Redheaded Blackbelt is an independent North Coast news outlet focused on Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity, and the rural communities of the Emerald Triangle. Since 2007, RHBB has provided breaking news, public safety reporting, community coverage, local photography, event information, and a place for local voices to be heard.

Many of the tips, photos, press releases, and community notices published on RHBB come directly from readers. This page explains how to submit information, photos, announcements, and other materials for consideration.

Obituaries

To have an obituary posted on Redheaded Blackbelt, please send the information to [email protected].

Please include:
• Full name of the deceased
• Birth and death dates
• At least one high-quality photo if possible
• Any obituary text you would like included (there is no length limit)

There is no charge for obituaries. We offer this service to honor my dad and to serve our community.

Please understand that it may take up to a week for an obituary to be posted. In most cases, we also share the obituary on Facebook the morning it is published.

We are glad to honor a requested release date if we can. But please try to send it in 10 days prior to a specified date.

Press Releases

Press releases may be submitted to [email protected].

Please send releases either:
• In the body of the email, or
• As a Word document attachment

Please do not send PDFs if possible, as they are more difficult to format for publication.

If you are including photos:
• Attach them separately rather than embedding them in a document
• JPG or PNG files are preferred
• Include captions and photo credit information if available

Please also include contact information in case verification or follow-up is needed.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor may be submitted to [email protected].

Please include your real name. We also ask that you send a photo of a driver’s license or other identification for verification purposes. This identification is only for our internal use and will not be shared or published.

There is no strict length limit, though letters under 1,000 words are often preferred by our readers. Calls for action that include instruction can get greater response.

RHBB may edit submissions for clarity, length, formatting, or legal concerns, though we almost never make edits. Please consider having someone else check for spelling and grammar errors.

Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Redheaded Blackbelt.

Corrections

Redheaded Blackbelt strives to report accurately and fairly. When we make an error, we want to correct it.

If you believe something published on RHBB is inaccurate, please email [email protected] with:
• A link to the article
• A description of the issue
• Any documentation or sourcing that supports the correction request

Corrections are made when verified factual errors are identified. Clarifications or updates may also be added as additional information becomes available.

Because RHBB frequently reports on breaking news and emergency incidents, some early details may later change as information is confirmed by officials or witnesses.

Advertising

See here for more information

Breaking News Tips

If you see breaking news, traffic incidents, fires, police activity, severe weather, or other urgent events in our region, you can send tips to [email protected].

Helpful information includes:
• Exact location
• Time of incident
• What you saw or heard
• Whether emergency responders are on scene
• Photos or video if safely obtained

Please attach photos or video separately if possible. JPG, PNG, and standard video formats are preferred.

Do not put yourself or others at risk to gather information, photos, or video. Your safety is more important than getting the shot.

Anonymous tips are accepted, though including contact information can help us verify details more quickly.

Lost, Found, and Stolen Pets or Items

Redheaded Blackbelt may post community notices about lost, found, or stolen pets and important personal items from our region.

Please send submissions to [email protected] and include:
• A clear description of the pet or item
• The location where it was lost, found, or stolen
• Date last seen or discovered
• Contact information for the owner or finder
• At least one clear photo if possible

For pets, please include:
• Name
• Species/breed
• Coloring and identifying features
• Collar, tags, or microchip information if applicable

There is no guarantee every submission will be published, but we try to help reunite community members with pets and important belongings whenever possible.

Handfuls of Home Photo Submissions

Redheaded Blackbelt welcomes local photos for our Handfuls of Home feature celebrating the beauty, wildlife, weather, people, and everyday moments of our region. Please send to: [email protected].

We especially enjoy photos from Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, and Trinity but will occasionally post images from other areas–particularly if there is a tie to our area (say a photo taken at the State Fair of entries from Trinity County.)

Please include:
• Photographer’s name
• Location where the photo was taken
• A brief description if relevant
• Contact information in case we have questions

Photos should be sent as separate JPG or PNG attachments if possible.

By submitting photos, you are confirming that you took the image or have permission to share it and that RHBB may publish it on the website and social media with credit. We will need explicit permission from the photographer.

Comments and Comment Policy

For rules visit here for more information.
For information on how to upload a photo to the comment page, click here.