Chilly air has descended on the Bay Area, with more than a few of us needing to reacquaint ourselves with the location of our car defrosters and the back part of the closet where the winterwear resides.
In addition to the physical cold, folks that didn’t jump on getting tickets to the San Francisco Press Club’s 48th Annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards Gala are unfortunately out in the metaphorical one, as we’re sold out. No tickets will be sold at the door, and all attendees must be registered. Those who have purchased a ticket will be receiving a separate email with details on check-in procedures as well as parking and transportation options.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone next week! Until then, bundle up and sip on something warm. Onto the news…
Bay Area Media News
- Speaking of awards: The San Francisco Press Club recently honored three icons of local journalism with its Lifetime Achievement Award: Bill Martin, Doug Sovern, and Carla Marinucci. Martin was honored in recognition of his 38-year broadcasting career — most recently at KTVU — and his contributions to weather coverage across Northern California. Sovern was celebrated for his decades of breaking news, investigative and political coverage, while veteran political journalist Carla Marinucci was feted for her influential political reporting and analysis. And finally, the club also named its 2025 class of Emerging Journalist Scholarship honorees, recognizing a new generation of reporters poised to carry forward the region’s journalistic legacy.
- Press Democrat editor named: Bruce Castleberry is the new executive editor of the Press Democrat News Group. Castleberry previously ran the Lowell Sun and Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise, both in the Boston area. He also oversaw sports coverage in Massachusetts for the MediaNews Group, the conglomerate that purchased the Santa Rosa-based publications earlier this year. Castleberry replaces Chris Fusco, who left to be the top editor at the Sacramento Bee.
- Harvard grad launches digital-detox movement: Gabriela Nguyen, a 24-year-old Harvard Graduate School of Education alum from Silicon Valley, is the founder of a movement that urges people to quit social media. Her program, called Appstinence, uses a “5D method” — decreasing use, deactivating accounts, deleting apps, downgrading to a simpler phone, and ultimately departing from social media entirely.’ Nguyen says stepping away restored her focus and clarity, and she now hopes to help others reclaim their attention and rebuild more meaningful real-world connections.
- Super Bowl Opening Night to be held in San Jose: The NFL and the Bay Area Host Committee have announced that the traditional “Opening Night” — aka media day — will not be held at Levi’s Stadium or in the main host city of San Francisco. Instead, it will take place at the San Jose Convention Center on Monday, Feb. 2. The decision was driven by a desire to preserve the grass playing surface at Levi’s Stadium and is part of a broader effort to spread events across the Bay Area, said BAHC leaders. Other Super Bowl–week events, including concerts, the NFL Honors show, and fan-experience exhibits, will still occur in San Francisco proper.
- Bay Area broadcasters and Safeway launch annual holiday hunger drive: NBC Bay Area, Telemundo 48 and Safeway have kicked off this year’s holiday food-drive, running from Nov. 15 through Dec. 25 at 167 Bay Area Safeway stores, to raise funds and food for people facing hunger across the region. Shoppers can contribute $3, $5 or $10 at checkout — or simply round up their purchase — to benefit six nonprofit food banks serving 13 Northern California counties. Last year’s campaign raised over $4.7 million, delivering more than 9 million meals.
- Brentwood police issue first statement on woman’s in-custody death: Following media attention on the case, Brentwood police released their first public account of the September arrest of 72-year-old Yolanda Ramirez, who died days later after suffering a brain bleed. Police say she attempted to flee after a relative requested a citizen’s arrest, but witnesses dispute that claim and allege officers slammed her into a patrol car. Ramirez’s family has filed a wrongful-death claim alleging assault, false arrest and elder abuse.
Jobs Board
Lookout Santa Cruz: Executive Editor ($115-$130K); Arts & Culture Reporter ($65-$80K); Politics Correspondant ($70-$90K)
USC Center for Health Journalism: Health Fellowship ($2-$10K stipend for reporting; deadline Jan. 14)
State Affairs: California Statehouse Reporter ($80-$95K)
The Information: News Editor ($200-$250K); Reporter, Tech Wealth and Culture ($80-$120K); Reporter, Venture Capital & Startups ($80-$160K)
Vox: Senior Video Producer, The Verge (SF or NY) ($90-$110K)
SF Chronicle: Food Reporter ($80-$90K)
SF Standard: Head of Growth ($175-$200K); Managing Editor ($180-$200K)
KQED: Data Journalist ($45-$53/hr)
This month’s Scoop was written by Dan Evans and edited by Dan Rosenheim. Interested in sponsoring a future edition? Get in touch at board@sfpressclub.org