The Salinas Californian, sometimes referred to as The Californian, is a digital and print newspaper published in Salinas, California, covering mainly the Salinas Valley. Founded in 1871 as The Salinas City Index, it went through several name changes and assumed its current name during World War II.[1] The paper is part of the USA Today Network, owned by Gannett, which acquired its parent company Speidel Newspapers Inc., in 1977.[2][3]
History
TheSalinas Californian’s direct precursor The Salinas City Index first published on March 31. 1871.[4] It changed its name into Salinas Weekly Index in 1883.[5]
As Salinas went through a period of agricultural and financial expansion in the years between 1860 and 1890, the existence of The Salinas Weekly Index, and two other publications, Salinas Weekly Democrat and Salinas Daily Journal, was seen as evidence that the city was “one of the most modern for its size in the state” in the late 1800s.[6]
The paper changed its name into Salinas Index-Journal in 1928,[7] after merger with The Salinas Daily-Journal[8]. In 1936 the newspaper was bought by Merritt C. Speidel.[2]
In 1942, Salinas Index-Journal merged with Salinas Morning Post. The combined publication was renamed The Salinas Californian[4] in honor of California's first newspaper, The Californian, published in 1848 in Monterey. The paper was renamed The Californian in 1990, but was still referred to as "The" Salinas Californian, and carries the full three-word name on its masthead and logos.
In May 1977, Gannett purchased Speidel Newspapers Inc., and has remained owner of The Salinas Californian ever since.
Publication
The Salinas Californian has issued newspapers from Monday to Saturday since its inception until Sept. 28, 2015. It has never produced a Sunday Edition. It now has a 24-hour, 7-day digital presence and prints newspapers Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday only.[9]
The paper serves Monterey County, California with a specific emphasis on the Salinas Valley. Its delivery area includes the towns of Salinas, Spreckels, Prunedale, Castroville, Chualar, Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, and King City. Daily delivery is also available in Monterey, Marina, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks, and Pacific Grove.[10]
The Salinas Californian also produced El Sol de Salinas, a Spanish-language weekly paper.
Its online edition was launched in September 2000.[11]
As of December 2022, the newspaper had no reporters on staff, with all remaining content sourced from other Gannett newspapers, notably the Record Searchlight in Redding, 300 miles north. El Sol was also shut down due to a lack of content.[12] One reporter was hired on staff in August 2024.[13]
Circulation
In 2015, The Salinas Californian’s circulation stood between 6,000 and 7,000 during the week, slightly higher on Saturdays.[14]
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