The Ramona Home Journal and Julian Home Journal were established in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Up until 2020 both publications competed for news stories in the communities of Ramona and Julian with the local newspaper, the San Diego Union Tribune affiliated Ramona Sentinel.

 

In March of 2020 the business was purchased by Michael Raher, a 20 year Ramona resident and publishing industry veteran. Within two weeks of purchasing the business the pandemic hit and a new opportunity presented itself. While the local, regional and national media focused on the doom and gloom of Covid-19 deaths and business shutdowns, Raher turned both Journal publications into a beacon of light for the communities of Ramona and Julian. He highlighted people who were going above and beyond serving their respective communities, shared information on what businesses were open, who had reduced hours and what restaurants had no contact pickups and deliveries.

 

The new mission became "to shine light on all that is good in the Ramona, Julian and backcountry communities - from the people to the places, from the nonprofits to the small businesses, from the stellar students to the star athletes...and everything in between." 

 

He also made a pledge to give away 10% of the advertising revenue to local nonprofits in the form of free advertising.

​