Local news. Entertainment. Westside stories.
About The Santa Monica Sun:
Our Story
The Santa Monica Sun has been a dedicated voice for the West Side of Los Angeles since 2021. What started as a passion project to document the evolving landscape of our coastal community has grown into a trusted digital space for local news, entertainment, and community events. We don’t just report on Santa Monica; we live here, work here, and care deeply about the neighborhood’s future.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to provide independent, reliable, and engaging hyper-local coverage. From the shifts on the Promenade to the local arts scene and neighborhood developments, we strive to capture the authentic spirit of Santa Monica.
Meet the Team
Sean Daly
Editor & Publisher
Sean Daly is a veteran journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Post, Toronto Star and People magazine. He is a 30 year resident of Santa Monica.
Posts by Sean Daly
Doug Rapp
News Reporter
Doug Rapp is a writer originally from Kentucky. He recently moved to Los Angeles from Chicago.
Posts by Doug Rapp
Russ Weakland
Entertainment Reporter
Russ Weakland is a longtime celebrity and entertainment journalist based in Los Angeles. He has contributed exclusive news and interviews to dozens of outlets, including TMZ and HollywoodLife.com.
Posts by Russ Weakland
Lauren Coates
Entertainment & Movie Writer
Lauren is a graduate of DePaul University and a former writer for Variety. Her work has also appeared in Yahoo News and MSN.
Posts by Lauren Coates
Join the Fun
Are you passionate about the news?
We are always interested in hearing from writers, reporters, and contributors who know the Westside, have a strong voice, and want to help cover the stories people are talking about.
If you are interested in joining our team, email us: jobs@santamonicasun.com
The Santa Monica Sun is an independent digital publication.
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Sean Daly
General & Business Inquiries: info@santamonicasun.com
Editorial Standards: To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, check out our Editorial Guidelines.