In the Midst of the Coronavirus, CA Weighs Diesel Regulations

A line of large semi-trucks is parked along the side of a road with a chain-link fence on the left. The trucks are positioned one after another. In the background, there are hills and a few scattered palm trees, evoking scenes often captured by Berkeley Journalism students. A car is parked on the right side of the road.

Communities that live in the shadow of industry are hit hard by pollution, and by Covid-19. But companies are using the pandemic to try to delay stricter rules. June 9, 2020 Every day, nearly 18,000 diesel-powered trucks barrel along State Route 60 in Jurupa Valley, a small city 45 miles east of Los Angeles. The…

Read More

Wanda DeSelle

An elderly woman with short, curly gray hair and glasses is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a dark cardigan over a light-colored blouse with a floral pattern. The cozy indoor space, resembling the charm of a Berkeley Journalism office, features wood-paneled walls and framed pictures.

June 17, 2020 When talk of retirement came up, Wanda DeSelle, 76, would always laugh it off. “I’ll retire after you do,” Mrs. DeSelle would tell her boss of 40 years, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf, a cardiologist seven years her junior. “She’d say, ‘If you’ll work for another 20 years, then I’ll work for another 20…

Read More

How Paradise High’s Class of 2020 Got Its Graduation

A graduate in a green cap and gown stands through the sunroof of a car decorated with balloons that read "Class of 2020". The car, bearing signs for Berkeley Journalism, is on a track with trees and a field in the background. Another person sits inside the car.

The students and parents pushed and prodded over 10 weeks for an exception to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s shelter-in-place order. June 15, 2020 PARADISE, Calif. — When Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to fight the coronavirus by closing down the entire state, including schools, the seniors at Paradise High School began peppering local officials with one…

Read More

Why the people harvesting Californians’ food can’t afford it

A person wearing a yellow cap, white hooded sweatshirt, red quilted vest, and a white patterned face mask stands outdoors. The background features a fence and foliage under a blue sky, capturing the essence of Berkeley Journalism's commitment to diverse storytelling and vibrant imagery.

Beginning in March 2020, The New York Times joined forces with the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism to provide expanded coverage on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting California. Led by the IRP, more than 80 students and nearly 20 journalism instructors organized to report on the impact of the novel coronavirus…

Read More

Special challenges of special education students under quarantine

A person using a large red button access switch participates in a video call on a tablet. Seated at a wooden desk in a room with books and computer accessories, they engage with multiple individuals in a virtual meeting, reminiscent of an inclusive session hosted by Berkeley Journalism.

May 29, 2020 The sudden shift to remote learning has pushed Sonoma County’s 40 school districts into unchartered territory, testing already-strained resources. For its nearly 400 special education students, the transition has been especially tough, and the stakes could not be higher, as districts plan for summer and fall sessions. On a typical school day,…

Read More

How Has Covid-19 Impacted Homeless Advocates and Service Providers?

A group of six people are celebrating amidst a room filled with packed boxes and assorted items. Some are raising their arms in triumph, while others are smiling and seated. The background includes potted plants, various storage items, and a poster for Berkeley Journalism.

  May 12, 2020 Many of the public services and spaces unhoused people rely on have temporarily stopped or closed. Those that remain open are overburdened and under-resourced. The over 5,000 unhoused residents of Berkeley and Oakland struggle to find the most basic necessities as libraries and restaurants are closed, and food banks and meal…

Read More