Solano NewsNet launches new website, community events calendar
(Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
Solano NewsNet, the only digital news source dedicated to covering the cities of Solano County with free access to breaking news and stories of interest, formally unveiled its new website on Monday that will serve as the central hub for its original, independent journalism.
The website, located at solanonews.net, will supplement Solano NewsNet’s reporting via its email newsletter on Substack with several additional features, including an events calendar, weather forecasts for all seven cities in Solano County and an advertising platform for individuals and businesses throughout the region.
As part of its broader digital initiative, Solano NewsNet has tapped Patch Labs to develop and maintain the technology for the new website. The New York-based company helps independent publishers focus on creating local journalism by providing technology and guidance for a successful digital news service.
“There's nothing simple about being a local journalist. It takes grit, passion and a relentless commitment to keeping the public informed about what's happening in their backyard,” Sarah Gayden, the director of growth and partnerships at Patch Labs, said in a statement. “With that in mind, Patch Labs was built to provide a simple publishing platform to help journalists make a living doing what they love. We're thrilled that Solano NewsNet chose Patch Labs to power their site, and we look forward to supporting them in their mission to be a trusted news source for residents of Solano County.”
Solano NewsNet was formed in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire that swept through parts of Solano County in 2020. Matthew Keys, Solano NewsNet’s publisher who was working as a freelancer at the time, covered the fire from the minute it crossed into Solano County, providing the only real-time information in the first few hours of the emergency.
Several days later, Keys launched a newsletter on Substack was launched to help residents and businesses in Solano County stay informed of the wildfire’s progression. The strong demand for the newsletter coupled with a lack of free access to local journalism in the Solano County region convinced Keys that a digital-first newsroom could work, and Solano NewsNet was announced the following January.
Since then Solano NewsNet has been widely cited by other local news outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle, KPIX (Channel 5), KTVU-TV (Channel 2), KXTV (Channel 10) and KCBS Radio (106.9 FM, 740 AM). Several stories have also appeared on national news websites like Newsweek, the Daily Dot and Heavy.com.
Last year, Solano NewsNet became the only Solano County-based news outlet to incorporate high-definition (HD), broadcast-quality video into its reporting — and remains the only Solano County-based newsroom with the ability to live stream from the scene of breaking news in full HD. Footage shot by Solano NewsNet has been re-used by every television station in Sacramento and most stations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with Patch Labs on our digital newsroom initiatives — which includes free access to fast, breaking news and local, original journalism that has become synonymous with our brand,” Keys said in a statement. “There is a high demand for this type of local news in our area, and after much consideration, we are confident that Patch Labs is the best solution to help us serve readers and build a sustainable news operation.”
Readers can click or tap around the new Solano NewsNet website by visiting https://solanonews.net. The news outlet will also continue to publish by e-mail through Substack and on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram for the foreseeable future.
About Patch Labs
Patch Labs is a content management system built for U.S.-based independent, hyperlocal journalists. Through simple, intuitive software, Patch Labs provides a platform for local journalists to make a living doing what they love. The Patch Labs CMS includes publishing tools, an email client and revenue processing all-in-one. For more information, visit https://labs.patch.com.
About Solano NewsNet
Solano NewsNet is a digital-first newsroom that offers free access to breaking news and local journalism concerning the communities of Solano County, California. The cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville and Vallejo, and the unincorporated communities of Solano County, are within Solano NewsNet’s coverage area. For more information, visit https://solanonews.net.