When I joined inewsource three years ago as a part of the inaugural class of the UC Berkeley California Local News Fellowship, I felt straight away that I was in an intriguing constellation — at once deeply immersed in covering my local community and in touch with my network of colleagues throughout the state.
It struck a clear chord for me. As journalism faces a slew of challenges, new forms of cooperation and ways of bolstering this craft are crucial.
I was also conscious I was one of many in a vast experiment, and that each reporter’s experience was unique. It was clear to me that the program’s strength was in that uniqueness, and that those experiences would be crucial to help shape the program to its potential. The program places dozens of journalists in newsrooms statewide each year.
This year, after much feedback from fellows, leadership opened a position on its board for an alum of the program. I knew I had to apply. This fellowship is a powerful response to a changing media landscape, and the fellows who have lived its many iterations throughout the state hold a trove of knowledge, experience and ideas that can strengthen the program.
As the fellowship’s first alum board member, I am excited to help bring my colleagues’ words to the table.
