Let's be honest. If you’re looking for a Santa Monica CA newspaper right now, you’re probably standing on a sidewalk wondering why that green metal newsstand on the corner is either empty or covered in graffiti.
It’s weird.
For a city that has more money, tech influence, and political drama per square inch than almost anywhere else in Los Angeles County, the local media scene is surprisingly fractured. It’s a mess, actually. You have legacy names trying to survive the transition to digital-first models, a few hyper-local blogs that punch way above their weight class, and the ever-present shadow of the Los Angeles Times looming over the 405.
People think local news is dead. It isn't. It just moved, and if you don't know where to click, you're going to miss the actual news about why your favorite parking lot is becoming an apartment complex.
The Big Players: Who’s Actually Printing?
When people talk about a Santa Monica CA newspaper, the first name that usually pops up is the Santa Monica Daily Press (SMDP). They’ve been around since 2001. Honestly, they’re kind of the last man standing in terms of a consistent, free daily print product you can actually hold in your hands. You’ll find them in those red racks all over town.
What’s interesting about the Daily Press is their commitment to the "hyper-local" grind. They cover the stuff that the big TV stations in Hollywood wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. We’re talking about six-hour City Council meetings, school board debates over curriculum, and the granular details of the Land Use and Voter Empowerment (LUVE) initiatives that have shaped the skyline.
They aren't perfect. Some locals find their editorial tone a bit too cozy with the business community, while others think they’re the only ones keeping the City Manager’s office honest.
Then there’s the Santa Monica Mirror.
The Mirror started back in 1999. It’s more of a weekly vibe. If you’re looking for the pulse of the Westside—including Brentwood and Pacific Palisades—this is usually where you’ll see the cultural shift reflected. They do a lot with community voices. It’s less "hard breaking news" at 2:00 AM and more "here is the context of why the Promenade is changing."
The Digital Shift and The Lookout
You can't talk about news here without mentioning Santa Monica Lookout. They are digital-only, and they’ve been at it for over two decades. Jorge Casuso and his team have a reputation for being the "wonks" of the local news scene. If you want a 2,000-word breakdown of a new zoning law or a deep dive into the homelessness statistics on the beach, you go to the Lookout.
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They don't care about being flashy. They care about the record.
It’s a different experience than scrolling through a Twitter feed (or X, whatever we’re calling it this week). It’s slower. More methodical.
Why You Actually Need a Local Santa Monica CA Newspaper
Why does this even matter? Why can't you just follow a Facebook group?
Well, have you ever looked at a Santa Monica community Facebook group? It’s a nightmare. It’s half "did anyone else hear those sirens?" and half "here is a photo of a dog I found." While those groups are great for immediate neighborhood alerts, they lack the accountability that a formal Santa Monica CA newspaper provides.
Take the closure of the Santa Monica Airport (SMO).
That is a multi-decade saga. You have the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) involved, billionaire jet owners, local activists who want a park, and residents who are tired of the noise. A volunteer on Nextdoor isn't going to sit through the legal depositions or track the environmental impact reports over five years. A reporter from a local paper will.
- They attend the Planning Commission.
- They file California Public Records Act (CPRA) requests to see where the tax money is going.
- They interview the developers who are trying to build 15-story buildings on Wilshire.
Without these outlets, the city's "sunshine laws" don't mean much because nobody is there to look through the glass.
The Ghost of the Evening Outlook
If you’ve lived in the city since the 90s, you probably remember the Evening Outlook. It was the definitive Santa Monica CA newspaper for over a century, founded back in 1875. When it folded in 1998, it left a massive hole in the community.
Copley Press owned it, and when they shut it down, it was a canary in the coal mine for local journalism.
The Outlook was the paper of record. It had the obituaries, the high school sports scores, and the police logs that everyone read over breakfast. When it died, the news ecosystem became decentralized. That’s why today, getting a full picture of what’s happening in 90401 or 90405 requires checking three different websites and maybe a newsletter or two.
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The Rise of the Newsletter
In the last few years, we’ve seen a shift toward curated newsletters. Santa Monica Next is a great example. They focus heavily on urbanism, transit, and sustainability. They aren't trying to be everything to everyone. They want to talk about bike lanes and bus routes.
If you live in the Pico Neighborhood or Mid-City, these specialized outlets often feel more relevant than a general paper. They speak to the "urban village" feel of Santa Monica.
How to Navigate the Bias
Let’s be real: every news source in this town has a slant. This is a city where "slow growth" vs. "pro-housing" is basically a holy war.
If you read the Daily Press, you might get a different perspective on a new hotel project than if you read a column on Santa Monica Next. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but as a reader, you have to be savvy. You’ve got to look at who is buying the ads. Is it the big tech firms at Silicon Beach? Is it the local realtor association?
A good trick is to cross-reference. If a major crime happens at the Pier, see how the Daily Press reports the police statement versus how a site like Westside Current covers the community reaction.
What Happened to the L.A. Times Westside Section?
Older residents often ask where the Times went.
The Los Angeles Times used to have a robust "Our Times" section or "Westside" insert. Those are mostly gone. Unless something catastrophic happens—like a major wildfire or a celebrity scandal at the Fairmont Miramar—the Times rarely zooms in on Santa Monica’s internal politics anymore. They’ve centralized.
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This makes the independent Santa Monica CA newspaper options even more vital. They are filling a void left by the "big guys" who decided that city council seats in small coastal cities weren't worth the headcount.
Tips for Staying Informed in Santa Monica
If you’re new to the area or just trying to be a better citizen, don't just wait for news to find you. The algorithms on social media are designed to make you angry, not informed.
- Sign up for the "City Hall Essentials" style newsletters. Most of the local papers have a morning blast. It takes two minutes to scan.
- Watch the "Daily Press" police logs. It’s the most honest look at what’s actually happening on the streets.
- Follow the reporters, not just the outlets. Many local journalists are active on social media and will post updates from meetings in real-time.
- Support them. If you value having a reporter at the school board meeting so you don't have to go, consider a digital subscription or a donation.
Actionable Steps for the Engaged Resident
To truly understand what’s going on in Santa Monica, stop relying on hearsay.
First, bookmark the Santa Monica Daily Press and the Santa Monica Lookout. Check them every Tuesday and Wednesday; that's usually when the "meat" of the week's news drops following Monday night meetings or weekend events.
Second, use the City of Santa Monica’s official website (smgov.net) to supplement what you read in the papers. If a newspaper mentions a "Staff Report" regarding a new development on Ocean Ave, go find that report. It’s public record. You can see the actual blueprints and the traffic studies yourself.
Third, look for the "Public Notices" section in the back of the print editions of the Daily Press or Mirror. These are legally required postings about everything from liquor licenses to estate sales. It’s the "boring" stuff that actually tells you how the neighborhood is changing.
Finally, attend one City Council meeting or watch it on the local cable channel/YouTube stream. Seeing the people the newspapers write about in action will give you a much better sense of the "character" of the city’s leadership. You’ll quickly learn which council members are actually doing the work and which ones are just performing for the cameras.
Local news in Santa Monica isn't a monolith. It’s a collection of small, scrappy organizations trying to keep a very complex city transparent. It’s up to you to actually read it.