What Do You Get When These Three….?

Humor can prove risky in news stories stemming from tragic events such as the North Bay wildfires. But just as a dash of pepper can complement a dish, a dash of humor can draw readers into news coverage—as this student realized on her own. By Maci Lee Martell PETALUMA -- A rabbi, a landlord and … Continue reading What Do You Get When These Three….? →

When the Top Cop Grants the Interview

For her crime story assignment, one ambitious student who was already reporting and news gathering in her beat neighborhood dutifully filled out an online form to interview a police chief – why not ask?  She was relaxing at home the next day when her phone rang. The police chief! Not even a PR officer intermediary! … Continue reading When the Top Cop Grants the Interview →

Does Nightlife in the Castro Have a Negative Effect on the Locals?

My students’ experiences last fall included interviewing and quoting some of their neighborhood beat sources multiple times for different story assignments. As the semester unfolded, a few of these human sources would characterize themselves differently during interviews, meaning preferred pronouns might change. In another story by the same student covering the Castro, Jesse Chang is … Continue reading Does Nightlife in the Castro Have a Negative Effect on the Locals? →

More Than A Pretty Face — Entertaining Audiences For A Cause

For their profile assignments, I asked my students to, if feasible before our unforgiving deadline, pursue two additional interviews beyond the person who was their subject. The purpose was for them to gain more experience in asking their neighborhood beat sources about how and why certain individuals were newsworthy. What impact did the profile subject … Continue reading More Than A Pretty Face — Entertaining Audiences For A Cause →

Bringing Art to Life

By Nicole Newman The San Francisco Arts Commission met Nov. 13 to discuss the approval of artists for an upcoming installation at the San Francisco International Airport's Hyatt Hotel, which is currently being constructed. The proposal, Hyatt Hotel Lobby Wall Public Art Project, is committed to showcasing one artist's work on a wall of the lobby entrance. The Arts Commission … Continue reading Bringing Art to Life →

Homeless…by choice?

Youth homelessness results from many causes, but it’s sobering to think that young people at times will choose to live without permanent shelter. Why? Ask this student, who explored the question last fall: By Nowell Francisco “During 1966, the hot center of revolutionary action on the Coast began moving across the bay to San Francisco’s … Continue reading Homeless…by choice? →

Helping Hands in the Haight-Ashbury

The world-famous Haight-Ashbury district is known for many things, but homeless youth on the streets? Here’s what one of my students discovered: By Nicole Newman San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury is a tourist destination, iconic for its history of music legends such as the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin who lived and roamed the streets of colorful … Continue reading Helping Hands in the Haight-Ashbury →

Public Meetings that Matter

As my students saw firsthand last fall, what happens at public meetings—where members of a city council, school board or other governing body vote on constituent matters—can result in important actions. I learned about the public clamor over the Pioneer Monument in August, just a few days before the fall semester began. After discussing the … Continue reading Public Meetings that Matter →

Monuments…or marginalization?

Among the recurring student feedback last fall were observations that at times, it was tough to find sources who would provide the desired viewpoints and quotes. Because the course was reporting, however, rather than opinion writing or social media messaging, my students realized that they had to follow where the story took them, and simply … Continue reading Monuments…or marginalization? →