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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

FAC, @spj-norcal.bsky.social, Pacific Workers Media Guild oppose a Modesto law that prohibits possession of safety gear like gas masks or helmets at protests. Reporters should not have to choose between their personal safety and doing their jobs. firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025/07/21/c...

SPJ and its chapters, SPJ LA, @spj-norcal.bsky.social and SPJ San Diego, have joined letters led by @facoalition.bsky.social, @lapressclub.bsky.social and @freedom.press expressing concern over officers’ treatment of journalists covering protests related to ICE operations in LA.

The assassin of #Oakland #journalist Chauncey Bailey has been released from state prison well short of the sentence he received for testifying against the shotcaller and an accomplice chaunceybaileyproject.org The Chauncey Bailey Project

We are monitoring the protests for any interactions with law enforcement that interfere with reporting and safety in doing so. Please reach out if this is the case. DM for survey link or email us, can also DM for Signal

A setback for The AP and for independent media tonight: "A federal appeals court will allow the White House to exclude the Associated Press from access to the Oval Office, Mar-a-Lago and Air Force One if it chooses, according to a new court order." www.cnn.com/2025/06/06/p...

In the last 20 or so minutes I’ve seen LAPD officers shove women to the ground without provocation, rip a sign out of a man’s hand and then swing a baton into his leg and raise a less-lethal launcher to aim directly at a protester (which I’m 99% is a major policy violation.)

LAPD fired rubber bullets at Australian journalist @laurentomasi.bsky.social

JOURNALISTS IN LA or COVERING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT: Press rights groups are trying to coordinate responses to unlawful attacks by federal officers against journalists during protests. If you can help ID individuals in charge of operations (incident commander, etc.) & contact info please LMK.

"The Society of Professional Journalists instructs reporters to “balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort,” and journalists accordingly tend to protect the identities of children and survivors of sexual assault."

Had a great time talking about record requests this afternoon. Thanks @spj-norcal.bsky.social and @facoalition.bsky.social for putting together a great panel. There’s always more tips to learn. I loved the common thread of knowing the law and just getting the request in.

Not to brag but, also, yes, to brag, had fun talking to journalists about secure comms on world press freedom day at the @spj-norcal.bsky.social conference. At @freedom.press we facilitate training on this and so much more. Journos, check us out: freedom.press/digisec/

BREAKING: A.G. Bondi reverses Garland policy against subpoenaing journalists. Stating that leaks "undermine President Trump’s policies," Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that "the news media ‘must answer subpoenas’ when authorized." Today, at Law Dork —>

The regional conference is one week from today! We've got 15+ panels, 50+ panelists ready to lead hands-on training and important discussions you won't want to miss, including the keynote at @archive.org. Check out the schedule here and get your tickets ASAP spjnorcal.org/conference/

CALIFORNIA JOURNOS! The Society of Professional Journalists NorCal chapter is hosting a huge dang journalist conference right here in San Francisco. 2 days. 17 workshops. 50+ panelists. Workshops on: AI, diversity, investigative tips, book writing, more! SIGN UP: spjnorcal.org/conference/

For those who like seeing me in the wild I'll be repping @theflytrapmedia.com at the @spj-norcal.bsky.social conference on May 3!

Interested in attending the SPJ Region 11 conference? Buy your tickets now -- costs go up one week from today On May 2-3 at USF, we'll have over 15 panels and hands-on trainings to choose from, with the keynote held @archive.org Check out the schedule and register below! spjnorcal.org/conference/

Local student newspaper editors said they are handling a surge of requests to take down or alter published articles, primarily from international students who fear pieces they wrote might attract the attention of ICE and endanger their legal statuses on campus. (1/4)

In reversal, Lurie says you can read his texts

NEW: Gannett will stop publishing company diversity/demographic data, citing Trump's January executive order to eliminate DEI initiatives. If other news companies taking similar actions, you can find the info to securely send me a tip at the bottom of this story. www.niemanlab.org/2025/04/gann...

New by me —> Which types of people aren’t big fans of "impartial" news? People who don't have power. www.niemanlab.org/2025/04/whic...

To help data journalists with their reporting, @JournoResource has curated a list of non-government websites and archives that preserve or maintain public health data. 🔗 Read more: https://twp.ai/9PRdIK

My colleague @meganmunce.bsky.social and I will be on @kqedforum.bsky.social tomorrow to discuss our investigation into widespread underinsurance among California homeowners. Tune in! www.kqed.org/forum/201010...

this story lets the white house make an unscientific claim under the guise that it is scientific and then never circles back and explains why it’s actually the white house that misunderstands science here.

Breaking: A federal judge has restored @apnews.com's access to the White House press pool, ruling that the administration's ban on the news service over its refusal to use the term "Gulf of America" likely violated the First Amendment.

How to leak to a journalist! featuring a bunch of good advice from those who know: @marisakabas.bsky.social @amandabecker.bsky.social @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social @rmac.bsky.social @swin24.bsky.social @juliaangwin.com @benmullin.bsky.social & @maxtani.bsky.social

Not really surprised by this piece from @fitzthereporter.bsky.social. When I worked for a federal archive, I had to be familiar with an entire book of records retention policies, and it’s always confounded me that the City has nothing remotely comparable

"Lawmakers in the state Legislature have introduced about a dozen proposals that would make it harder to confront your local officials at public meetings and would shield more information from the public eye, according to an analysis of CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database."

🏆 NEW DEADLINE FOR THE SPJ ETHICS IN JOURNALISM AWARD IS APRIL 7! The award honors journalists or news organizations that perform in an outstanding ethical manner, demonstrating the ideals of the SPJ Code of Ethics. Learn more and submit now: form.jotformpro.com/form/5048541...

Want to learn how to carry out watchdog investigations, or data-driven reporting? Looking for training scholarships? 📌 Search no further! GIJN has put together a list of available scholarships from universities and training organizations around the world. Full resource: https://twp.ai/1VH2lR