Hello, and welcome to the March edition of Scoop, the official publication of the San Francisco Press Club.
We’re coming up on two months of the second Trump Administration, and it’s a tumultuous time in which journalists across the country are delivering extraordinary public-interest reporting — even as media organizations from ABC to the Wall Street Journal undergo painful layoffs. Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has put out a new report finding that 2024 was the deadliest year on record for the world’s journalists.
In happier news, The San Francisco Press Club is hosting a special networking mixer in Pleasanton featuring East Bay mayors. Advance reservations are required for the event, which will take place from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on March 25 at Oyo Restaurant, 680 Main St. The event offers a unique opportunity to engage with local leaders while enjoying a selection of wines from Wood Family Vineyards in Livermore. Attendance is limited to 50 spots for this exclusive event. It’s first-come first served for reservations so please RSVP now to avoid disappointment.
Questions, feedback, or want to flag an item for our next edition? Reach the editors at scoop@sfpressclub.org.
And now, on with the news…
MEDIA NEWS
A Stanford University student will not face charges following his arrest while covering pro-Gaza protests in June 2024. Dilan Gohill was reporting for Stanford Daily about protesters who barricaded themselves inside the university president’s office, as The Mercury News reports.
Hearst is close to acquiring the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. The New York-headquartered media group already owns The San Francisco Chronicle, and may buy the Press Democrat for an amount “in the low eight figures,” according to the San Francisco Standard.
The FCC is investigating San Francisco radio station KCBS over its reporting on ICE. FCC chairman Brendan Carr said the station’s reporting on immigration raids may be at odds with the station’s “public interest obligations,” according to KQED, raising concerns around press freedom.
The Wall Street Journal has laid off much of its tech reporting team in San Francisco. Talking Biz News has more info on the affected reporters and editors, including Jason Dean, who had been with the Journal for 24 years.
Former KTVU news anchor Dennis Richmond has died. Richmond, who had covered everything from the assassinations of George Moscone and Harvey Milk to the Oakland Hills firestorm in 1991, was 81, The Express Tribune reports.
A Palo Alto resident has been named National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year. Palo Alto Online reports that Julia Satterthwaite has received the award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
EVENTS
March 13 — ”Stripped for Parts” screening. Roxie Theater and San Francisco Public Press are screening a documentary by Rick Goldsmith about Alden Capital, a hedge fund that has been buying up media properties.
March 18 — Book Talk: The Moving Image. Peter B. Kaufman and Rick Prelinger are discussing Kaufman’s new book about how video shapes culture at an event hosted by The Internet Archive.
March 25 – SF Press Club Mixer. The event will feature East Bay mayors and take place at Oyo Restaurant in Pleasanton from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Please RSVP.
March 26 — An Evening with Kara Swisher. The iconic tech journalist is being interviewed on-stage at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco.
JOBS
Berkeleyside is hiring for a new Editor-in-Chief ($110-140,000). Oaklandside is hiring a Deputy Editor ($90-120,000). The San Francisco Chronicle is hiring a Football Trending Reporter ($74-85,000) and an Enterprise Editor ($110-145,000). The San Francisco Standard is hiring a Data Graphics Reporter ($90-135,000), as well as a Deputy Politics Editor and an Enterprise Reporter (both $90-140,000).
KGO-TV ABC7 is hiring a President & General Manager ($412-552,000), a DGA Director ($718/day) a Producer ($85-114,000), a Weekends & Mornings News Writer/Producer ($23-57/hour). KRON4 is hiring a Weekend Morning News Producer ($31/hour), a News Producer ($30/hour), and a Morning Assignment and Digital Editor and Studio Technician (both $33/hour). KTVU Fox 2 is hiring a News Anchor/Reporter ($150-180,000), a News Producer ($105-116,000) a News Reporter ($49/hour), and a Broadcast Technician ($26-41/hour). KQED is hiring an On-call Digital Video Host/Producer ($45-57/hour). NBC Sports Bay Area is hiring a Content Producer ($65-75,000).
Bloomberg is hiring a Consumer Tech Reporter ($90-120,000). The Information is hiring a Finance Reporter ($130-180,000), as well as a Reporter, SpaceX and Tesla, a Reporter, Tech Power, Money, Influence, and Reporter, Tech Deals (all $80-160,000). TechCrunch is hiring a Robotics Editor and a Senior Writer (both $72-151,000), as well as an Associate Editor ($56-117,000). The Verge is hiring a Commerce Writer ($70-75,000).
This month’s Scoop was written by Rob Price and edited by Dan Rosenheim. Interested in sponsoring a future edition? Get in touch at board@sfpressclub.org