Happy November, everyone! We have plenty of media news to share, but first – a big announcement: Tickets are now on sale for the San Francisco Press Club’s 48th Annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards Gala.
This year’s contest drew a record-breaking 910 entries, surpassing last year’s 798 – the fifth consecutive year of record submissions.
To celebrate our resilient media community, we’re going all out for the awards gala on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Julia Morgan Ballroom with gourmet food, complimentary wine and stunning city views. Cocktails start at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the big awards announcements at 6:30 p.m.
Secure your tickets now – current members pay $65 (non-member allies $150, working journalists $75, students $50), while door prices jump to $200 – and full tables for up to 10 are available. Don’t miss our biggest celebration of the year!
Bay Area Media News
- Del Norte newspaper revived?: After the September shutdown of the Del Norte Triplicate (which left California’s Del Norte County without a newspaper for the first time since the 19th century), a local official has stepped in to bring it back. Crescent City Harbor Commissioner Dan Schmidt purchased the 146-year-old weekly vowing a more community-focused approach. As of late October, its website shows its latest print edition as Sept. 17, so things may still be a work in progress.
- Two CalMatters reporters named Carter Fellows: CalMatters journalists Marisa Kendall and Joe Garcia have been selected for the 2025-26 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. The program, administered by the Carter Center, provides each fellow with a $10,000 stipend and specialized training to strengthen coverage of mental-health and substance-use issues. Kendall covers homelessness and housing for CalMatters, while Garcia, a former San Quentin News editor, focuses on criminal-justice reporting.
- Coyote Media collective launches: Earlier this year, a group of local journalists (including former SF Chronicle staffers) formed Coyote Media, a Bay Area media collective. Launched after a successful crowdfunding campaign, Coyote Media is organized as a public-service outlet aimed at telling stories from within the communities that larger outlets often overlook. As the founders put it, “Inspired by the alt-weeklies of yore, we envisioned an outlet that reflected the complexity and depth of the region we know and love.”
- Journalist detained at SFO: A troubling press freedom incident hit the Bay Area this month. Sami Hamdi, a British journalist and political commentator, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at SFO on Oct. 26 while entering the country for a speaking tour. A Department of Homeland Security official claimed Hamdi’s outspoken views “support terrorism” and are “contrary to U.S. foreign policy,” revoking his visa and holding him for removal. Advocacy groups like CAIR immediately objected, noting Hamdi had just spoken at a Sacramento event and suggesting he was targeted for criticizing the war in Gaza. First Amendment and press organizations are closely watching this case, as Hamdi’s detention raises alarms about the government using immigration law against journalists for their viewpoints.
Jobs Board
McClatchy Media: 10-week Summer Internships (Deadlines run from October to December, depending on paper.)
California Farm Bureau: Staff Writer ($70-$73)
Omidyar: Network Reporters in Residence ($10/mo stipend; deadline Nov. 15)
USC Center for Health Journalism: Health Fellowship ($2-$10K stipend for reporting; deadline Jan. 14)
State Affairs: California Statehouse Reporter ($80-$95K)
The Information: Reporter, Amazon ($80-$160K); News Editor ($200-$250K)
Vox: Senior Video Producer, The Verge (SF or NY) ($90-$110K)
SF Chronicle: Columnist/Editorial Writer ($90-$105K)
SF Standard: Summer Intern (Politics, Tech or News) – $25/hr; AI and Big Technology Editor ($140-$170K)
KQED: Data Journalist ($45-$53/hr); Summer Internships (Digital Engagement, Newscast, Project Management)
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