Over the last two weeks, at least a dozen San Joaquin Valley journalists have been laid off at The Stockton Record, The Fresno Bee and The Modesto Bee, including members and officers of the SPJ Central California satellite chapter.

These are award-winning reporters who have covered federal immigration crackdowns, deaths at local poultry plants, unfair dress code policies at schools, protests at schools and the dismantling of local DEI programs.

These are journalists who attend public board meetings late into the night, give up their weekend or holiday plans when news breaks and cover violence, disaster and other traumatic events in a community. Now is the time to support these journalists who have done so much to support their local communities.

We are fundraising to support laid off journalists with bills such as rent, groceries, medical expenses, and other costs of living. This money will be distributed evenly among those who have been laid off.

In solidarity and service,

Emma Gallegos, an EdSource reporter based in Bakersfield and current board member of SPJ Central California