Stories published by J-School Students
Catherine Price: Thinking About Diabetes With Every BiteCatherine Price, class of 2006, writes in the New York Times about what it's like to live with Type 1 diabetes.
Thomas Gorman: The Rise In Gold Prices Has Hurt the Business of Selling Grills
John “JC” Cho sells grills on Broadway near 21st street, and is Oakland’s self-proclaimed “Gold Teeth Master.” But with gold at $1,100 an ounce, business is tough and he’s had to figure out how to deal with the extra expenses while still pleasing his customers.
Yunfeng Zhao: On Thinner Ice
Melting Glaciers on the Roof of the World... Global warming is melting 18,000 Himalayan glaciers, the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar ice sheets. Their melting spells trouble for not only 2 billion Asians but the whole world.
Nick Burns: Chef Brews a Kettlebell Workout
Nick Burns, class of 2010, produced a video for the Wall Street Journal about a Chez Panisse chef's workout routine using kettlebells.
Puck Lo: City Buffer Zone, Separating Abortion Patients From Protesters, Faces Lawsuit in Federal Court
Oakland, like some other cities, requires right-to-life protesters to keep a certain distance from women entering or leaving abortion clinics. But clinic escorts–those who accompany women past the sidewalk protesters–face no such restriction. A lawsuit has pushed the issue into federal court. Puck Lo, class of 2011, writes for Oaklandnorth.net
Heather Gilligan: Knowledge--Not Emotion--Stops Rape
Heather Tirado Gilligan, class of 2011, wrote this story about rape and public policy for the Richmond Confidential after the rape of a Richmond High student.
Bryan Gibel: Feds to Continue Raids on Medical Pot in California
Despite rhetoric of détente from Washington, this story was the first to break the news that prosecutors will continue raids on medical marijuana across the state. By Bryan Gibel, class of 2011, for Mission Loc@l.
Linsay Rousseau Burnett: Personal Website
Check out a portfolio of my print, broadcast, radio and photography work.
Linsay Rousseau Burnett: Fruit-Picking Children
Linsay Rousseau Burnett, class of 2010, investigates child labor in American agriculture. As one of four Carnegie Fellows chosen to work for ABC's Brian Ross Investigative Reporting Unit in the summer of 2009, this story is the result of their three month long investigative reporting project. All footage - with the exception of the blueberry festival, Adkins shots and Zama interview - was shot by the Carnegie Fellows. They were not involved in the writing of the script and feel that, due to time constraints, the final product was not able fully convey the complex nature of the issue. The day this story aired, Walmart and supermarket chain Kroger severed ties with Adkin packaging company. That same week, the Department of Labor cited the owner for child labor violations discovered during the summer. Versions of the story also appeared on Good Morning America and World News with Charles Gibson and the ABC Blotter website.
Puck Lo: Thelonious Monk: A Life Rediscovered
At the Eastside Arts Alliance, historian Robin D. G. Kelley speaks about his new book examining the life of pianist Thelonious Monk, and upends the myth of Monk as a reclusive jazz genius. Puck Lo, class of 2011, writes for Oaklandnorth.net.
Nick Burns: Bay Bridge Shows Its Age
Nick Burns, class of 2010, (along with two classmates) helped produce an interactive graphic for the Wall Street Journal explaining the failed repairs of the Bay Bridge.
Alexa Vaughn: Lights, Cameras, Action at Richmond High
Concerned parents, teachers and community organizers at Richmond High School have demanded the school board install new security cameras, better lighting on campus and create a comprehensive district safety plan.
Rosa Ramirez: Summer Classes Slashed at City
The City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees voted 6-0 last week to adopt a budget that includes the slashing of 85 percent of their summer courses—a first for the college.
Rosa Ramirez: Video: Garage Sale With A Purpose: Education
It was no ordinary garage sale on Saturday at the Ocean campus of City College of San Francisco, as the school hoped to raise enough money to reinstate one of 800 canceled classes. Each costs $6,000.
Linsay Rousseau Burnett: Is the GI Bill Just an IOU?
Linsay Rousseau Burnett, class of 2010, presents her views on the fact that hundreds of thousands of student veterans have yet to receive a dollar of their Post 911 GI Bill benefits, forcing many of them into debt.
Puck Lo: Art, Live from Death Row
At 23rd and Telegraph, inside a storefront/gallery/craft space called Rock Paper Scissors, neatly hung canvas paintings and framed ink drawings lined the walls. Cards below each piece identified the artist: all are prisoners at San Quentin. Puck Lo, class of 2011, filed this story and photo slideshow for Oaklandnorth.net.
Madeleine Bair: Life as a Refugee in Colombia
Madeleine Bair, class of '10, contributes the audio story of an 11-year-old internally displaced Colombian, and a slideshow of the shelter where she lives, for the World Vision Report.
Rosa Ramirez: College Cutbacks Hurt Transfer Students
City College of San Francisco students applying to California’s public universities next fall could be facing an uphill battle. Not only are public universities accepting fewer students—most California State University schools did not admit transfer students for spring 2010—but some schools say popular undergraduate programs are not taking as many new students because of tighter budgets, making admission more competitive.
Rosa Ramirez: Illegal Alien Costume Creates Uproar & Target Pulls It
An illegal alien Halloween costume sold at Target.com and other major retailers caused an uproar. The alien costume description read, "He didn't just cross a border, he crossed a galaxy!" Immigrant advocates say the costume poked fun at a vulnerable community: undocumented immigrants.
Jenny Chu: Graffiti Battle in West Oakland
Jenny Chu (MJ '09) produced a video story on Oakland's 3rd Annual Estria Graffiti Battle featured on Oakland Local's brand new news site.
Rosa Ramirez: Undocumented Students Learn How to Pay to Study
A conference to help undocumented students in public colleges and universities under the AB 540 law gathered at San Francisco State University. Undocumented students spoke about the challenges they face and how they can connect with resources, including scholarship-granting organizations, to help them succeed in school.
Rosa Ramirez: Federal Jobs in Demand
More than a thousand City College of San Francisco students and local residents attended the federal job fair.
Madeleine Bair: Caribbean Beat Becomes Global Dance Craze
Madeleine Bair (MJ '10) reports for the Associated Press from the birthplace of cumbia.
Shaleece Haas: Potential Cuts in In-Home Supportive Services
Shaleece Haas, class of 2010, reports for KALW on the budget cuts to California's in-home services and the lawsuit aimed at reversing the cutbacks.
Rosa Ramirez: Elderly Students to Lose ESL, Citizenship Classes
While deep state budget cuts have affected nearly every student population in California’s public schools, the impact on the elderly has received little attention. Yet hundreds are effected — by losing a range of services from citizenship and ESL classes to exercise and theater courses. City College’s Older Adult Program offers some 80 courses in more than 40 sites for people 55 years and older.
Robert Rogers: History to Make Way for Housing
Multimedia piece and 900 word story on historic Japanese nurseries and their impending destruction to make way for new development.
Robert Rogers: Family Calls For End To Violence
Story on community violence with photos/maps.
Alba Mora-Roca: THE URBAN INDIGENOUS
It is said that the Amazon rainforest is the lungs of the world, but it consumes as much oxygen as it produces. It is said to be an abundant fertile land, but its acidic and sandy soil make it the most difficult land to harvest. Moreover, the Amazon is thought of as predominantly rural, and yet the majority of people live in concentrated urban areas. Just as the rest of the world, most inhabitants of the Amazonia basin live now in a city. “The Urban Indigenous Project” explores the Amazon’s native peoples’ experience of migration from the Colombian rainforest to the city. Using different media, this project seeks takes a look at the indigenous experience in the urban context of globalization.
Rosa Ramirez: Teachers 4 Social Justice
Students in urban schools face obstacles including poverty, homelessness, gang activity and immigration raids. The annual conference Teachers 4 Social Justice tries to help teachers help their students.
Thomas Gorman: Crowd Gathers at Chabot to See NASA’s Probe Crash Into Moon
After nearly four months of spaceflight, the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission sacrificed itself for science Friday morning and the audience at Oakland’s Chabot Space and Science Center experienced the impact live.
Antonio (Ali) Winston: NYPD expands "Ring of Steel" to Midtown
The New York Police Department has expanded its video surveillance network to Midtown Manhattan, claiming the cameras will guard against terrorist attacks. However, there are doubts about the efficacy of video surveillance in fighting crime and deterring violent acts.
Thomas Gorman: After Long, Long Night, City Council Supports BART Airport Connector
After a long session of impassioned public debate stretching into early Wednesday morning, the Oakland City Council yesterday passed a largely symbolic resolution in support of the Oakland Airport Connector.
Rosa Ramirez: City College Helps Census Count Undocumented
In an effort to count Mission District residents, including undocumented immigrants, the U.S. Census partnered with City College of San Francisco to ensure every resident is tallied. Census officials have said they hired filed workers from within hard-to-count populations.
Madeleine Bair: The Hymn of Montes de Maria
Madeleine Bair, class of 2010, reports for the public radio program, The World, on a Colombian song considered the unofficial anthem of the Caribbean's Montes de Maria region.
Lily Mihalik: State Cuts Take Toll on Elderly
First in line for the Monday morning rush, Gelacio Rillera, sits in his lawn chair at the top of the stairs of the Mission District’s Social Security office, waiting for the doors to open at 9:00 a.m. He’s there on a summons; the state supplement to his social security check is going to be cut. Again. Like 1.5 million Californians, Rillera’s state supplement has been cut twice this year, and another is on the way. [Read More...]
Bryan Gibel: Obama and San Francisco Officials Disagree on Health Care Reform
Obama says national health care reform will exclude undocumented immigrants. San Francisco's public health program—touted as a model for reform—doesn't ask about immigration status. By Bryan Gibel, class of 2011, for Mission Loc@l.
Lily Mihalik: Mission Activist Speaks Out Against Honduran Coup
Forty years ago the Mission District was alive with revolution. Streets teemed with demonstrators and the 24th Street Bart station became known as Plaza Sandino—a gathering place for revolutionaries opposed to the Military dictatorship of Nicaraguan president, Anastasio Somoza. Alejandro Murguia, a poet and professor, was at the forefront of these movements, and this summer after the June 28 coup of Hondruan President Manuel Zelaya, he was again busy organizing protests. This time, however, he was on the same side as the U.S government. Zelaya, the 65th president of Honduras, was removed on the grounds that his proposal to have a plebiscite over extending presidential term limits was unconstitutional. Roberto Micheletti, the former head of Congress, replaced him, but promised to step down after the November elections. [Read More...]
Bryan Gibel: Hotel Workers’ Rally Leads to Arrests
More than 1,700 hotel workers protested in Union Square in San Francisco on Sept. 24, 2009. The action led to nearly 100 arrests. Bryan Gibel, class of 2011, shot the photos, recorded the audio and put together this slide show for Mission Loc@l.
Garance Burke: Probe by J-School Alum Finds Toxic Drinking Water In Schools Nationwide
Garance Burke, class of 2004, found thousands of schools in inner cities and small towns nationwide provided unsafe drinking water in a 10-month multimedia investigation for the Associated Press.
Rosa Ramirez: Changing the Odds, One Youth at a Time
The Changing the Odds program, an intensive 10-week training and mentoring program, is designed to help youth coming out of the juvenile justice system turn their lives around. On Sept. 18 the program graduated 12 students. The ceremony was held at the Mission District's Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.
Rosa Ramirez: Education Budget Cuts Shortchange Students
This year about 800 classes from across the City College of San Francisco system will be canceled — 270 in the fall and as many as 530 in the spring — forcing students to compete for seats and other limited resources. The cuts were made to close the college’s $18 to $20 million budget shortfall.
Phoebe Fronistas: Surefire Hit Opens Central Stage
Phoebe Fronistas, class of 2011, presents the Greek National Theater's 2009-10 winter lineup for Greece's Kathimerini English Edition.
Noah Buhayar: Old Wine, New Bottles
Retrofits of existing buildings can cut energy use, save money—and attract tenants, writes Noah Buhayar, Class of 2010, for the Wall Street Journal.
Helene Goupil: New Website Pairs Visitors With Parisians
Helene Goupil, class of 2010, writes about a new website that puts visitors in touch with Parisians for The Associated Press.
Lily Mihalik: Horacio Franco Serenades the Mission
Horacio Franco is one of Mexico’s rising stars. A flute and recorder virtuoso, he’s played with virtually every Mexican orchestra and given concerts around the globe. On Sept. 17, Franco discussed his musical inspirations with Mission Loc@l reporter Lily Mihalik at the Mission Dolores Basilica. VIDEO
Jacob Fenston: Bicycling in Cuba takes visitors off the tourist track
Emma Brown and Jacob Fenston, class of 2009, write in the Washington Post travel section about a cycling adventure in Cuba.
Rosa Ramirez: Two Dead in Shooting on 24 Street and Potrero Avenue
In the Mission District’s third homicide this year, two people were killed in a Sunday afternoon shooting at Papa Potrero’s Pizza at 24th Street and Potrero Avenue. San Francisco Police believe the shootings are gang related.
Jordan Conn: Locker Leads Huskies Turnaround
Jordan Conn, class of 2010, writes for SI.com about multi-talented University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker.
Rebecca Ruiz: Smart Choices Foods: Dumb As They Look?
Rebecca Ruiz, '06, writes at Forbes.com about how food companies spent more than $1 million developing the nutritional guidelines for a new labeling program.
Jenny Chu: Two Films by Alumna Featured at Atlanta Film Festival
Jenny Chu (MJ '09) attended the International Black DocuFest film festival last weekend where two of her short documentaries were screened. The first film follows two aspiring students who attend the Oakland School for the Arts, an inner city art-based charter school. The second film from Sierra Leone, W. Africa is about women suffering from obstetric fistula, a devastating medical condition, and the Sierra Leonean doctor who tries to help them.