NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Wall Street Journal today announced it will launch a San Francisco Bay Area edition focusing on local news and events, beginning tomorrow, Nov. 5, and appearing locally every Thursday in the A-section of the print Journal. In addition, WSJ.com will provide regularly updated local news and information at WSJ.com/SF.

NASDAQ OMX is the official launch sponsor of the new San Francisco Bay Area edition beginning Nov. 5 through the end of 2009.

"NASDAQ OMX is delighted to be an advertising partner in the new WSJ Bay Area edition. The Bay Area and Silicon Valley are key markets where NASDAQ and our listed companies have made a strong mark since NASDAQ's inception nearly 40 years ago. With over 550 companies listed on NASDAQ OMX based in California, Northern California is home to some of NASDAQ's most innovative companies from a number of key sectors including technology, healthcare/biotech, financial and consumer. Within the tech sector, 88% of public technology companies in California list on NASDAQ," said John Jacobs, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of NASDAQ OMX. "We look forward to reading the WSJ's Bay edition regularly and hearing about key business trends and innovations coming from this vibrant, progressive region in our country."

The Journal will offer unique insight to a wide range of topics of interest to local readers in the San Francisco Bay Area, including local business news, economics, technology, cultural activities, sports, politics and education issues.

"The new San Francisco Bay Area edition is a great addition to the wide range of U.S. and international coverage we currently provide to Journal readers in the Bay Area," said Michael F. Rooney, chief revenue officer of The Wall Street Journal. "This edition also provides a new platform that helps advertisers target this important audience."

WSJ.com/SF will offer users content from the print edition, surface additional relevant articles from across Dow Jones properties with related video and offer the opportunity for feedback and discussion via Journal Community groups. Additional online elements include a weekly email newsletter each Thursday with links to top headlines and video from that day's local edition.

The Journal has aggressively covered local news in the Bay Area since the opening of its San Francisco bureau in 1929. The bureau currently leads the Journal's coverage of the tech industry and Silicon Valley, California state politics and a wide range of general California news, from housing to economics.