That’s the focus of our July 11 event, “What You Don’t Know About Local Government Can Hurt You.” San Francisco Public Press Executive Director Lila LaHood will discuss government secrecy with Miranda Spivack, an expert on the topic and longtime investigative reporter and editor, formerly of The Washington Post.

Join us for this eye-opening conversation! Buy tickets here.

Ticket prices:

• $10 to $35 sliding scale for the main event at 6 p.m.
• $250 for pre-event fundraiser reception at 5 p.m.

No one will be turned away from the main event for lack of funds. If you’d like to come, but expect to have trouble paying, email us at community@sfpublicpress for a sponsored ticket.

Spivack is the author of the forthcoming book, “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms our Communities — and the Local Heroes Fighting Back,” scheduled to be published in 2025 by New Press.

During and after her 20 years at The Washington Post, Spivack specialized in stories about how government accountability and transparency fall short. Her reporting led to changes in the way that some jurisdictions worked with real estate developers and government contractors. She continues to write about development trends for The New York Times.

Her series “State Secrets,” for Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, was honored with the Sunshine Award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

The post Join Us to Learn How Government Secrecy Can Hurt You appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

Just over 50 newsrooms were selected this year to host new reporting corps positions and join an expanding network of newsrooms benefiting from the program’s support.

We are delighted to welcome Audrey Mei Yi Brown as a Report for America corps member who will to cover environmental health equity and corporate accountability beginning in July.

Audrey, who uses they/them pronouns, is perfectly suited for this role. They have spent years studying and working within the realm of climate and environmental justice, and then reporting on it as a journalist. Audrey is a graduate of UCLA and Columbia Journalism School.

Previously, they worked at the San Francisco Chronicle on SFNext, a civic engagement initiative, where they covered a range of city issues spanning homelessness, digital inequity and downtown recovery. That work was highlighted by three front page stories, including two investigations.

“Those lengthy investigations were a risk that didn’t guarantee a payoff,” Audrey said. “But these are the stories I believe matter most — the ones that are hardest to nail down and easiest to pass up, but that reveal injustice. In some newsrooms, such stories might get lost in the churn of daily news, but as a corps member placed at San Francisco Public Press, I know I will be encouraged to report them.”

Most recently, Audrey has been a contributing editor at KneeDeep Times, a digital magazine featuring stories from the front lines of climate resilience.

Audrey grew up in San Francisco and is passionate about covering this beat for local readers and listeners, with data-driven reporting and investigations that will expose wrongdoing and explore innovative solutions.

Here’s Where You Come In

Report for America is offering us a $25,000 challenge grant towards Audrey’s salary. To raise the matching funds, we turn to you.

We know you care about local news, maintaining a diverse cohort of Bay Area journalists and efforts to ensure that historically undercovered communities and issues get the attention they deserve.

So, we invite you to join our special effort to raise funds to support Audrey’s reporting.

When you make a generous donation today you’ll be supporting Audrey’s ability to investigate essential stories for our community.

Thank you for welcoming Audrey Mei Yi Brown to the Public Press!

The post Report for America Journalist to Join Newsroom appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

Just over 50 newsrooms were selected this year to host new reporting corps positions and join an expanding network of newsrooms benefiting from the program’s support.

“We have placed a bet on these newsrooms, that with our help they will become beacons of the whole industry,” said Kim Kleman, executive director of Report for America, in a statement announcing this year’s newsroom cohort. “They know the coverage they need to better serve their communities. With our help recruiting talented early-career journalists, paying part of their salary, and working with newsrooms to become more sustainable, we expect exciting results.”

We look forward to welcoming a Report for America corps member to our team this summer and expanding Public Press coverage of environmental health equity and corporate accountability in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Journalists interested in joining the Report for America corps are invited to apply here by Jan. 31. If you would like to be considered for the Public Press position, contact our team at editors@sfpublicpress.org before you submit your application.

Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, a nonprofit media organization, and is structured to harness the skills and idealism of an emerging group of journalists plus the creative spirit of local news organizations like ours.

Report for America delivers a wide range of benefits to its corps members. Beyond paying up to half of the journalists’ salaries, it provides ongoing training and mentorship by leading journalists, peer networking and memberships to select professional organizations.

We will soon launch a fundraising campaign to cover the balance of the salary for our Report for America reporting corps staffer. Please consider supporting this vital mission to preserve local news.

Thank you for your support!

The post Report for America Selects San Francisco Public Press as Host Newsroom appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

For 15 years, we’ve worked to establish an investigative workshop for the city and region grounded in idealism, resilience and innovation. Now, I’m shifting my focus to environmental and science writing, putting the organization’s direction in the capable hands of co-founder Lila LaHood.

Our journey began in 2009, motivated by a question: How could we fundamentally improve local reporting? Lila and I were part of a team of civic-minded journalists and other residents who came together to propose a new kind of newsroom, centered on the twin values of accountability and compassion. That culture has remained at the heart of what we do.

We have worked with more than 350 freelancers, volunteers and staff to publish thousands of insightful web, print and audio stories that have held power to account and tackled knotty social, economic and environmental issues in and around San Francisco. Our reporters have dived deep into chronically under-covered stories, spending months — sometimes years! — digging up buried records, checking others’ math, tracking down reticent victims of injustice and spelling out exactly how public officials broke their public reform pledges.

Hack the Housing Crisis day-long conference, 2013.

We’ve won dozens of awards for our coverage of an array of big problems. Some of the loudest accolades, from our journalism peers and the wider audience, were for several long-term series. These grappled with racially segregated public schools, developers who ignored the threat of sea level rise, reckless city sweeps through homeless encampments, the structural impediments facing people living in their vehicles, public housing management companies disregarding crumbling infrastructure, state agencies colluding with ride-hailing companies to conceal safety records, and the untapped potential of drug-treatment programs to curb overdose deaths, to name a few.

Many readers responded that while they appreciated these important investigations, the stories were often so heavy they were dispiriting. So we pivoted to organizing public events to go beyond the government’s failures and invited community stakeholders to present their ideas for solutions — to provide enough affordable apartments, or to properly care for the homeless population — and reported on those.

We stretched beyond our comfort zone again when presented with the opportunity in 2019 to launch an FCC-licensed low-power FM radio station, KSFP 102.5 FM. The station became a hub for local podcasters and other audio creators, the home of our award-winning long-form podcast “Civic,” and a launching point for investigative reporting published on multiple platforms reaching new audiences.

As an ad-free publication from the start, we’ve been free from corporate influence and commercial imperatives that prioritize clicks over carefully crafted content.

But we have been able to make that work with the consistent support of hundreds of individual donors and over the years a generous cadre of philanthropic funders, including: the Reva and David Logan Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, Fund for Investigative Journalism, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, James Irvine Foundation, Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, Google News Initiative, Facebook Journalism Project, Puffin Foundation, Report for America, California Local News Fellowship, California Endowment, Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, Center for Health Journalism, Solutions Journalism Network, Carter Center, Fund for Environmental Journalism, Type Investigations, Investigative Editing Corps, Jay Pritzker Foundation, Tipping Point Community, CatchLight, Strong Foundation for Environmental Values, Renaissance Journalism, ProPublica and Knight Foundation.

We’re also grateful to two essential industry associations, the Institute for Nonprofit News and the Local Independent Online News Publishers.

We have faced plenty of obstacles. When the pandemic forced the suspension of our print edition in 2020, we doubled down on multimedia storytelling with a focus on public health and housing insecurity. In the process we learned how to be more nimble translating investigative work from text to photos to audio and back again.

The media landscape is constantly shifting, with the creation, and sometimes dramatic implosion, of a long line of collaborators and competitors. But the Public Press’ track record of publishing original stories that matter demonstrates our dedication to serving the community.

Lila LaHood’s transition to executive director marks an exciting evolution for the organization. She is an energetic, highly ethical leader whose vision is distinguished by a sharp focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and collaboration — in the composition of our newsroom and in our coverage.

Under her direction, the Public Press will deepen its investigative efforts and public discussions with the help of a team of experienced journalists and up-and-coming talent, through Report for America and the California Local Reporting Fellowship.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has donated to support our quixotic-sounding quest, and continues to chip in a few hard-earned dollars each year to keep us going. More than one-third of our annual budget comes from individual members. Your commitment to our work empowers us to pursue journalism that contributes to a more informed and equitable society, so this transition and transformation period would be the best time to donate to the Public Press!

My new role will give me the chance to explore a range of topics I’ve worked on in the past, and some new ones. These include environmental justice, renewable energy, green jobs, sustainable transportation, climate adaptation, carbon trading, corporate accountability, food systems, and soil, air and water pollution. I’m also interested in a few non-climate-related topics, including neuroscience, digital privacy and artificial intelligence. I’m looking forward to collaborating with partner news organizations.

Overall, I am excited about the important and big-impact stories the Public Press will continue to tell, and confident that we will continue to keep local journalism sophisticated, constructive and feisty.

The post A New Chapter for the San Francisco Public Press appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

CONTACT: Lila LaHood (415) 846-5346; Michael Stoll (415) 846-3983

SAN FRANCISCO — Lila LaHood has been appointed executive director of the San Francisco Public Press, after co-founding the organization 15 years ago and serving as its publisher. Michael Stoll, who held the position since the nonprofit newsroom launched, is stepping down March 1, and will shift his focus to reporting.

“People who care about democracy are desperate for a local news revival,” LaHood said. “The most important thing we can do as investigative journalists is to not get distracted by the hourly news cycle. We work to uncover fractured systems, prioritize questions about equity and inclusion and elevate conversations about critical local issues. While national media and political figures create diversions and treat San Francisco like a spectacle, our reporters stay patient and focused.”  

The Public Press will continue producing in-depth, data-driven investigative reporting and solutions journalism through sfpublicpress.org, its “Civic” podcasts and radio broadcasts on KSFP 102.5 FM. LaHood plans to increase publication frequency by working with reporters to share their investigative findings incrementally and connect meaningfully with audiences. The newsroom this year is focusing its coverage on San Francisco’s response to homelessness, the drug overdose crisis, public health and mental health, environmental equity, shifting political power within the city’s diverse cultural communities and other critical local issues.

“Our reporters develop expertise on their beats while working on big investigative projects,” LaHood said. “In our staff meetings, we’re talking about all the ways they can share more of what they’re learning with readers and listeners. This creates opportunities for engagement and soliciting ideas about which angles to pursue from people whose lives are directly affected by the issues we’re covering.”

Stoll is returning to his first passion — investigative science and environment reporting — and will continue to support the Public Press as a board member.

“Lila is dedicated to accountability journalism that centers on underserved communities, and to building a collaborative environment for reporters to do their best work,” Stoll said. “She’s also invested in partnerships with like-minded local and national news organizations that can extend the reach of our web and podcast storytelling to inform smarter local policy-making.”

Since 2009, the Public Press has published local public-interest journalism focused on equity and accountability in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. The Public Press is planning a series of events to celebrate its 15th anniversary.

“We are grateful to Michael for his many years of leadership and dedication,” said David Cohn, president of the organization’s board of directors. “The idea for the Public Press as a nonprofit newsroom built on the public radio model was all his vision. And Lila has worked to support that vision from day one. The board is confident she will lead the team to serve the community with crucial reporting amid fractious debates about the future of the Bay Area.”

* * *

The San Francisco Public Press is a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization publishing online at sfpublicpress.org and broadcasting on KSFP 102.5 FM in San Francisco.

KSFP is the Public Press’ low-power FM radio station, broadcasting from Sutro Tower as KSFP-LP on 102.5 FM in San Francisco, seven days a week from 4 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 10 p.m. The station streams 24 hours a day at KSFP.fm.

“Civic” is the Public Press’ public affairs radio show and podcast. It airs on KSFP Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and is available on all major podcast platforms.

###

The post New Leadership for Nonprofit Newsroom Dedicated to Local Investigative Reporting appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

Just over 50 newsrooms were selected this year to host new reporting corps positions and join an expanding network of newsrooms benefiting from the program’s support.

“We have placed a bet on these newsrooms, that with our help they will become beacons of the whole industry,” said Kim Kleman, executive director of Report for America, in a statement announcing this year’s newsroom cohort. “They know the coverage they need to better serve their communities. With our help recruiting talented early-career journalists, paying part of their salary, and working with newsrooms to become more sustainable, we expect exciting results.”

We look forward to welcoming a Report for America corps member to our team this summer and expanding Public Press coverage of environmental health equity and corporate accountability in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Journalists interested in joining the Report for America corps are invited to apply here by Jan. 31. If you would like to be considered for the Public Press position, contact our team at editors@sfpublicpress.org before you submit your application.

Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, a nonprofit media organization, and is structured to harness the skills and idealism of an emerging group of journalists plus the creative spirit of local news organizations like ours.

Report for America delivers a wide range of benefits to its corps members. Beyond paying up to half of the journalists’ salaries, it provides ongoing training and mentorship by leading journalists, peer networking and memberships to select professional organizations.

We will soon launch a fundraising campaign to cover the balance of the salary for our Report for America reporting corps staffer. Please consider supporting this vital mission to preserve local news.

Thank you for your support!

The post Report for America Selects San Francisco Public Press as Host Newsroom appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

On Nov. 7, KALW gathered people working on the issue of homelessness at its downtown San Francisco event space for an interactive town hall conversation.

The panelists included:

• Shireen McSpadden: Executive Director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing for the City and County of San Francisco
• Rafael Mandelman: Supervisor representing San Francisco District 8
• Mercedes Bullock: Peer organizer with the Coalition on Homelessness
• Madison Alvarado: Reporter on housing and homelessness for the San Francisco Public Press

Several people who are currently unhoused or have experienced homelessness shared their perspectives, and KALW Executive Producer Ben Trefny moderated the discussion.

If you appreciate our contribution to accurate information and thoughtful discussion please make your generous donation today!

The post Madison Alvarado on KALW’s Panel About Homelessness appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

From INN‘s announcement for the 2023 Nonprofit News Awards: “The photo essay and accompanying story took readers inside the reality of unhoused residents caught up in a crackdown by Berkeley police and officials, who tossed personal belongings into dumpsters and hauled away cars where people were sleeping. It showed the harrowing experience of people having their lives turned upside down by municipal power. After publication of the essay, Berkeley officials began auditing policies for responding to homelessness and overhauling procedures for engaging with people living in vehicles and encampments.” 

The post Yesica Prado Wins INN Insight Award for Visual Journalism appeared first on San Francisco Public Press.

Zhe Wu, a 2023 graduate of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, will join the San Francisco Public Press in early September. We look forward to introducing her to you!

The Public Press is one of 37 California newsrooms chosen to host the inaugural fellowship cohort. 

“At a time when the journalism industry is facing a variety of existential threats, from polarization and lack of trust in news to profound business model failures, our aim is to be a bright spot, filling critical gaps in reporting and creating a viable career path for the next generation of journalists,” said Christa Scharfenberg, project director of the California Local News Fellowship.

Berkeley’s journalism school will provide ongoing training, mentoring and other support throughout the two-year fellowship. The program is funded with $25 million through California Assembly Bill 179 and could inspire additional support for local journalism across the country.

“News and information that’s useful to our communities and neighbors is the building block for a vibrant democracy,” said Berkeley Journalism Dean Geeta Anand. “This program will help strengthen local newsrooms of all kinds to better serve their audiences, telling the stories that matter. It’s also a model for how other states can support community news.”

We look forward to welcoming Zhe to our investigative reporting team!
 

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