FAQ for Mendocino Voice freelancers (updated 4.20.25)
The Mendocino Voice and its parent nonprofit, Bay City News Foundation, are looking for freelance writers to contribute to MendoVoice.com in Mendocino County on a broad range of topics. While some professional writing experience is preferred, we also work with emerging journalists and students with strong writing skills and story ideas.
Who we are
Bay City News Foundation was started in 2018 and publishes free news sites at MendoVoice.com and LocalNewsMatters.org, focused on public service journalism to make sure the people, places and issues that deserve more attention get it. We are affiliated with Bay City News, a regional newswire for the greater Bay Area and Northern California that provides 24/7 coverage to many media organizations, which then republish articles on their platforms. We cover 13 counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Solano and Mendocino. The combination of original enterprise reporting, breaking news and a powerful distribution network means we are of tremendous value to the community, especially now with so much urgent news.
You can read about our mission at BayCityNews.org and see our work at MendoVoice.com and LocalNewsMatters.org. Also, check us out on Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, Threads and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletters.
Where your work is published
Most (but not all) stories will be published on a free consumer-facing site, MendoVoice.com, and frequently cross-published on LocalNewsMatters.org and the subscriber-only BCN newswire used by other media in the greater Bay Area, BayCityNews.com. They will be bylined Your Name, Bay City News. Bay City News holds the copyright.
Whom to pitch
The Mendocino Voice covers a breadth of timely and evergreen reported pieces across a variety of subjects from local news, arts and culture, to profiles of inspiring volunteer organizations, to environmental issues. Bay City News editors work 24/7 and can be reached at (510) 251-8100 or newsroom@baycitynews.com so if you hear of breaking news (like a fire, storm, big power outage, emergency, etc.), reach out that way to confer with an editor on duty.
Submit your pitch to the appropriate editor:
Local news, enterprise and environment: dan.rosenheim@baycitynews.com
Daily or breaking stories during work hours: dan.mcmenamin@baycitynews.com
Daily news or breaking stories during off hours or weekends: newsroom@baycitynews.com
For questions about photos: Ray St. Germain: ray@baycitynews.com or (925) 708-3018
Here’s an example of a budget item in the format we prefer:
REPORTER TONY HICKS/EDITOR NAME (and phone, email for questions)
SLUG: BCN_COVIDAIRPORT
DEADLINE: 9/14/25
PUBLICATION DATE: 9/17/25
LENGTH: 500-750 words
STORY: Post-pandemic and with new economic challenges hitting the tourism industry, business and vacation travelers are antsy to get back to their plan for air trips but obstacles remain. Hotels and restaurants are also still struggling to get back on track. We ask airlines, airport staff and travelers about their plans and experiences.
PHOTO: checking with TSA for art and also we have from BCN photo editor: https://www.baycitynews.com/images/BCN-20210430-MINETASANJOSE-02.JPG
PHOTO CUTLINE: The interior of Mineta San Jose International Airport in San Jose, Calif., on February 24, 2012. (Photo courtesy of Mineta San Jose International Airport)
What we pay
We like to establish relationships with writers who can contribute regularly so the investment in the work, editing process, publishing, etc. is valuable for everyone. We welcome new writers, however, so please pitch and let us know what interests you.
Bay City News Foundation pays the equivalent of $20/hour to start; that means about $100 to $150 for a short story of about 400-500 words with one to two sources that can be turned around in a day or less, or $250 to $300 for a longer story of about 800-1,000 words with several sources that takes about two days to report and write. You must work with the editor in advance on the story length and price. We also require that you work with our photo editor to either take or source photos. We are also willing to collaborate with writers for grant-based work (such as Solutions Journalism Network or USC Center for Health Reporting and others).
The news organization only publishes work once it meets professional standards based on original reporting and writing. We are happy to provide coaching and professional editing on stories, but we do not offer kill fees.
Getting Paid
Invoices for published work should be submitted at least once per month after first sending a W-9 (you can Google a fillable form from the IRS) and a copy of this direct deposit form to publisher Kat Rowlands: kat@baycitynews.com.
After completing your assignment, send invoice to BCN_Invoices@baycitynews.com. Invoices will be paid within a month, or sooner if you are in sync with our biweekly payroll processing dates and have set up direct deposit.
General policy guidelines
We insist on original, verified, well-sourced reporting. We do not allow anonymous sources or attribution to other media except with permission in exceptional circumstances. Nor do we allow generative AI for news writing; we insist on human verification and original writing even if technological tools are used to research topics and background. We follow the SPJ Code of Ethics. We use AP style. We do not monitor or police your social media but do require writers to avoid conflicts of interest on the topics they cover so that our sources, clients and readers have confidence in our commitment to being fair and accurate. We encourage journalists to share their work on social media accounts used for professional work and tag @mendovoice so our staff can amplify your stories.
Values
Bay City News believes journalists hold a special civic responsibility. Since its founding, BCN has adhered to a strong set of ethical principles modeled on the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. (And with so many broadcast partners, you should also be aware of the RTNDA Code of Ethics.)
- We correct our mistakes. If someone outside our organization asks you to correct, clarify or delete a story, notify Kat, Dan M or Dan R immediately so we can respond appropriately.
- We are transparent in our reporting and sourcing. We do not use anonymous sources, except in rare circumstances with approval from top editors.
- We value diversity and inclusion in both our reporting and our hiring practices to more accurately reflect our community. (The company and the nonprofit are woman-owned and run; more than half our board and staff are women, including in leadership positions; a third of our board, staff and contractors are people of color; our internship program recruits women and people of color.)
- We conduct ourselves professionally.
In our newsroom, we have posted the following credo for more than four decades.
It shall be the constant intention of BCN reporters and editors:
- to pursue and write the news with fairness, accuracy and a sense of professional detachment;
- to be purposeful and searching in the quest for information; and yet,
- to avoid arrogance and instead maintain a reasonable concern for the personal dignity of all sources and contacts.
Source: Pitching Guide for Freelancers • The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA
