FAQ - Salinas Valley Now

What is Salinas Valley Now?

Salinas Valley Now is a digital news site that is a project of Monterey County Now (which also publishes Monterey County Weekly newspaper every Thursday). We publish stories online at salinasvalleynow.com daily, and publish an email newsletter (also available on WhatsApp) every weekday. Stories on Salinas Valley Now are published in English and Spanish. This companion publication to Monterey County Now focuses on the news of the day affecting communities in the Salinas Valley. 

How do I submit a story idea?

We welcome story ideas. Please use our Tipline by clicking here. You can also send us snail mail or drop off documents to Salinas Valley Now, 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955. You can also send us a fax at 831-394-2909. If your story requires follow-up, please be sure to include contact information—we will not publish your contact information. 

For more information on sharing sensitive tips, we recommend you read this guide from the Freedom of the Press Foundation. 

Can I submit an anonymous tip?

Yes, you can submit an anonymous tip by using the Whistleblower section of our Tipline or by sending us snail mail. We encourage you to include your contact information so that a reporter can contact you to follow up with questions and to verify the facts, but your identity will not be shared. 

We make every effort to protect our sources; for more suggestions on sharing secure information, we refer would-be whistleblowers to this guide from the Freedom of the Press Foundation. 

How do I submit a Letter to the Editor?

Please use our Tipline by clicking here. You can also send snail mail to 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955, or email letters@montereycountynow.com. Please keep letters to 150 words or shorter. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

How do I submit an event for the Arts & Entertainment Calendar? Is there a cost?

You can post your event to the online calendar by clicking here, and creating an account with our partner CitySpark. Event listings submitted here will be posted for free on our website, and considered for inclusion in our daily email newsletter, Monterey County Now, and our weekly print Hot Picks calendar. 

You can also tell us about upcoming events by emailing calendar@montereycountynow.com, faxing us at 831-394-2909 or snail-mailing us at Monterey County Weekly c/o Calendar, 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955. There is no fee to submit your listing. (You may choose to pay to promote a listing.)

How do I submit a PSA?

You can use our Tipline, or send an email to publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com for consideration for our weekly Public Citizen column. We also invite you to post your PSA to our digital Calendar of Events (see question above for more detail on how to post events to our digital calendar).

How can I comment on stories on Salinas Valley Now?

You can comment by submitting a Letter to the Editor (see guidelines above), posting a comment on our website, or on any of our social media platforms. Salinas Valley Now (and Monterey County Now) encourage discussion and welcomes different points of view, and we aim to create a space for community discussion. Our comment policy includes guidelines to advance a meaningful space for discussion; comments that do not abide by this policy will be removed.

How can I get my photograph published in the newsletter?

We publish reader-submitted photographers in our ETC. section daily. You can submit photos (horizontal, please) using our Tipline, or by sending an email to etcphoto@montereycounty.com. Please include caption information about where and when the photo was taken and the camera you used. 

If I advertise, do I automatically get a story written about my business?

No. Salinas Valley Now/Monterey County Now do not sell stories, and advertising does not ensure you will receive any editorial coverage for your event or business. The best way to get your message out your way is through paid advertising. We offer advertising to fit just about any advertising investment budget. Please contact our advertising department for more information at 831-394-5656. For more information on advertising, click here.

Does Salinas Valley Now offer internships?

Salinas Valley Now does not currently offer internships. 

Can I write for you?

Our team works with freelance writers on occasion. Feel free to pitch us stories by contacting an editor or using our Tipline. When we are recruiting freelancers or hiring for an open position, we will post a listing in our online jobs section and the Classifieds section of the print edition of Monterey County Weekly.

Does Salinas Valley Now offer media sponsorships?

We support our local community and the many worthy local programs and events by offering discounted advertising packages for most organizations and events. Call our sales team today at 831-394-5656 for more information.

What is your AI policy? 

Our stories are written and edited by humans. For more information, read our AI Policy here. 

Can I reprint a story or photo from the Weekly?

You may not republish any content from Salinas Valley Now on any platform without our written permission. We take our copyright very seriously.

If you wish to republish a story or photo, it requires a license granted by us. The terms of a license and potential fees will be based upon your specific use and size of your audience. In general, we do not license our journalistic content for commercial purposes. If you want to republish a story or photo in a news outlet, book or for any other purpose, please ask the editor, reachable at 831-394-5656, or email editor@montereycountynow.com.