Stories published by J-School Students

Farms, Lies & Videotape

Time.com by Carl Nasman on 01/17/2012

Activists are going undercover to film one of America's most private industries: large-scale industrial farms. But attempts to ban these images have sparked a national debate. Carl Nasman, class of 2012 and Vanessa Carr, c/0 2011, report.  Read more...

Explore: Haro Strait, U.S.-Canada Border

Sierra magazine by Molly Oleson on 01/01/2012

A first-person account of kayaking among killer whales in Washington's San Juan Islands.  Read more...

Mixtape Madness: The impresario of viral high school basketball fights to stay on top

TheClassical.org by Sam Laird on 12/05/2011

At 26, Wagner is the basketball mixtape’s gonzo king. His by-the-bootstraps company, HoopMixTape, has become synonymous with the sport’s culture and helped launch the public awareness of numerous young NBA players like John Wall, Derrick Rose, and Brandon Jennings. His videos have been viewed online more than 120 million times, and he has more than 125,000 YouTube subscribers. Sam Laird, class of 2011, reports. Also featured on www.sportsfeat.com.  Read more...

One hundred years with Ishi, the "last wild Indian" of North America

Crosscurrents with KALW News by Terria Smith on 12/05/2011

The 100th anniversary of the public debut of a man called Ishi. Ishi was Native American, a Yana from the Deer Creek area, about 150 miles northeast of Berkeley. And for the past century he’s been known as “the last wild Indian in North America.”  Read more...

Bill would make it harder to cover up deaths in custody

Los Angeles Times by Alexa Vaughn on 11/23/2011

Congress appears set to pass the measure, prompted in part by outrage over reports of abuse in centers that hold immigration prisoners.  Read more...

In Richmond, Foreclosed Homes Breed a New Kind of Problem

The New York Times by William Harless on 11/12/2011

William Harless, class of 2013, writes in The New York Times about the city of Richmond's struggles to pinpoint the parties responsible for deteriorated foreclosed and preforeclosure houses and to hold financial institutions accountable for them.  Read more...

Occupied SF

San Francisco Chronicle by Jessica Lum on 10/30/2011

Jessica Lum, class of 2012, shot and produced a video on Occupy SF protesters for the San Francisco Chronicle.  Read more...

The man who knows everything

Financial Times by David Gelles on 10/28/2011

Salman Khan’s online academy has made him personal tutor to the planet, with more than 80 million YouTube views. He talks to David Gelles, class of 2008, about a new model for education.  Read more...

Rewriting Fillmore's Redevelopment History

KALW 91. FM Crosscurrents by Angela Bass on 10/18/2011

Angela J. Bass and Adelaide Chen, both class of 2010, report for KALW 91.7 FM Crosscurrents about the efforts of African American and Japanese American residents to reclaim residency in San Francisco's Fillmore District several decades after being displaced by the city's redevelopment agency.  Read more...

"One Less Investment Banker: Chung To Quit Wall Street to Sponsor Schooling for China's Blood Orphans"

Harvard Magazine by Marilyn Chase on 09/01/2011

Marilyn Chase, UC Berkeley Lecturer, writes in Harvard Magazine about a Wall Street investment banker who gave up a career in finance to launch a small AIDS charity in China, addressing one of the most sensitive and vulnerable populations in the country: youth orphaned by a blood-selling scheme gone awry.  Read more...

Inside Match.com

Financial Times by David Gelles on 08/29/2011

As president and key engineer, Mandy Ginsberg and Amarnath Thombre have taken the world’s biggest dating site to a new level  Read more...

Threats or payback?

San Francisco Bay Guardian by Josh Wolf on 08/23/2011

Officers from the San Francisco Police Department arrested a 21-year-old activist from Hunters Point less than 24 hours after he appeared on a public access television show where he indicted the police for a recent shooting and named officers he says have personally harassed him.  Read more...

Local Intelligence: American Steel Studios

The New York Times by Sam Laird on 08/07/2011

West Oakland's post-industrial hinterland is home to many active and abandoned warehouses. Sam Laird, class of 2011, reports on one old depot where a thriving arts community has taken root.  Read more...

Jane Fonda in 'Prime Time'

ABC News, "Nightline" by Julia Chan on 08/07/2011

I provided research for the producer and helped with the shoot at Ms. Fonda's home. I also obtained the movie clips used in the piece.  Read more...

Local Basketball Stars Shun Bay Area Colleges

The New York Times by Sam Laird on 07/31/2011

National powers raid for Bay Area talent as local universities struggle to keep up in a college basketball arms race. Sam Laird, class of 2011, reports.  Read more...

The Defender

The Atavist by Jordan Conn on 07/19/2011

Manute Bol’s journey from Sudan to the NBA and back again.  Read more...

San Francisco’s Bay Bridge Gets 5,300-Ton Steel Span Delivery from China

Bloomberg by Hunter Holcombe on 07/10/2011

The final segments for San Francisco Bay’s new suspension bridge are being loaded onto a ship in Shanghai today, moving California’s largest current public works project a step closer to completion.  Read more...

Decision Time at Lawson's Landing

Bay Nature by Garrett McAuliffe on 07/07/2011

Garrett McAuliffe, '11 reports on the upcoming July13 hearing that will decide the fate of long standing campground at Lawson's Landing. The campground has existed in a sort of legal limbo, never acquiring the necessary permits to make camping legitimate. Now, after a half-century of unauthorized expansion, the campground finally looks set to resolve its long-standing rift with the law.  Read more...

Massages really can make the pain go away, study finds

The Seattle Times by Roberto Daza on 07/04/2011

A new study reinforced what physical therapist have long suspected: Massage, when coupled with traditional medical treatment, provides significant relief from chronic back pain. The 400-person study was conducted by Seattle's Group Health Research Institute.  Read more...

Faded Prospect Keeps Hope Alive To Be A 30-Something MLB Rookie

Yahoo Sports: The Post Game by Laith Agha on 06/14/2011

Laith Agha, '12 reports on a the 12 year path of a 30 year-old minor league baseball player, Tagg Bozied, and his dream for the big leagues.  Read more...

Foul and phenomenal

The Philadelphia Inquirer by Gregory Thomas on 06/14/2011

Greg Thomas, class of 2012, reveals the inspiration behind Go The Fuck To Sleep, a "children's book for parents" that incited a frenzy of Internet love months before its publication date and changed the way some in the publishing industry conceive of social media marketing strategies.  Read more...

The Pinball Wizard

East Bay Express cover story by Alexa Vaughn on 05/25/2011

Michael Schiess has amassed the world's largest collection of rare pinball machines. But the future of his Pacific Pinball Museum remains uncertain.  Read more...

In Calif. Town, Prison May Fix One Employment Problem, But Create Another

PBS NewsHour by Alissa Figueroa on 05/05/2011

Alissa Figueroa, class of 2011, takes a look at how illegal immigration, agriculture and the prison industrial complex intersect in this video feature aired on the PBS NewsHour.  Read more...

No football? No Problem for Oakland

The New York Times by Ian Stewart on 04/14/2011

Ian A. Stewart, class of 2011, writes in the New York Times about the NFL lockout's potential ramifications on the Oakland Raiders' stadium lease agreement with Alameda County and the City of Oakland.  Read more...

In Northern Kenyan refugee camp, Ethiopian single mom finds her strength

Deutsche Welle Radio & KALW Cross Currents by Rebecca Palmstrom on 04/12/2011

Seventy-five thousand refugees moved to the U.S. in 2009, many settling here in the Bay to make a new life in America. But, before they arrive, here many lived in refugee camps for years. Some refugees spend their entire life in camps that were meant to be temporary. Becky Palmstrom visited one such refugee camp in northern Kenya, and she’s been bringing us stories from the crowded makeshift community – at least 50,000 people live in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northern Kenya. That’s where Palmstrom met a young woman from Ethiopia, named Sadia Happi. Happi has been in the camp for almost three years now, and she’s only 19 years old, but she’s already become a community leader among the Oromo – a tribal group from Ethiopia.  Read more...

A Breeding Ground for New Companies in the Dogpatch

The New York Times by Ashwin Seshagiri on 04/11/2011

Ashwin Seshagiri, class of 2012, writes in The New York Times about the culture of collaboration among startups in a factory-turned-incubator in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood.  Read more...

Slaughterhouse Shortage Stunting Area’s Eat-Local Movement

The New York Times by David Ferry on 04/08/2011

David Ferry, class of 2012, writes in The New York Times about how a shortage of slaughterhouses in the Bay Area is affecting the eat-local movement. The piece, produced for The Bay Citizen, was the lead story on www.nytimes.com on April 7 and was featured in the Bay Area pages of the April 8 edition of the Times.  Read more...

Should Lottery Winners Share with Colleagues?

CNN.com by Jason Marsh on 04/01/2011

Jason Marsh, class of 2005, writes in an opinion piece on CNN.com that sharing the latest Mega Millions jackpot with their co-workers might bring the winners more happiness than keeping the prize all to themselves.  Read more...

How can we keep the people that harvest our veggies healthy, too?

GOOD by Bridget Huber on 03/25/2011

It’s nice to think of the people who grow our food as hale and hearty folk who get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Reality check: Even though agricultural workers spend their days surrounded by fresh produce, obesity and diabetes are at epidemic levels in many farmworker communities. Bridget Huber, class of 2011, is a News21 fellow and reported for GOOD on the issue.  Read more...

Do Gang Injunctions Work?

healthycal.org by Heather Gilligan on 03/15/2011

The emotional cacophony that surrounds gang injunctions, though fueled by genuine concerns about crime, safety and civil rights, drowns out extended discussion about effectiveness. Do gang injunctions work? Do they reduce crime and make city streets safer? Heather Tirado Gilligan, class of 2011, reports for healthycal.org.  Read more...

Shoe Marketer Who Enriched N.C.A.A. Takes on His Creation

The New York Times / Bay Citizen by Sam Laird on 03/13/2011

For decades, Sonny Vaccaro revolutionized the merchandizing of amateur athletes, earning millions of dollars for the sneaker companies that employed him, the N.C.A.A. and himself. But more recently, as an adviser in a closely watched federal court case, Vaccaro has devoted himself to bringing down the empire he helped create. Sam Laird, class of 2011, reports.  Read more...

Food Stamps for Good Food

The Nation by Melanie Mason on 03/10/2011

Melanie Mason '10 looks into the how farmers' markets are maximizing the value of food stamps.  Read more...

Markets / Wall Street

The Wall Street Journal by Brian Aguilar on 03/01/2011

Redesign of our Markets page. Launch of our Wall Street page.  Read more...

Recchiuti Opening Cafe in Ex-Piccino Space

SF Weekly by Ashwin Seshagiri on 02/22/2011

Ashwin Seshagiri, class of 2012, brings news of the latest culinary developments in what is becoming the next up-and-coming neighborhood in San Francisco.  Read more...

Cal's Gutierrez Shaped By Life-Changing Voyage

SportsIllustrated.com by Jordan Conn on 01/27/2011

Jordan Conn, class of 2010, writes for SI.com about Jorge Gutierrez's improbable path from Mexico to Berkeley.  Read more...

Immigrant Minors Fall Through Cracks in Legal Representation

New York Times Student Journalism Institute by Nancy Lopez on 01/13/2011

Non-profits groups and lawyers facing deportation charges for unaccompanied children are reaching the limit of their caseloads.  Read more...

Making Music at Berkeley (Video)

UC Berkeley Department of Music by Sade McDougal on 01/09/2011

The UC Berkeley Chorus is one of the school’s hidden gems. It includes 70 singers --from novice to professional, and undergraduates to seniors in the community. I’m a graduate student in journalism, but since I was a child, music has been my constant source of inspiration -- and I’m not alone.  Read more...

Ghost of 'adverse selection' looms over health-care fight

Capitol Weekly by Ian Stewart on 01/06/2011

Ian A. Stewart, class of 2011, writes in Sacramento's Capitol Weekly on potential dangers facing health-reform effort in California.  Read more...

Drug Addicts Unite!

East Bay Express by Julia Landau on 12/29/2010

Galvanized by a protest on the capitol steps, a new political lobbying union is forming, representing a notorious underclass: drug users, past and present.  Read more...

Performance-Enhancing Basketball Shoes

The New York Times Magazine by Sam Laird on 12/19/2010

For the Year in Ideas issue, Sam Laird, class of 2011, reports on a revolutionary new shoe banned by the NBA.  Read more...

Lecturer Samantha Grant named 2011 BAVC MediaMaker Fellow

BAVC blog by Samantha Grant on 12/18/2010

As a 2011 BAVC Media Maker Fellow, UC Berkeley lecturer Samantha Grant will be developing a robust outreach and engagement plan for her upcoming feature length documentary about the 2003 Jayson Blair/New York Times scandal. The new BAVC MediaMaker Fellows program is designed to engage eight local artists in a year-long series of opportunities that will support project development through professional mentorship in multiplatform and transmedia storytelling through emerging technologies, strategic social media, marketing, and fundraising. The BAVC MediaMaker Fellows program will build an engaged local community of creative media artists from diverse fields, increase their capacity for diverse and lasting impact, and inspire new partnerships to support future work.  Read more...

Facebook’s grand plan for the future

Financial Times Weekend Magazine by David Gelles on 12/04/2010

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg talks to David Gelles, class of 2008, about the company's plans to "make everything social."  Read more...

Starbucks to Open China Coffee Farm, Securing Global Supply

Wall Street Journal by Laurie Burkitt on 11/14/2010

Starbucks Corp. signed a deal with the Chinese provincial government of Yunnan to set up its first-ever coffee-bean farm in the world to cater to a rapidly growing population of coffee drinkers in China amid a global battle for quality coffee beans.  Read more...

Chasing the Swell: Big Wave Surfing Through the Pacific

The Los Angeles Times by Sachi Cunningham on 11/12/2010

Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005 created a 3 part video/multimedia story for the Los Angeles Times about the growing sport of big wave surfing. Cunningham followed the top big wave riders in the world as they chased swells from Hawaii to California to Mexico during the 2010 season. The story gets into the minds of these dare devils as well as gets behind the science involved with forecasting giant waves.  Read more...

The Perfect Stride

The New Yorker by Jennifer Kahn on 11/01/2010

A profile of marathon coach Alberto Salazar, and his quest to build the perfect runner.  Read more...

Death Valley

Virtuoso Life magazine by Hunter Holcombe on 11/01/2010

The Alien landscape of California's remote desert.  Read more...

Analysis: Americans left at risk as transportation safety fixes are delayed

The Washington Post by Ryan Phillips on 10/22/2010

Ryan Phillips, class of 2011, investigates why government agencies are taking longer than ever before to implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board that would save lives. The story appeared on Page A1 of the Post.  Read more...

Michael Lewis gives 'Money Never Sleeps' two thumbs down

The Bay Citizen by Lillian Mongeau on 10/21/2010

Michael Lewis' neon green sneakers are glowing in the darkened movie theater, one bobbing with that bouncy energy extreme extroverts have. "What I think we're going to see is a movie made for money by a man whose heart is in South American dictatorships," Lewis says, gesturing at the blank screen with his soda in hand. "He didn't know what a CDO was." A CDO is a collateralized debt obligation, and the man in question is Oliver Stone, who directed "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," which is about to start rolling on screen 1 at the Rialto Cinemas in El Cerrito.  Read more...

Imprisoned, Rehabilitated, Unemployed

The East Bay Express cover story by Alexa Vaughn on 10/13/2010

Oakland's large population of ex-felons struggle to get jobs. And their only glimmer of hope — a certificate of rehabilitation — isn't easy to get. Just ask Hawk Aavan Jonsson. (Part of http://berkeley.news21.com/ )  Read more...

Truckers 'bogus' checks bring dangers to the road

MSNBC by Ryan Phillips on 09/29/2010

Ryan Phillips, class of 2011, investigates the medical certification process for commercial drivers and finds a broken system that allows drivers with dangerous health problems to keep driving.  Read more...