UC Berkeley Journalism

Dean @mbolden.bsky.social has great interview with journalist Jonathan Karl about his bestselling new book about Donald Trump's new term — Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign that Changed America. www.commonwealthclub.org/events/archi...

ESTADO DE SILENCIO/STATE OF SILENCE: film screening and panel State of Silence/Estado de Silencio explores the limits of freedom of the press in Mexico, following four journalists who risk their lives to repor...

Join us for Estado de Silencio (State of Silence), a film on press freedom in Mexico. Panel to follow with director Santiago Maza, @berkeleyjournalism.bsky.social's Michael Bolden & more!
📅 Nov. 5
⏰ 4:30 PM
📍 @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social Booth Auditorium
🔗 RSVP: events.berkeley.edu/hrc/event/30...

The appointment of Bari Weiss to lead CBS News epitomizes the age of media capitulation to Trump OPINION: Bari Weiss’s appointment as editorial chief of CBS News has touched off a wave of indignation. The venom is especially bitter on the left, which Weiss has built her career targeting.

"With a resume as little more than a rancorous pamphleteer, she’s now at the helm of a network long considered a paragon of the journalism mainstream..." — Professor @ewass.bsky.social's latest op-ed in the @sfchronicle.com. #media #Trump #CBSNews www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...

California cops can no longer conceal police killings while interrogating loved ones for dirt A Reveal investigation helped spark a crackdown on a disturbing, widespread practice.

Without investigative reporting, we would never know about this unconscionable police practice just banned by California, uncovered by alum @brianhowey.bsky.social, with reporting supported by @davidbarstow.bsky.social + Berkeley's Investigative Reporting Program. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Delayed US report on global human trafficking is released Release comes after a Guardian investigation revealed US pullback on anti-trafficking efforts, which Trump officials denied

In the wake of recent @theguardian.com stories by our IRP's Bernice Yeung, Aaron Glantz + Noy Thrupkaew and bipartisan pressure re: a retreat from combating human trafficking, the Trump Administration releases a delayed report — omitting all LGBTQ+ data. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Alums Katey Rusch and Casey Smith named to TIME’s annual 'TIME100 Next' list of the 100 leaders shaping the future UC Berkeley Journalism offers a two-year Master of Journalism (MJ) degree and a summer minor, preparing students for careers in journalism.

Our @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Journalism Investigative Reporting Program alums Katey Rusch & Casey Smith have been named #TIME100NEXT for their award-winning investigative reporting on #policing. journalism.berkeley.edu/rusch-and-sm...

Jimmy Kimmel’s treatment opens an entirely new chapter in American media repression OPINION: The brazen efforts by the Trump administration to threaten companies that own the news media to dictate their coverage are unprecedented, Edward Wasserman writes.

Former Dean and Professor @ewass.bsky.social writes about the threats to journalism that go well beyond the Trump administration’s first term “fake news” and “enemy of the people” attacks on the press. www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...

Inland Empire communities face dangerous levels of shipping industry pollution — the same emissions warming the planet. After a rule that would have protected residents near rail yards fell apart under Trump's EPA, they're hoping the state takes the lead.

capitalandmain.com/effort-to-cu...

Welcome Ava Hu to DSE, the newest Journalism Fellow! Ava is a student at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Graduate School of Journalism. At DSE she'll develop data visualizations re: climate change impacts on local and global communities🌎

dse.berkeley.edu/welcome-ava-hu

@natureatcal.bsky.social

🚨 Calling documentary filmmakers! 🚨
The Mycoskie–UC Berkeley Psychedelic Doc Fellowship is now accepting applications.

Awards ranging from $5k to $20k. Deadline: Oct 30

Apply here → fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/mycoskie/

An FBI agent killed a man after the Boston Marathon bombing. Oakland PD had helped hide his past A trove of internal police files provides a more complete accounting of the early episode that could have jeopardized Aaron McFarlane’s career before a high-profile shooting.

In the @sfchronicle.com today, Journalist Katey Rusch ('20) uses newly public trove of internal police files to report an untold story about a discredited Oakland cop — part of the infamous "Riders" — who became an FBI agent. www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

UC Berkeley and Stanford join forces on groundbreaking database on police misconduct and use of force, combining human tenacity with AI to benefit the public UC Berkeley Journalism offers a two-year Master of Journalism (MJ) degree and a summer minor, preparing students for careers in journalism.

"The database stands as a powerful emblem of transparency and the power of journalism at a time when both of these values face significant new threats," said @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social's @davidbarstow.bsky.social re: database on police misconduct in CA. journalism.berkeley.edu/berkeley-and...

First Biden, now Trump — the media still hasn’t figured out how to cover advanced aging OPINION: The old age of political leaders and whether senior public officials have outlived the capacity to do their jobs is a judgment that the news media is under increasing pressure to address.

"After all, how much nonperformance is too much?" asks Prof. @ewass.bsky.social as he explores media coverage of aging politicians this week in the @sfchronicle.com. www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...

A new database on police use of force and misconduct in California makes public 1.5 million pages of once-secret police records For Immediate Release August 4, 2025 Contact: Journalism@berkeley.edu A new database on police use of force and misconduct in California makes public 1.5 million pages of once-secret police records   ...

New database just published by @latimes.com, @sfchronicle.com, @kqednews.kqed.org + CalMatters and built by Berkeley Journalism's IRP, @berkeleyengineer.bsky.social BIDS + @biglocalnews.bsky.social makes public 1.5 million pages of once-secret police records. journalism.berkeley.edu/police-recor...

California taxpayers will pay $15 million to hire journalists Your morning catch-up: Taxpayer-funded journalism, remains of the 31st firestorm victim found in Altadena and more big stories.

LA Times journalist James Rainey on California's groundbreaking support for local journalism through our @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Journalism and the @maynardinstitute.bsky.social: "Accurate news and information has become an increasingly fleeting resource." www.latimes.com/california/n...

A new group of early-career journalists and newsrooms were selected for the 2025-2027 California Local News Fellowship! Thank you, California, for supporting local journalism — an essential public service. Congrats to our fellows and newsrooms! fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows/ne...

I enjoyed connecting with D.C.-area alumni of @berkeleyjournalism.bsky.social Thanks to everyone who braved that intense weather, to @npr.org for providing a venue and to alum @tamarakeithnpr.bsky.social and Ron Nixon, two of our Journalism Advisory Committee members, for hosting.

California expands historic commitment to local journalism fellowships ______________________________________________________________________________________________ California expands historic commitment to local journalism fellowships Media Release July 1, 2025 Califor...

GREAT NEWS! California expands commitment to local journalism with a $15 million allocation!

“This funding strengthens the people and organizations anchoring local journalism in communities across California." - @reynoldspost.bsky.social

journalism.berkeley.edu/15-million-t...

California expands historic commitment to local journalism fellowships ______________________________________________________________________________________________ California expands historic commitment to local journalism fellowships Media Release July 1, 2025 Califor...

A new $15 million for local journalism in CA budget! “Even in tight financial times, independent journalism, which underpins a citizen-informed democracy, is deserving of priority support,” said former State Senator Steve Glazer, a champion of local journalism.

Alumni Portrait: Lauren Capps ('12) part of RFK Award-winning team of "The Sing Sing Chronicles" Lauren Capps (’12), was a producer on “The Sing Sing Chronicles,” a four-part docuseries by NBC News Studios and Trilogy Films that won the 2025 Domestic Television Award from Robert F. Kennedy Human ...

Congrats Lauren Capps (’12) producer on “The Sing Sing Chronicles,” a 4-part docuseries that won the 2025 Domestic Television Award from Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights!

Read our in-depth interview with Capps who talks about the series, her incredible body of work + camaraderie among our doc alums.

Michael Bolden selected to be next dean of UC Berkeley Journalism following national search Journalist Michael Bolden will be UC Berkeley Journalism’s eighth permanent dean, promising a dedication to collaboration, innovation and courage in the face of threats to the field, campus announced ...

Welcome to @mbolden.bsky.social, the next dean of @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Journalism — a "distinguished journalist" selected to lead at a time of "unprecedented challenges for journalism" said Chancellor @chancellorlyons.bsky.social. journalism.berkeley.edu/2025-berkele...

Collage of 9 headshots of the winning journalists.

Two major investigations from KQED reported by alums and one with help from 6 students in our Investigative Reporting Program have been awarded top honors in the Region 2 Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association!

journalism.berkeley.edu/2025-murrow-...

Investigative Reporting Program and alums win National Headliner Awards UC Berkeley Journalism’s Investigative Reporting Program and seven alums are winners in the 91st National Headliner Awards, which honor the best journalism in the United States in 2024 across platform...

UC Berkeley Journalism’s Investigative Reporting Program and 7 alums are winners in the 91st National Headliner Awards!

Bravo Garance Burke (’04), Bill Whitaker (’78/’16), Casey Smith (’20), Katey Rusch (’20), Serginho Roosblad (’18), Marian Carrasquero (’19) and Mary Spicuzza (’04).

Could $15 million save local journalism in California? We think so | Opinion “To truly rebuild California’s local news infrastructure, we must invest in the full ecosystem — from newsroom leadership to training and innovation.”

"Local journalism is not a luxury. It’s civic infrastructure. And like roads, schools and clean water, it requires intentional public investment." — Opinion in the Sac Bee from former CA Senator Steve Glazer and the @maynardinstitute.bsky.social's Martin Reynolds. www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

“Ni de aquí, ni de allá”: Dreamers reflect on the toll of living in DACA limbo Undocumented students share how political and legal battles have shaped their identities and their hopes for the future.

Students from @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social write about being #DACA #Dreamers at this moment in history. Thank you to @eltimpano.bsky.social for publishing this beautiful series. www.eltimpano.org/english/immi...

Local News Fellowship Funding Considered By State Committee By Ruth Dusseault

The CA legislature considers funding local news fellowships. "Most of the decisions that you make as senators come from learning about problems in your community, problems of unfairness, injustice, problems of corruption," said former Senator Steve Glazer, urging $15 million in support.

Chronicle named Pulitzer Prize finalist for a pair of investigations The Chronicle was honored for uncovering the secret deals that hide police misconduct and documenting the deadly toll of police chases.

Congrats to alums @susien.bsky.social, Casey Smith, Katey Rusch + @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Investigative Reporting Program — led by @davidbarstow.bsky.social — for being @pulitzerprizes.bsky.social finalists for @sfchronicle.com stories. www.sfchronicle.com/about/newsro...

Faculty and alums honored in 2025 Pulitzer Prizes UC Berkeley Journalism’s Investigative Reporting Program, multiple alums and a faculty member were honored in the 2025 Pulitzer Prizes announced by Columbia University today. Alums Katey Rusch (’20) a...

Our @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Journalism alums + Investigative Reporting Program led by @davidbarstow.bsky.social named Pulitzer Prize finalists for "Right to Remain Secret" + Prof @jlaf.bsky.social and alum finalists for "40 Acres and a Lie." journalism.berkeley.edu/2025-pulitze...

The New Yorker's Madeleine Baran and @airwars.bsky.social's @emilytripp.bsky.social at #LoganSymposium2025 discuss the 2006 massacre at Haditha and the four-year investigation for the "In the Dark" podcast. Baron: "This was something done in the name of the U.S. government."

At #LoganSymposium2025's panel on reporting on immigration, Lawyer Nicholas Espiritu: "It's important to understand that this is not about people who follow the rules and people who don’t follow the rules. It’s about reshaping the face of this country." #investigativejournalism #immigration