[3] Subscribers include media organizations in the Bay Area.
[2][3] Richard Fogel (1923–2009),[4] one of the three founders, helped craft principles of the Freedom of Information Act.
He also served as chairman of the National Freedom of Information Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists.
[6] In March 2018, journalist Katherine Ann Rowlands purchased all shares of Bay City News, becoming the wire service's sole owner and publisher.
[3] Rowlands adopted a "hybrid" business model for BCN; as a companion to the for-profit wire service, she created a nonprofit journalism organization, the Bay City News Foundation (funded by philanthropic contributions) which runs LocalNewsMatters.org, which provides free news for readers.