartered in San Jose, CA, USA. It employs around 200+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place The Mercury News at roughly 25 million visits per month, about 0.8 million per day. Around 79% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 3.1 pages per visit with an average session of 3 min.
How The Mercury News makes money
Revenue comes primarily from subscriptions, alongside digital advertising.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include sfchronicle.com, sfgate.com, latimes.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1851
The Mercury News is founded in San Jose, CA, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #413 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad daily news coverage with national reach
- Fast breaking-news publishing
- Free access to most articles
- Strong presence in search and social
Cons
- Heavy advertising load on article pages
- Editorial line criticised by parts of the audience
- Clickbait headlines on high-traffic sections
- Paywall limits on premium content
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns The Mercury News?
The Mercury News is operated by Alden Global Capital (MediaNews Group). Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is The Mercury News headquartered?
The Mercury News is headquartered in San Jose, CA, USA.
When was The Mercury News founded?
The Mercury News was founded in 1851 by Not publicly disclosed.
How many employees does The Mercury News have?
The Mercury News employs approximately 200+ people.
What is The Mercury News's revenue?
The Mercury News's revenue: ≈ $100 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are The Mercury News's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include sfchronicle.com, sfgate.com, latimes.com.
How does The Mercury News make money?
Mainly subscriptions, digital advertising.
Is The Mercury News publicly traded?
No — The Mercury News is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Alden Global Capital (MediaNews Group).
How many visitors does The Mercury News get?
Third-party estimates place The Mercury News at roughly 25 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is The Mercury News safe?
The Mercury News is an established news & media site founded in 1851 and ranked #413 in United States; use the official domain mercurynews.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsmercurynews.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos