Author: Jim Boren
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Inside journalism classrooms, a familiar question has a positive answer: “Can I get a job?” Yes.
Despite concerns about the news industry, graduates are finding opportunities across digital, broadcast and in nonprofit media. As we move toward the end of the academic year at Fresno State and look ahead to the commencement ceremonies on May 15 and 16, I’ve been taking stock of my work this year as a college journalism…
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Public agencies don’t like releasing public records
Even when the law requires disclosure, getting documents can be an uphill battle. It may sound ironic, but the very people entrusted with maintaining public records are often the first to argue for keeping them private. The government offices that are supposed to safeguard transparency can become the places where access is slowed, narrowed, or…
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Fresnoland, Fresno Bee and Mariposa Gazette take top honors in Gruner journalism awards
By Royal Calkins A Fresnoland reporter and teams of journalists from the Fresno Bee and Mariposa Gazette won top honors for public service Thursday in the 38th-annual George F. Gruner Journalism Awards at California State University Fresno. The Gruner awards recognize outstanding journalism by newspapers and digital news operations around the San Joaquin Valley. They are named for the…
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Fresno State journalism grad Manny Fernandez on the relentless reporting that revealed Cesar Chavez’s sexual misconduct
The story behind the New York Times reporting that challenged the public image of the iconic farm labor leader. The New York Times exposé that brought down civil rights icon Cesar Chavez was always destined to be more than a mere investigative story. It’s a testament to the persistence of journalism and the courage of survivors who…
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The ethics of using AI in newsrooms: A work in progress
News organizations are grappling with how to use AI responsibly while preserving public trust. We are still at the beginning of the artificial intelligence revolution, and the public is looking for clear guidance on how newsrooms are using AI to report the news. But the reality is that most news organizations are still developing their…
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From the heart of California, a new health reporting fellowship is telling the stories of residents struggling to access health care.
Veteran journalist offers a closer look at the San Joaquin Valley’s health-care realities In the San Joaquin Valley, many families live with the quiet strain of a health care system that often fails to reach them. This is farmworker country, where small rural communities stretch for miles between towns and the nearest hospital or medical…
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What I witnessed on the UFW picket line at the start of the grape strike: A struggle to improve life for those who harvest our crops
From early mornings to heated debates, the human stories behind the farm labor movement unfolded before me. The monumental downfall of the late farm labor leader Cesar Chavez brings back vivid memories of my time as a young journalist covering the grape strike in California’s San Joaquin Valley vineyards during the 1970s. It was a…
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What the Cesar Chavez revelations reveal about journalism’s blind spots
As fresh scrutiny reshapes Chavez’s legacy, it also exposes how journalistic habits can distort complex figures. The New York Times’ bombshell report on Cesar Chavez has taken many by surprise, forcing difficult questions about how aspects of his behavior may have gone unexamined for decades. For those of us connected to Fresno State, the revelations…
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Institute for Media and Public Trust secures major grant to propel Journalists of Color training program
By Jim Boren In a significant commitment toward fostering diversity and inclusion in San Joaquin Valley journalism, the Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State has been awarded a $201,000 grant to continue its visionary Journalists of Color training program. The California Endowment grant will help fortify the ongoing success of its pioneering…
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Collaborative Crusade: Journalists, funders unite at Stanford to rescue local journalism from decline
By Jim Boren The atmosphere was charged with optimism as about 200 news leaders and foundation executives convened a journalism conference at Stanford University. Their shared objective: Devise a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the precarious business model of news, especially traditional newspapers. Discussions at the California Journalism Summit revolved around cultivating sustainable support through avenues…
Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State 