Rochester Patriot Records

The Rochester Patriot operated from 1973 to 1982 as an alternative newspaper in Rochester, New York. Starting in February 1973, the newspaper took an aggressive, muckraking stance on consumer affairs, politics and other issues of the day. The paper ran 191 issues, relying on small business advertisements and a limited subscriber basis of 700 people to survive. With only four paid employees, the newspaper relied on a large volunteer group (totalling 320 by the time of its demise) in order to operate. From their office was in the basement of the Hochstein School of Music at 50 N. Plymouth Avenue, the Patriot appears to have frustrated many in Rochester, attacking such community mainstays as the Gannett newspapers, Eastman Kodak and Rochester Gas & Electric. However, they also carried out some important investigative work, including a July 1975 article that played a major role in breaking the Rely tampon toxic shock scandal. The final issue of the Rochester Patriot appeared on April 6, 1982, and the remnants of the newspaper were absorbed by Rochester's City newspaper, another alternative publication.