Terms of Service

Last updated: November 2025

Welcome to The 831 — an independent journalism collective covering California’s Central Coast. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our website, newsletters, content, and any related services provided by The 831 (“we,” “us,” or “our”).

By accessing or using The 831 on the831.substack.com or any related platform, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our site or services.

1. Purpose and Community Ethos

The 831 exists to restore proximity, accountability, and creative rebellion through storytelling.

Our work is people-powered — not algorithm-driven. We publish journalism, commentary, and creative works for and by our community.

We expect our readers and contributors to engage respectfully, thoughtfully, and truthfully.

2. Use of Our Services

You may use The 831 for personal, non-commercial purposes in compliance with these Terms and all applicable laws.

You agree not to:

• Copy, reproduce, or distribute our content for commercial use without permission.

• Use our site to harass, threaten, or spread misinformation.

• Interfere with our systems or attempt to gain unauthorized access to our platform or data.

Violation of these Terms may result in the suspension or termination of your access.

3. Subscriptions and Payments

The 831 offers free and paid subscription plans through Substack’s platform.
All billing, payment processing, and account management are handled by Substack, Inc. and Stripe. By subscribing, you agree to their respective Terms of Service and Privacy Policies.

• Free subscribers receive limited access to public stories and newsletters.

• Paid subscribers and Founding Members receive expanded access and additional benefits, as described on our Subscribe Page.

• Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled prior to renewal. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime via your account settings.

• Refunds are managed in accordance with Substack’s policies.

4. Content Ownership and Rights

Unless otherwise noted, all original reporting, writing, photography, and artwork published on The 831 is the intellectual property of The 831 and its credited authors.

You may:

• Share links to our stories on social media or by email.

• Quote brief excerpts (with attribution and a link back).

You may not:

• Reproduce, republish, or redistribute our stories in full without written permission.

• Use our work for commercial or promotional purposes without consent.

Contributors retain ownership of their individual works but grant The 831 a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish and archive their content across our platforms.

5. Reader Comments and Community Conduct

We encourage conversation — not chaos. By commenting or submitting material, you agree to:

• Remain civil, factual, and on topic.

• Avoid hate speech, harassment, or defamation.

• Accept that moderators may remove comments at their discretion to protect the integrity of the conversation.

Repeated violations may lead to comment bans or account restrictions.

6. Accuracy and Liability

We strive for accuracy, fairness, and transparency.

However, The 831 provides information “as is”, without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee that every story or source is free of error, and we are not liable for any damages arising from use or reliance on our content.

Corrections and updates will be published transparently when errors are identified.

7. Third-Party Services and Links

The 831 may link to external websites, sources, or services.

We are not responsible for the content or practices of those third-party sites. Access them at your own discretion.

8. Privacy

Your privacy matters. The 831 collects minimal personal data — typically your email address and subscription preferences — through Substack’s secure platform.
We never sell, trade, or rent subscriber information.

Please review Substack’s Privacy Policy for full details on data handling and cookies.

9. Copyright Infringement

If you believe your copyrighted material has been used on The 831 without authorization, please contact us at:

📧 LocalNews@The831.info

Include your name, contact information, a link to the alleged infringement, and proof of ownership. We will respond promptly.

10. Termination or Suspension

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate any user’s access or subscription at our discretion, especially for conduct that violates these Terms or undermines our mission of respectful, truthful storytelling.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time.

The “Last Updated” date at the top reflects the most recent version. Continued use of The 831 after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. Contact

Questions or concerns about these Terms?
Reach us anytime at:
📧 LocalNews@The831.info

The 831

An independent journalism collective out of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties representing The 831.

The 831 — Independent journalism for California’s Central Coast.
No algorithms. Just people telling the truth about where they live.