UC Berkeley Journalism

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

At #LoganSymposium2025: "In my mind, one of the most important stories is this administration that is sliding toward autocracy. They mix daily their personal efforts to make money w/ politics." — WSJ's Christopher S. Stewart on panel w/ Bloomberg, AP, NYT, Wash Post, ProPublica + NPR journalists.

At the #LoganSymposium2025 at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, w/300+ journalists focused on meeting the moment and holding power accountable. @davidbarstow.bsky.social said: "We are one of the few remaining challenges that exist right now. It’s really resting intensely on us to do our damn jobs."

Big story out by alum Tyche Hendricks @kqednews.kqed.org on how a plan to use Travis Air Force Base and other military facilities for ICE detention represents a substantial move toward militarizing immigration enforcement, possibly in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.

David Barstow talks about the ‘radical’ Berkeley experiment to accelerate the production of investigative reporters Q&A with Professor David Barstow, chair of the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley Journalism UC Berkeley Journalism’s Investigative Reporting Program (IRP) has 50 graduate students working...

Prof. @davidbarstow.bsky.social explains the ‘radical’ award-winning experiment at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social to train more investigative reporters. "You want to be in the game? Fine. We will put you in the game" and hold you to very high standards. journalism.berkeley.edu/qa-with-davi...

Trump takes aim at the people who protect national parks from climate change After mass firings and rehiring, thousands of federal employees are bracing for deeper cuts — just as wildfires and floods threaten national parks.

"...there will be no one on watch anymore.” Our @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Journalism Climate Equity Reporting Project Editor @twyspy.bsky.social writes for @gristnews.bsky.social about federal cuts to the National Park Service and implications for fires and climate. grist.org/politics/tru...

Prestigious Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting awarded to Berkeley Journalism alums for IRP/SF Chronicle collaboration Alums Katey Rusch (’20) and Casey Smith (’20), have won the 2025 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting for “Right to Remain Secret,” the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy a...

The investigation by alums Rusch and Smith into "clean record agreements" that obscure police misconduct — supported by @davidbarstow.bsky.social + our Investigative Reporting Program and published in the @sfchronicle.com — won the Goldsmith Prize. journalism.berkeley.edu/2025-goldsmi...

Opinion | America was at its Trumpiest 100 years ago. Here’s how to prevent the worst. During WWI, America lurched toward autocracy. Resistance was minimal.

Must-read in @washingtonpost.com by Berkeley Journalism Lecturer Adam Hochschild that provides a deep and fascinating historical perspective and guidance on the way forward. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Modern-day train heists are on the rise - Marketplace With $15 to $35 billion in annual losses stemming from cargo theft, robbers are proving that train heists aren't just a thing of the past.

Alum Malia Wollan ('08) talks with @kairyssdal.bsky.social on @marketplace.org about the surprising rise in train heists in the United States. www.marketplace.org/2025/03/27/m...

The Truth About Trump’s Greenland Campaign When the president talks about security in the Arctic, he’s talking about climate change.

Alum Brett Simpson ('21) on #climate and #Greenland.
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...

The Ocean's Stories Symposium - Science, Stewardship and Sustainability - March 20th | David Brower Center in Berkeley

Tomorrow! Join @berkeleyjournalism.bsky.social for a transformative day focused on the future of our oceans.

In 'The Ocean’s Stories Symposium: Science, Stewardship and Sustainability', we’ll explore the critical role oceans play in our planet’s health.

Get your free tickets!
🎫 bit.ly/41SlRQ5

UC Berkeley journalism program exposed statewide system of hiding California police officer misconduct The series, published in the San Francisco Chronicle, shows how hundreds of officers used clean-record agreements to conceal their past, often from future employers.

An excellent deep dive into how our students and Investigative Reporting Program exposed a system of covering up police misconduct. journalistsresource.org/criminal-jus...

Trump’s EPA Suspends $19M North Richmond Environmental Justice Grant—Again - Bay Nature EPA says it’s proud of axing grants to save money.

Our @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Journalism student @rileyramirez.bsky.social writes about federal cuts affecting Richmond CA as part of our new reporting project, "The Stakes": baynature.org/article/trum...

Mastercard Foundation Scholars thrive at UC Berkeley Journalism Four gifted first-year students — Daniel Ekonde of Cameroon, James Mawien Manyuol of South Sudan, Victor Ochieng of Kenya and Jennifer Ugwa of Nigeria — are this year’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars ...

Meet this year's gifted @mastercardfdn.bsky.social Scholars: Daniel Ekonde of Cameroon, James Mawien Manyuol of South Sudan, Victor Ochieng of Kenya and Jennifer Ugwa of Nigeria!