About - North Coast Journal

The North Coast Journal of Politics, People and Art is published by North Coast Journal Inc., a media company of news and entertainment websites, a comprehensive online calendar of events, and a family of specialized periodicals.

The Journal is a free, weekly news magazine and website about politics, business, life and leisure in Humboldt County, California. In the print edition of the Journal, you’ll find a weekly calendar, articles about arts, music and personalities, and compelling stories about what makes Humboldt tick, from its centers of power to the people living on its fringes.

THE NORTH COAST JOURNAL
Weekly of Politics, People & Art
Humboldt County, California, USA
ISSN 1099-7571
509 J St., Suite 11, Eureka CA 95501
PO Box 1346, Eureka CA 95502
Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Phone (707) 442-1400

Owner/Publisher Melissa Sanderson

We accept all legitimate correspondence in the course of doing business with our readers, clients and contractors. However, we do not accept unsolicited mail or email (junk mail, junk email or spam).

Ethics & Corrections Policy

Effective: July 2026

North Coast Journal, Inc. is committed to producing accurate, fair, independent and transparent journalism that serves the public interest. Our publications, including the North Coast Journal and Ferndale Enterprise, strive to provide readers with reliable information while treating the people and communities we cover with fairness and respect.

Guiding Principles: We are committed to providing and building:

Great journalism. The Journal is committed to the highest quality of journalism, meaning reporting and writing stories that are factual, accurate, nonpartisan – and when possible, in-depth and investigative. We write for an open-minded, intelligent and active community of readers underserved by other media. We seek to engage readers by offering stories, essays, opinion, news reporting and cultural criticism about the place they live, its people and its issues, and to do so in a way that is challenging and entertaining. Through our news website and magazine, we seek to serve as the place where the county debates and discusses its political and cultural life, and its future.
Exceptional arts/entertainment/culture coverage. The Journal seeks to produce the most comprehensive “what’s happening” guide on the North Coast with a strong commitment to the arts in all its forms, to entertainment, and to the enjoyment of life.
Great Service. To our readers, we promise the highest degree of accuracy and fairness. To our advertisers, we promise our best effort in creating exciting, dynamic ads that work to help businesses achieve their goals.
Great Value. To our readers, we promise to keep the news magazine free and readily available and to keep the website current and comprehensive. To our advertisers, we promise to provide strong circulation and competitive pricing.
Financial Stability and Profit. Long-term financial stability and profits are mandatory for any business. We are committed to achieving a healthy net profit annually and to reinvest a portion of those profits in equipment and staff to improve our products.
A Great Place to Work. Journal employees are hard working, creative and committed to the guiding principles of the company. The company supports the health and well being of its employees in the following ways:
- By paying wages and benefits at or above other private companies in the area whenever possible,
- By being family-friendly, no matter how family is defined.
Continual Improvement. The Journal is committed to minimizing errors in everything we do from bookkeeping and advertising, to reporting. When errors occur, they are acknowledged and corrected, and every effort is made to avoid repeats.
Active Participation in the Community. The Journal supports the efforts of all local nonprofits in the work they do by providing advertising space at our lowest rate and by volunteering staff time to create effective advertising. Annually, we support several family service and educational nonprofits. The Journal partners with nonprofits to sponsor county cultural events

Accuracy

Accuracy is our highest editorial priority. Journalists are expected to verify information before publication and to make a reasonable effort to confirm names, dates, locations, statistics, quotations and other significant facts.

When reporting on allegations, disputes or controversial issues, we seek information from relevant parties and provide individuals or organizations with a reasonable opportunity to respond.

We distinguish news reporting from opinion, advertising and sponsored content. Advertising does not determine our editorial coverage, and advertisers do not receive preferential treatment in news stories.

Sources and Attribution

We identify sources whenever possible and clearly attribute information obtained from public records, documents, interviews, other news organizations or outside sources.

Anonymous sources may be used when the information is important to the public and the source has a legitimate reason to request anonymity. Editors should be involved in decisions to grant anonymity, and anonymous information should be independently verified whenever possible.

We do not knowingly publish fabricated information, misleading quotations or material that has been materially altered in a way that changes its meaning.

Corrections

We take responsibility for our mistakes.

When we discover that a published story contains a factual error, we will correct it as promptly as reasonably possible. Corrections will be made in the original digital story when appropriate, with a clear explanation of the correction. Significant errors in print will be addressed in a subsequent issue or through another appropriate public notice.

We distinguish between factual corrections and ordinary updates, clarifications or additions of information that became available after publication.

Readers who believe we have published an error are encouraged to contact us. Correction requests will be reviewed by editorial staff, and appropriate corrections will be made when the facts support them.

Transparency

We believe readers should understand how our journalism is produced. When appropriate, we disclose relevant information about sources, methodology, data, conflicts of interest and other circumstances that could affect a reader’s understanding of a story.

We will clearly label opinion, commentary, sponsored material, advertising and other content that is not independently produced as news reporting.

When we use photographs, video, data or other material supplied by outside sources, we will provide appropriate attribution.

Conflicts of Interest

Our journalists and editors should avoid personal, financial or professional relationships that could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, their independence.

Staff members should disclose potential conflicts to an editor or publisher. When a conflict cannot reasonably be avoided, we may disclose the conflict to readers or assign the story to another journalist.

Journalists should not accept gifts, favors, payments or other benefits that could influence, or appear to influence, their reporting.

AI and Other Technology

North Coast Journal, Inc. may use technology, including artificial intelligence tools, to assist with certain administrative, research or production tasks. However, technology does not replace editorial responsibility.

Journalists and editors remain responsible for verifying information before publication. AI-generated information will not be treated as a reliable source without independent verification. We will not knowingly publish fabricated quotations, facts or sources generated by artificial intelligence.

When AI materially contributes to published content, we may disclose its use when transparency would be relevant to readers.

Fairness and Right of Response

We strive to give people and organizations directly affected by significant allegations or criticism a reasonable opportunity to respond.

We do not promise favorable coverage in exchange for access, advertising, sponsorship or cooperation. Similarly, declining an interview does not guarantee that a person or organization will be excluded from coverage.

Privacy and Harm

We recognize that accurate reporting can sometimes cause harm. Journalists should consider the public interest, relevance and potential consequences when deciding whether to publish sensitive personal information.

We do not publish private information simply because it is available. Personal information should be included when it is relevant to the story and serves a legitimate public-interest purpose.

Reader Feedback and Complaints

We welcome questions, criticism and requests for clarification from readers. Concerns about accuracy or ethics should be directed to the editorial staff or publisher.

Complaints will be considered on their merits. We will review the underlying reporting, available documentation and relevant facts before determining whether a correction, clarification or other response is appropriate.

Commitment to Independence

North Coast Journal, Inc. is locally owned and committed to independent journalism. Our responsibility is to our readers and the communities we serve.

Advertising, sponsorships, business relationships, political pressure, personal relationships and outside interests should not determine our editorial decisions.

Our goal is simple: to provide accurate, independent and useful journalism, acknowledge our mistakes when we make them, and maintain the trust of the communities we serve.

Editorial Department

Press Releases, Editorial Staff and News Tips
newsroom@northcoastjournal.com

Managing Editor, Jennifer Fumiko Cahill
Assistant Editor, Kimberly Wear
Calendar Editor, Kali Cozyris

Letters to the Editor
letters@northcoastjournal.com

Submit letters to the Editor by 10 a.m. Monday.
Letters must comment on something — an article, column, review, letter, etc. — that has been published in a recent print edition of the Journal.
Letters must be signed with the writer’s full name and city of residence. For author verification we also require — but don’t publish — the writer’s mailing address and daytime and evening phone numbers.
Letters cannot exceed 300 words — and fewer is better.
Each letter writer must be reachable by phone or in person. (We do not print any letter without speaking with the writer.)
If the author is being paid to write the letter, (ie, is a consultant or employee of someone who has commissioned the letter), this must be disclosed.

Calendar of Events, A&E and Poetry
calendar@northcoastjournal.com

Submit events to the Calendar by noon Thursday via this form or send press releases via email. Submissions are subject to editors’ approval.

Music
music@northcoastjournal.com

Writing, Poetry and Photography Submissions
Please see our guidelines here.

Print and Digital Display Advertising

Contact the Publisher, Melissa Sanderson, regarding print and digital display advertising. The North Coast Journal is an adjudicated newspaper of general circulation.

Print Advertising space reservation or cancellation is 5 p.m. Friday.
- Submit materials for ads needing design and production by 5 p.m. Friday.
- Return corrected ad proofs or submit press-ready ads (aka “camera-ready” ads) by noon Monday.

Marketplace – Classified Advertising, Legal Notices, and Classes & Workshops
Classified Advertising Manager, Mark Boyd

Advertising space reservation or cancellation is 5 p.m. Friday.
- Submit materials for ads needing design and production by 5 p.m. Friday.
- Return corrected ad proofs or submit press-ready ads (aka “camera-ready” ads) by noon Monday

Looking to get a little ink on your fingers? The North Coast Journal is distributed free at locations throughout Humboldt County.

Mail Subscriptions Rates

Subscribe to get the complete weekly edition of the Journal — including opinion and entertainment columns, classified ads, and letters to the editor. Enjoy the convenience of receiving the Journal by mail. Makes a great gift, too!

$39 for 52 issues, U.S. domestic bulk mail.

Subscribe online at ncjshop.com
Mail your check or money order to:
The North Coast Journal
PO Box 1346
Eureka CA 95502
Or call our office to subscribe over the phone, (707) 442-1400 ext. 101.
Call or e-mail for international rates.

We accept Visa and MasterCard. The subscription must be in the name of the cardholder. For your security, do not email your credit card information.

Back Issues

Limited availability. Back issues are free if picked up at our office. Mailed: $2.50 per single copy by U.S. domestic first class mail.Please e-mail or call (707) 442-1400 ext. 101 (Visa/MasterCard accepted).

Contact the office to inquire about PDFs of back issues or specific articles.

Newsletters

NCJ also publishes weekly news and entertainment email newsletters. We value your readership and will never spam you or sell your information to a third party. Sign up to stay informed of the latest developments and we’ll drop them right into your inbox.

Thank you for reading the North Coast Journal!

Ethics & Corrections Policy

Editorial Department

Print and Digital Display Advertising

Production Department

Billing and Bookkeeping

Social Media

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