ACE Spectrum

KALW Wins Awards as it Builds a News Department that Tells Diverse Stories About the Community it Serves

Posted by Martha Sessums on Nov 20, 2018 in ACE Learning Center, ACE School Report, Continuing Education | 0 comments

By Ben Trefny, News Director, KALW Public Radio

I think it’s fair to say that, when it comes to recognition, last week was the greatest ever for the KALW news department. Over the course of two days, the department and its partners won 15 awards from two different journalism organizations representing the Bay Area and Northern California. We are extraordinarily honored.

This is a long post, including notes about all the awards we received, and it’s all worth checking out. But if you only have time for one thing, you should watch a video of the acceptance speech by Anouthinh “Choy” Pangthong. He won the award for best audio features journalism along with four other incarcerated reporters working on San Quentin Radio with KALW. Shortly after Choy reported his award-winning story, he was paroled after more than two decades behind bars. That allowed him to attend the awards ceremony in person. Check out what he had to say.

Now, on with the shows!

Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California

The awards ceremony for the Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California took place on Wednesday, November 14, at Delancey Street Restaurant in San Francisco — part of the country’s largest self-help residential organization for people who have hit bottom to completely rebuild their lives. The eligibility period was July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. KALW has been honored many times over the years by the SPJ NorCal, which represents media outlets from Santa Barbara to the Oregon border and the Nevada border to the Pacific Coast. We’ve won for outstanding arts coverage, for community journalism, and for best emerging journalists, which is a nice tribute to our commitment to training, made possible with the generous support of the Association for Continuing Education among other groups. KALW has also been recognized twice for having the journalist of the year, with former Station Manager Nicole Sawaya and News Director Holly Kernan winning those honors. Even with all that, though, this year stood out remarkably, as our team won seven awards — three more than our best previous year — and this in a year that SPJ NorCal judged more candidates in the competition than ever before.

What won? Let me share the stories and award recipients, with some notes in italics about how the work fits into our department:

COMMUNITY JOURNALISM (radio/audio): KALW and Oakland Voices for “Sights & Sounds of East Oakland” which highlights neighborhood stories featuring local history, youth voices, transit issues, neighborhood safety and more. We’re in our fourth year, now, partnering with Oakland Voices — an organization that trains East Oakland residents to produce journalism about their own communities. We offer wrap-around support for those journalists, providing producers, editors, engineers, and administrative staffing to help them create radio stories, air them on KALW, and perform them in live events throughout Oakland. This is the second time our collaboration with Oakland Voices has been honored by SPJ NorCal.

EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM (radio/audio): Eli Wirtschafter, Andrew Stelzer, James Rowlands and Gabe Grabin of KALW for “Curb Wars,” a series of stories about parking, public parklets and the high demand and competition for curb access in San Francisco. Eli graduated from KALW’s Audio Academy in 2016, and he’s moved on to produce work for The California Report and other programs. He’s currently KALW’s transportation reporter and also works as an editor, a mentor for a current Audio Academy fellow, and the lead on KALW’s journalism training program at Solano State Prison, producing work for a show featuring incarcerated journalists called Uncuffed.

FEATURES (radio/audio): Anouthinh Pangthong, Greg Eskridge, Kelton O’Connor, Luke Colondres and Miguel Sifuentes of San Quentin Radio and KALW for a series of audio features on losing your language, rebuilding family relationships, autism, team building and the cycle of incarceration in one family. Our training program for incarcerated men began in 2013, originally under the name San Quentin Prison Report, and this is the third time our team has been honored by the SPJ NorCal. This is the first time, though, that it won outside the community journalism category. For the past year-and-a-half, San Quentin Radio has been funded in part by the Arts in Corrections program, which uses funding from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation through the California Arts Council. With additional subsidization from KALW, we’re able to bring two journalists in just about every week to help inmates produce audio journalism.

COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS (radio/audio): Kanwalroop Kaur Singh, Lisa Morehouse, James Rowlands and Gabe Grabin of KALW for “I ain’t here for no reason: Stories of Sikh-American resilience.” Kanwalroop graduated from KALW’s Audio Academy in 2018, and this half-hour documentary was her first major radio work. She’s currently studying civil rights law at UCLA.

PODCAST: Hana Baba, Leila Day, Julie Caine and Jen Chien of KALW for “The Stoop,” a podcast about issues relating to Black identity, including episodes on cultural appropriation, the history of colorism, hair and lack of representation, and higher rates of infant and maternal mortality. This team, all of whom have been mentors to Audio Academy fellows in KALW’s news department, have made a national splash with this podcast, and they’re currently being featured in a Radiotopia showcase. In addition to their work on The Stoop, Hana hosts Crosscurrents, Leila works as a producer at the podcast company Pineapple Street Media, Julie is podcast lead at KQED, and Jen recently took a position as editor at Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting.

LONGFORM STORYTELLING (radio/audio): Angela Johnston, Marissa Ortega-Welch and Lisa Morehouse of KALW for “Persistent Poison: Lead’s toxic legacy in the Bay Area,” including segments on its connection to the housing crisis, problems with data about lead poisoning, a possible solution and resources. Angela graduated from KALW’s Audio Academy in 2014 and moved on to become KALW’s environment/energy reporter. She also currently works as an editor, a mentor for a current Audio Academy fellow, and as the station’s deputy news director. Marissa earned this award while working as KALW’s health reporter, and she currently oversees the station’s training programs. Lisa is KALW’s senior news editor.

PUBLIC SERVICE (all media): Angela Johnston, Marissa Ortega-Welch and Lisa Morehouse of KALW for “Persistent Poison: Lead’s toxic legacy in the Bay Area,” including segments on its connection to the housing crisis, problems with data about lead poisoning, a possible solution and resources.

San Francisco Press Club

The awards ceremony for the San Francisco Press Club  took place the very next night: Thursday, November 14, at the Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront in Burlingame. The eligibility period was for the calendar year 2017. The event included fascinating and inspirational speeches by Bay Area News Group executive editor Neil Chase, 48 Hills director Tim Redmond, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Matthias Gafni. This is the third consecutive year that KALW has received more than half-a-dozen awards from the organization, which was founded in 1963 and recognizes work done in ten counties around the San Francisco Bay Area.

KALW’s daily call-in program Your Call won for best public affairs program with a staff of 1-4 people. Well earned! See below for all the winners of our news department:

DOCUMENTARY (non-commercial radio/audio): Angela Johnston, Eli Wirtschafter, Julie Caine, Chris Hoff and James Rowlands of KALW for “High-speed rail’s vexed crawl up California.”

FEATURE STORY / LIGHT NATURE (non-commercial radio/audio): Jeremy Jue, Lisa Morehouse, James Rowlands and Gabe Grabin of KALW for “Lasting Letters: Leaving a legacy behind.” Jeremy graduated from KALW’s Audio Academy in 2017.

FEATURE STORY / SERIOUS NATURE (non-commercial radio/audio): Ninna Gaensler-Debs, Raquel Maria Dillon and James Rowlands of KALW for “Bay Area Haitians react to Trump immigration order.” In addition to her work as KALW’s immigration reporter at the time of this award, Ninna manages our journalism training program at San Quentin State Prison. While she continues the work at the prison, she has moved on from her KALW staff job to a production position with the podcast company Gimlet Media.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (non-commercial radio/audio): Kanwalroop Kaur Singh, Ben Trefny and Gabe Grabin of KALW for the documentary series “Unearthing the Green Revolution.” For this work, Kanwalroop utilized a fellowship from the International Center for Journalists to report in California’s Central Valley as well as Punjab, a state in northern India.

NEWS STORY (non-commercial radio/audio): Marissa Ortega-Welch, Lisa Morehouse, Chris Hoff and James Rowlands of KALW for “Vote could freeze Bay Area refinery missions.”

SERIES OR CONTINUING COVERAGE (non-commercial radio/audio): Angela Johnston, Holly J. McDede, Eli Wirtschafter, Lee Romney and Jenée Darden of KALW for “Cannabis in California.” Cannabis in California rounds up KALW News’ complete coverage of the Golden State’s latest boom economy — the “green rush” of legal marijuana for medical and adult recreational usage — featuring the work of our reporters looking at the industry through the filter of their beats.

SPORTS FEATURE (non-commercial radio/audio): Luke Colondres, Louis A. Scott, Marissa Ortega-Welch and Ben Trefny of KALW for “Building a team within prison walls.” This feature, which earned Luke his first journalism award, was produced for San Quentin Radio. It’s the third consecutive year that the journalism training program has received recognition from the San Francisco Press Club for its work.

OVERALL EXCELLENCE (radio/audio): Crosscurrents

Altogether, this was really an extraordinary and extremely gratifying week. I’m so happy for all the award recipients, and I’m very pleased that the hard work we do throughout the year was honored with so many accolades. These many awards were earned by people who not only are at different stages of their journalism careers, but who live in very different circumstances. It’s a testament to the commitment KALW has made to bringing forward the voices of people who are often not heard, and to the fulfillment of building a news department that truly tells stories by and for the diverse communities it’s trying to serve.

KALW Covers US Election and Danish Intern Shares Viewpoint – The Act of Voting Counts Worldwide

Posted by Martha Sessums on Nov 15, 2018 in ACE Learning Center, ACE School Report, Continuing Education | 0 comments

By Ben Trefny, News Director, KALW and Sara Nora Koust, Intern, KALW

The 2018 midterm elections changed the political landscape in the U.S. KALW covered the statewide and Bay Area developments with the help of participants in its training programs.

After NPR started broadcasting from Washington, DC and around the country, KALW’s Your Call staff carried two hours of coverage, and then our news department, with a team of 15 people working together, covered the returns coming in from inside our studio and around the Bay with help from announcer/board operator Debi Kennedy.

Our Audio Academy graduates and current fellows had a lot to do with what we brought to the airwaves. Angela Johnston (’14), KALW’s new deputy news director, served as elections coordinator. Liza Veale (’15), our housing reporter, discussed Prop 10 on location in Oakland. Lisa Wang (’19) and Pria Mahadevan (’19) kept track of results during our live studio broadcast, and JoAnn Deluna (’19) helped out in the field along with summer interns Mary Franklin Harvin and Selene Ross.

Another person was part of the team as well: our Danish intern Sara Nora Koust. I asked her to share some of her thoughts, and here’s what she had to say:

On Tuesday November 6, I experienced my first American election.

Ever since I learned to understand English, I watched the American elections on TV while eating popcorn with my dad. Despite being only 10 years old, I still remember when George W. Bush was elected as the 43rd President of the United States. I remember the joy my friends and I expressed in the hallway of my boarding school when Barack Obama won with the words “Yes, we can!” in 2008. And I remember the weird silence at my university when Donald Trump was elected two years ago.

But why are these elections so important to us foreigners? Because politics is not just about politicians showing off in fancy suits — it’s people’s desire to change something in society. A possibility to make a difference for the better (or worse). And as one of the most powerful countries, the United States has a huge impact on the world: economically, politically, environmentally, and so on. These politicians affect my home.

This year, I got a whole new perspective on American elections. A much more local one. As an intern at KALW, I was going to cover local politics in the vibrant, progressive Bay Area. This year, the Bay Area is my home.

I went to Impact Hub, Oakland with KALW’s education reporter Lee Romney to cover the race between Tony K. Thurmond and Marshall Tuck who were competing to be State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The race has been one of the most expensive in recent history, with $50 million in spending. Tuck hosted his election watch party in Los Angeles, but Thurmond’s was right here in Oakland!

As I talk to supporters of Thurmond, I quickly realized that the theme of the night among Thurmond’s supporters was the importance of education for all. It’s something I can relate to since education at all levels is free, available, and in good quality where I come from.

Thurmond was supported by the education establishment and the teachers’ union, and charter school advocates were supporting Tuck. One of Thurmond’s supporters, Wendy Bloom, a grandmother, community activist, and children’s nurse said to me, “We should be looking at funding public schools, providing services for all children, and not having to have special schools that segregate education.”

Thurmond himself called the night “a referendum on public education” as he spoke to the crowd carrying signs with his name on them.

As I looked around, only a few people were nipping at the the salami, guacamole, and crackers that were nicely served at the tables. Tuck was leading in the polls. But at the same time there was hope in most of the supporters’ eyes. The race was extremely tight during the night, with only a few percentage points separating the candidates.

In the corner next to me stood Richmond City Councilman Jael Myrick. He’d followed Thurmond’s career and campaign closely for years. As he looked at the big screen, showing the general election results, he spoke with optimism in his voice. But he also realized the race could go both ways.

“I’m hopeful that he (Thurmond) will be victorious,” he said. “But if he doesn’t win, I mean, he will still make me proud”

As the time got closer to 1am, and only a bit more than 30% of the votes had been counted, it was time for my to find the BART station. Even though I wanted to stay longer, my feet, brain and heavy eyelids told me otherwise.

Tuck had 50.7% of the vote. Thurmond had 49.3%.

I woke up early the following day and wondered: What do I take away from my first American election in the Bay Area?

First of all, that local politics matters in all communities. And second, that every vote counts. This race is clear proof of that. Back in Denmark, we see voting as a mandatory duty. If you don’t vote, you’re not allowed to complain. This can sound very harsh, because there can be valid reasons why some people don’t go to the polls. But if you have the resources, and citizenship, I encourage everyone to vote in future elections, national and local.

It’s your chance to have a impact on your future. And, for that matter, maybe on the entire world!

In a Year of Yes, Finding Your Voice at KALW Audio Academy Has Impact

Posted by Martha Sessums on Nov 6, 2018 in ACE Learning Center, ACE School Report, Continuing Education | 0 comments

By Ben Trefny, News Director, KALW and JoAnn DeLuna, Audio Academy ’19

In our continuing series introducing you to our newest Audio Academy class, it’s my pleasure to share the thoughts of JoAnn DeLuna, who moved to the Bay Area from New York City to learn audio journalism and storytelling at KALW. Here we go:

2018 has unintentionally become my Yes Year. The year I’ve said “yes” to things I’ve never done before, experiences that scared me, events I didn’t have time for, opportunities that seemed unreasonable (at least initially), situations that looked like I’d fail from the start, occasions where everything felt stacked against me.

 

–Should I try writing one of the most difficult and personal poems I’ve ever written? Yes.
–Should I keep doing stand-up comedy even though it feels like I’ll die from nerves on stage every single time? Yes.
–Should I speak up about the lack of diversity at work, risking repercussions? Deep breath… Yes.
–Should I drive down some haunted road in New Jersey with two friends to film a funny, scary sketch

 that I haven’t written down, only thought about? Most def.
–Should I re-apply to the radio training program that rejected me last year? Why not?
–Should I travel through Egypt alone? Yes, just don’t tell mom.
–Should I read that very personal poem in public for the launch of the anthology that chose to publish it, even though I might cry on stage? Yes. As long as my loved ones are there. (FYI, I didn’t cry! At least not on stage. And they were tears of triumph.)
–Should I leave my stable print journalism job in New York, my friends, my cherished Brooklyn apartment across from Zoe Kravitz

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Home is where the ❤ is. @karlglusman (yes I know, Ima make the bed )

A post shared by Zoë Kravitz (@zoeisabellakravitz) on Feb 17, 2017 at 10:53am PST

and move cross-country to follow my dreams of being a radio journalist by doing Audio Academy, as they’ve now accepted me!? Without a second thought.
–Should I tag my beloved Williamsburg Bridge—which I’ve therapeutically run over for nearly eight years and whose graffiti has been the source of so much inspiration and decision-making—in the middle of the night before I leave NYC? No comment.

Now in San Francisco, I’ve kept saying “yes” these past two months (exactly two months on November 2nd!).

–Should I go to Berkeley for a people of color audio storytelling conference my first weekend home instead of unpacking? Yes.
–Should I go “all the way” to Oakland to read a poem at The Root Slam on a Friday night? Yasssss!
–Should I do a stand-up open mic even though it’s dominated by dudes and there will be two people in the audience by the time I go up? Errr… I guess.
–Should I Karaoke for the first time in front of my new colleagues even though I can’t sing? Eeeeek! Fine.
–Should I do my mix-tape assignment in Spanish to mix things up a bit? Yeah! (Disaster…)
–Should I ask the source to repeat his answers when I realize I wasn’t actually recording? Seriously, JoAnn? Yes.
–Should I volunteer to do a tape sync even though I’ve never done one before? Yes.
–Should I volunteer to translate in Spanish for justice reporter Holly McDede for a piece she’s doing on sexual harassment in hotels? This is what I came to do. YES.
–Should I go to a voter information event even though I’m registered in Texas? Sure.
–Should I volunteer to help with KALW’s Litcrawl event? Yes, please.
–Should I volunteer to help with Election Day coverage? Let’s DO this.

Some things have worked out better than others… But with every mistake I make, task I comically fail, transportation mishap I encounter, person I meet, conversation I have, question I ask, interview I do, event I attend, class I take—I’m continually reminded that I made the right decision in moving my life to the other side of the continent.

While it certainly hasn’t been easy, it’s been incredibly rewarding, humbling and inspiring. It’s made me realize that I couldn’t have had my Yes Year without the emotional support from family, friends and co-workers to catch me when I fall and when I’m too weak to get back up again. Since arriving in San Francisco and starting Audio Academy, I’ve been in a constant state of gratitude and awe while working in a newsroom full of award-winning journalists who value diversity, produce stories that make a difference and give a platform to voices that are rarely represented in the media. I’ve been reminded why I wanted to become a journalist in the first place.

Two things stand out about the KALW crew. The first is their insistence to “just be yourself.” Having been a print journalist for a decade, I’ve worked in many newsrooms around the world that weren’t as diverse as this one. “Be yourself” didn’t often feel like an option. Conforming, at the risk of becoming invisible, seemed like the only way to thrive—or simply survive. At KALW, differences are not only encouraged, they’re genuinely celebrated. This makes it easier to just be me and to speak up, because I know my co-workers are listening. It’s incredibly refreshing.

Two, KALW doesn’t really say “no.” It may not be a wholehearted “yes,” but it’s never a straight “no.” This means the spectrum of stories I can pitch and work on is broad. “Being yourself” is also important because, my interests and passions now have the potential to become original audio stories. Although the multitude of choice is a tad overwhelming, it’s exciting and great for continuing my Yes Year.

My biggest challenge is learning how to write for radio after writing for print for so long—not simply print, but for such nuanced and technical trade publications that focused on business, finance and technology. It’s as formal and complicated as writing gets. Regardless of genre, writing emphasizes the importance on developing your “voice.” With radio, it’s my actual voice that will have to say everything I write. This has a big impact on what I actually write and how I write it. Sounding natural can be extremely difficult.

But I’m working on it, even as I’m failing and making mistakes, because I know that’s the only way to get better at anything. I’m continually humming Macy Gray’s song “Moment to Myself.”

In it she sings: “Flowers are bloomin’ under gray skies and moons. Seems like I’m winnin’ every time I lose.” This is what they mean by “Do what you love.” I’m doing it. I’m loving it. Even the mishaps.