The first reporter for the new Salinas Valley Now welcomes your story ideas.

I'm Royvi Hernandez, the newest team member to work alongside the incredible team of journalists for Monterey County Now and Monterey County Weekly. 

No pressure for me at all, being the first reporter for the new Salinas Valley Now digital outlet, an expansion project of Monterey County Now that launched on May 11 and has stories published in both English and Spanish. The goal is to drive more attention to the City of Salinas and the rest of the Salinas Valley. I hope to connect with the Latino community, to give them an ear that will hear them and share their experiences. 

I am new to living in Monterey County, but I have explored the Peninsula cities and areas before like many tourists, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Bixby Bridge, the Carmel Mission Basilica, Carmel Valley, beautiful beaches and so much more. I am new to exploring South Monterey County. Through this opportunity, I am getting a bigger picture of what these cities have to offer and plan to give their community a platform that brings light into their neighborhoods that isn’t necessarily being covered. 

I come from the Bay Area, specifically Contra Costa County. I was born in Alameda, California, which many tend to forget is an island since it’s right next to Oakland. So I can say I was born on an island. But I was raised all throughout Contra Costa County from Concord, Pleasant Hill to Bay Point.

Both my parents were born in El Salvador, and my father came to the United States at a young age with his family, due to the civil war happening in El Salvador during the ’70s and ’80s. My mother came to the States in her late 20s. They have formed careers in tech and business. 

I studied journalism and received my bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University, where I was staff writer, editor and DJ for the school's daily paper, Spartan Daily. I am never satisfied and decided to pursue a master's degree and attended UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. There I specialized in audio storytelling and photography.

I have been part of both print and audio publications throughout the Bay Area and Sonoma County. I have also done some freelancing for outlets in Central and South America covering countries including El Salvador and Colombia. 

I am always in curiosity mode seeking stories. When I’m not writing, editing, pitching stories or interviewing people, I am listening to music from all genres, creating music or traveling or exploring in nature. 

I hope to connect with readers of both Monterey County Weekly and Salinas Valley Now. 

If there are news stories to cover, reach out to me. Plus, if there are any new music artists in the county, don't hesitate to get in contact as I will be more than excited to listen to your music!