The Salinas Californian, sometimes referred to as The Californian, is the major 24-hour digital and print news organization published in Salinas, California. It is the oldest continuously publishing newspaper in California. The paper is owned by the Gannett Company. The Californian was initially founded in 1871 as the The Salinas Index and assumed its current name during World War II. In 1936, the Index was acquired by Merritt C. Speidel. Gannett bought Speidel Newspapers in 1977. The Salinas Californian continues to list community events at no charge in its weekly calendars.