SPJ NorCal's Freedom of Information Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual James Madison Awards, which honor transparency work that advances the public's right to know. Read about the winners:
spjnorcal.org/2026/02/14/s...
NEWS
We can finally share: AJP is investing $1.5 million in Mission Local!
It's a tremendous validation of our neighborhood reporting model from one of the top journalism funders in the country.
We've got big plans—& they're coming to a neighborhood near you.
Pleased to pick up an @spj-norcal.bsky.social award with @lizagross.bsky.social for investigative reporting!
spjnorcal.org/2025/10/30/s...
For this @insideclimatenews.org series:
Captured: How pesticide regulators place industry profits above public health
insideclimatenews.org/project/capt...
Honored to share an @spj-norcal.bsky.social Excellence in Journalism award for investigative reporting with @peteraldhous.com for our @insideclimatenews.org Captured series, which shows how pesticide regulators serve industry over health. Congrats to the other winners! spjnorcal.org/2025/10/30/s...
Call for nominations: Have you or someone you know advanced transparency, records access and the public's right to know in 2025? Submit an entry for the James Madison Freedom of Information Awards to honor First Amendment champions!
Oakland Police must end its restrictive press policy, writes FAC, @spj-norcal.bsky.social and @pmwglocal39521.bsky.social firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025/11/14/p...
Proud to share that I've notched SPJ NorCal's award for education reporting (print/online) two years in a row, this time for my work with @thefrisc.bsky.social! Congrats to all the winners and hope to see you all at the ceremony in a couple weeks spjnorcal.org/2025/10/30/s...
And a huge congratulations to all the other reporters and outlets who are taking home @spj-norcal.bsky.social prizes—all well-deserved.
spjnorcal.org/2025/10/30/s...
PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK
Mission Local has won two SPJ NorCal Excellence in Journalism awards—for explanatory journalism & public service.
Our stories looked into San Francisco's "alternative courts" & conditions at the 16th St. BART station.
Onwards & upwards.
spjnorcal.org/2025/10/30/s...
More on the database here:
This Wednesday, join @pickoffwhite.bsky.social + @emilymzentner.bsky.social to learn how to use the searchable database of more than 1.5 million police use-of-force and misconduct records.
COMING SOON: Did you know there's now a searchable database of California police misconduct records? Join us and the California Reporting Project's for a special training on how to harness this tool
Register now for the Oct. 8 event! Details here www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-rep...
@eltimpano.bsky.social @eltecolotesf.bsky.social @sanjosespotlight.com @northbaynews.bsky.social @mercurynews.com @thevallejosun.bsky.social @openvallejo.org @sfexaminer.bsky.social
@kalwradio.bsky.social @kqednews.kqed.org @sfstandard.com @sfpublicpress.bsky.social @missionlocal.org @oaklandside.org @berkeleyside.org @kcranews.bsky.social @eastbaytimes.com @wired.com @motherjones.com @sfchronicle.com @sfgate.com
Our 2025 Excellence in Journalism contest is now open! Submit your work by Sept. 11 for awards consideration, and please nominate journalists for our board awards. Info on eligible work and how to submit below
spjnorcal.org/2025/08/21/s...
If you're a reporter in the vicinity, check this out. Yes, I'm a Society of Professional Journalists member. I'm also a fan of the Internet Archive. Among the documents Wayback has preserved are remnants (0s and 1s, really) of my web magazine, ENTER (1994-1999).
Ah, we were internet pioneers! 😎
Ever relied on the Wayback Machine to recover lost work, deleted statements by politicians, find old TV news clips and for other research? Go deeper with a hands-on training on Thurs, Sept. 4 @archive.org! Coming up soon, register for the free event below www.eventbrite.com/e/workshop-w...
Exciting news! We, Mission Local staff, are forming a union.
Read our Mission Statement below.
cwalocals.org/mission-loca...
📰 Urgent Ideas for Defending Press Freedom in Gaza
In a new project between
@columjournreview.bsky.social and the Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism, CJS faculty and graduates explore urgent strategies for protecting journalists in Gaza: www.cjr.org/feature/urge...
📣 Calling recent grads! YOJO by iMEdD is hiring early-career reporters for a cutting-edge, digital-first newsroom.
Apply by Aug 31: https://twp.ai/9PU9nD
How often do we take the time to really absorb the work of incarcerated journalists? You won't want to miss this chance to, happening tomorrow eve
Happening tonight! Speakers include SFGATE’s editor-in-chief @grantmarek.bsky.social, Le Temps video journalist Cathy Dogon, Catchlight CEO @elodiemailliet.bsky.social and @alexandraulmer.bsky.social, U.S. National Affairs Correspondent for Reuters in San Francisco
and if you were laid off recently, you can apply for a 6-month dues waiver here www.spj.org/membership-d...
MEMBERS: Today is the last day to vote in board elections. If you are an active SPJ NorCal member and did not receive instructions to do vote, please get in touch ASAP. You can renew your membership here www.spj.org/become-a-mem...
The Stanford Daily alleges its ability to do news and opinion journalism, the core of its mission, has been hindered by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. A student reporter quit the paper, the lawsuit says, while others have refused to publish articles, asked to have their names removed or petitioned to have entire articles deleted.
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration are trying to turn the inalienable human right of free speech into a privilege contingent upon the whims of a federal bureaucrat, triggering deportation proceedings against noncitizens residing lawfully in this country for their protected political speech regarding American and Israeli foreign policy," the lawsuit says.
At Stanford, international students' fear of having their visas revoked or being deported for being associated with certain viewpoints has impacted their right to free speech, the lawsuit argues. Greta Reich, editor in chief of the Stanford Daily, said in a statement that student reporters fear "being associated with speaking on political topics, even in a journalistic capacity." She previously told The Post that international students are also reluctant to be quoted in the newspaper.
SPJ NorCal is troubled by the alleged conditions that led to this lawsuit on behalf of The Stanford Daily, and support the student journalists now leading the fight against the federal government for free speech that's ensnared noncitizens www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
You won’t want to miss this one!! RSVP at the link.
www.eventbrite.com/e/san-quenti...
You can also join us next Wednesday 8/13 for an invite-only mixer that will bring together Swiss and US journalists to explore challenges, from financial pressures to algorithmic bubbles, and examine how different media systems and professional cultures are responding. lu.ma/wf59qj15?utm...
A look at some of the powerful storytelling that will be shared before a panel discussion. RSVP here! www.eventbrite.com/e/san-quenti...
Next Saturday 8/16, our chapter and @kalwradio.bsky.social
are hosting a fundraiser for our San Quentin State Prison Chapter. Don’t miss this rare gathering of powerful voices and creative visionaries who are changing the narrative around incarceration—from the inside out
Without journalists, we wouldn't know what's happening beyond our front doors. That's why FAC and free press partners such as @lapressclub.bsky.social @freedom.press @spj-norcal.bsky.social have been working tirelessly all week to defend press rights.
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fi...
