Berkeley Journalism is proud of the 2800+ students who have graduated from North Gate Hall. We celebrate the immense contributions they’ve made to the communities and organizations they serve.

A blue, three-dimensional text on a black background reads, "2023 Creator Labs Photo Fund." The letters are bold and shiny, casting subtle shadows.

Wesaam Al-Badry and Clara Shuku Mokri among winners of the 2023 Creator Labs Photo Fund

October 6, 2023

Wesaam Al-Badry (’20) and Clara Mokri (’21) are among the winners of the 2023 Creator Labs Photo Fund, an initiative providing financial support to encourage artists at formative moments in their careers. Started in 2021 and made possible by Google Devices and Services in partnership with Aperture magazine, the second season of the Creator Labs…

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A close-up image of several golden Oscar statuettes standing in rows. The statuettes have a human figure design with arms crossed over their chest, mounted on a black base, and are highly reflective under the light. The background is out of focus, reminiscent of the prestigious awards often covered by Berkeley Journalism.

MJ Johnson and Meruyert Shalbayeva honored in the Student Academy Awards

August 24, 2023

The thesis films of two Class of 2023 graduates have been recognized as among the best in the world by the jury for the 50th Student Academy Awards. MJ Johnson is among the seven documentary finalists and Meruyert “Mika” Shalbayeva was amongst 17 semifinalists by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Johnson, a…

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Side-by-side portraits of two men indoors. The man on the left has a shaved head and beard, wears a maroon traditional outfit with gold embroidery, and smiles. The man on the right, featured in an L.A. Times Short Docs film, has a mustache and short hair, wears a brown jacket over a black shirt, and holds his jacket lapels.

Berkeley Journalism documentary thesis film acquired by L.A. Times Short Docs

August 10, 2023

L.A. Times Short Docs, a platform for innovative short documentaries, is launching a special series in association with Berkeley Journalism as part of its second season. The first film, “Split Jury,” by Linus Unah (‘23) and Buddy Terry (‘23), premiered Aug. 9. The film details how nearly 90 years after Oregon allowed split jury verdicts,…

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A smiling man with a bald head and light skin tone is standing in front of a blurred background. He is wearing a blue button-up shirt and a green corduroy jacket. The image is a close-up, showing his upper body and face, reminiscent of Jason Spingarn-Koff discussing climate change at Berkeley Journalism.

Jason Spingarn-Koff joins Berkeley Journalism faculty to transform climate change coverage

June 8, 2023

Berkeley Journalism is proud to announce it has hired the pioneering documentary filmmaker, journalist and media industry trailblazer Jason Spingarn-Koff to lead an effort to reinvent journalism about climate change. After a monthslong, nationwide search, the school selected Spingarn-Koff as the new professor of journalism and Knight Chair of Climate Journalism. Knight Chairs in Journalism…

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Pulitzer prize

Six Berkeley Journalism alumni honored in 2023 Pulitzer Prizes

June 5, 2023

The work of six alumni was honored in the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes, in the Breaking News, International Reporting, Investigative Reporting and Public Service categories, Columbia University announced this month. Serginho Roosblad (‘18), video producer for the Associated Press, was on the team that won the prize for Public Service for “Courageous reporting from the besieged…

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A person in a grey sweatshirt is seated at a desk, looking through a stack of papers in a ring binder. Various documents and notes are spread out on the desk, alongside tools of a graphics editor. The person appears focused on their task, with a whiteboard visible in the background.

Alumni Portrait: Lucas Waldron (‘17), Graphics Editor at ProPublica

March 17, 2023

Lucas Waldron (‘17) describes his job as “finding ways to explain complicated concepts using visuals.” That includes video, motion graphics, mapping and data visualization. Waldron (‘17) joined ProPublica right after graduating from Berkeley’s Journalism School. With degrees in Politics and Film Studies at the University of San Francisco, he had little professional experience. In his…

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A sign with "Sundance Film Festival" in large gold letters is prominently displayed above a theater entrance. The marquee, lit by several round light bulbs, welcomes the festival's alumni and students alike. Part of a vertical sign is visible in the background against a clear blue sky.

Alumni, students and faculty feature at the Sundance Film Festival

February 16, 2023

In January, over a dozen alumni joined industry guests and hosts Professor Jennifer Redfearn, Jigar Mehta (’05), Duc Pham (BS ’02) and alumni regent Amanda Pouchot at the annual “Cal @ Sundance” event in Park City, Utah. The campus conclave celebrates the community of Berkeley alumni involved in the prestigious festival. Berkeley Journalism’s rich history…

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Lisa Pickoff-White, an esteemed alumni, stands confidently in front of large windows, wearing a patterned dress with a collar. Her wavy hair and glasses add to her poised demeanor. With a slight smile, the bright light outside casts a warm ambiance in the room, highlighting the cityscape behind her portrait.

Alumni Portrait: Lisa Pickoff-White

January 12, 2023

Our latest alumni profile features Lisa Pickoff-White, whose dedication and involvement with Berkeley Journalism continues more than a decade after she graduated. Her lasting imprint on the school is seen through the many initiatives at KQED that involve Berkeley Journalism students. She is a frequent guest speaker, sharing wisdom with students about her work and…

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A man sits in a motorized wheelchair equipped with assistive technology, wearing a red jacket and glasses, engaged in conversation with Brad Bailey at a table in a library. Shelves filled with books line the background, reminiscent of Berkeley Journalism's rich history.

Berkeley Journalism mourns the death of Hale Zukas, friend and subject of Brad Bailey’s (’17) Student Academy Award-winning “Hale”

December 19, 2022

Berkeley-based disability rights pioneer Hale Zukas died on November 30th in Berkeley, California. He was 79 years old. Born with cerebral palsy, which significantly impaired his mobility and speech, doctors advised his parents to put him in an institution. Instead, they facilitated a full, productive life for him. His extraordinary life was celebrated in “Hale,”…

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A woman with fair skin and light blue eyes gazes into the camera, against a black background. She has neatly styled brown hair and is wearing subtle makeup, including nude lipstick. Representing women filmmakers, she wears a sleeveless black top and small stud earrings.

Producer Rae de Leon’s (’14) “Victim/Suspect” to screen at the Sundance Film Festival

December 15, 2022

Reporter and producer Rae de Leon’s (’14) new documentary, “Victim/Suspect,” will screen as an official selection of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Documentary Competition. The film is the result of a four-year investigation and features a first-of-its-kind case study of investigations in which police charged self-reporting sexual assault and rape victims with…

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