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Former CNN Correspondent & SJSU Journalism School Director
California State Lawmakers'
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The best ways to fine tune YOUR news writing and on camera presentations!
Marc was always so driven and determined in school. We are very proud of his respected body of work in journalism.
Fonnie Rucker was born with Downs Syndrome 66 years ago. Doctors thought she'd live only 25 years. For decades that smile and "beautiful light in her eyes" shined bright, capturing hearts worldwide. Fonnie's Memorial Mass, concelebrated by five San Jose, California diocesan priests, was held September 17, 2022.
Thanks to our wonderful family & friends worldwide, a lifetime of great joys & loving memories are showcased in an extended photo gallery / music video of treasured times together. Click to see our video:
https://share.vidday.com/e/h-uz5cuj
'NATAS' is the premier and most recognized non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of excellence in television. Prof. Rucker now chairs the SF Chapter Diversity Committee, and engages members in eye- opening & long overdue candid discussions.
Scroll down for discussion links.
Click the video left to see a San Francisco CBS TV news anchor salute his former professor for nearly 40 years of distinguished service to broadcast journalism in television, university teaching and career advising. Several former students, from SJSU and Univ. of Illinois UC, joined in this special celebration.
The 3-day DSJ Synod General Assembly adjourned Sunday after several high energy full group sessions, and many powerful small group candid sharing sessions by more than 200 eager and very curious Catholic community delegates.
Bishop Oscar Cantu spoke to the full group several times, but continued to refrained from taking questions or sharing much about who he is. He just returned from an overseas trip and was obviously still recovering from an illness.
Nevertheless the bishop led the crafting and offered full assembly presentations during this shrewd, multi-step event process that enabled DSJ delegates to be led by the Holy Spirit as they collectively and respectfully spoke their minds.
The bishop urged everyone to “think big,” and not worry about costs or other practical matters when discussing & prioritizing 94 proposals generated from parish listening sessions in 2022. He said the details resulting from our final top tier proposals could and would be worked out later.
Bishop Cantu said the eventual new DSJ pastoral plan, hopefully to be announced around Pentecost Sunday, will likely take seven years to fully implement in stages. We were strongly encouraged to just be bold and forward thinking in our deliberations.
Ultimately the top 12 ranked final proposals were voted on by the 200+ delegates. Each of the original 94 were crafted by the diocese in advance and were “based on” the comments offered in DSJ parishioner listening group sessions conducted in 2022 among 56 parishes, schools and local religious groups.
These 94 diocese written proposals were presented to delegates via email weeks before the weekend conclave for careful study by us all.Each parishioners' inspired idea was framed & explained by the diocese in writing, and delegates meeting this past weekend were free to offer questions or clarifications based on their own experiences and work in the diocese. Some of the proposal explanations offered were clearly influenced by diocese history and unique perspectives. As a result delegates were enabled to say they agreed, disagreed or were puzzled by diocese interpretations.
All delegates greatly appreciated the total engagement and candor among delegates. Important new and eye-opening insights were freely offered over the three days. Event facilitators and organizers quickly noticed and periodically acknowledged “the electric energy in the room.”
Small group discussions increased in volume during serious and funny interactions. Many times it became difficult to hear people at your own table when the full assembly came back together. No one openly complained. It truly felt invigorating.
Everyone was consistently respectful, professional, friendly and eager to contribute.
Each session was started and continuously rooted in prayer with everyone asking for guidance from The Holy Spirit. Several brief services included beautiful prayers, music and a most powerful “10 minutes of room quiet meditation” before proposal voting. Many priests, nuns and religious were present throughout the weekend. The priests and bishop walked around to observe and listen to all small group talks, but did not join in the group discussions.
At the end of the weekend, comments by event managers’ preselected delegates confirmed this was a unique, positive, moving and historic first ever conclave in the 42 years of the San Jose diocese.
Some participants, however, did walk away disappointed by the top proposal rankings reported out in the last session. They felt the “Tier 1” top 12 ranked items, out of the 94 discussed, seemed very predictable and vague as a priority wish list, and little or nothing “big” would ever be attempted to fully address specific timely and important contemporary social issues. Those specific proposals were also voted on, but many did not get enough delegate votes to reach the tier one list.
At best now they are tucked inside more generally titled, basic on-going goals for most Catholic Church and diocese agendas. While eagerly talked about openly, and sometimes passionately shared by many delegates, the fear at the end was they could easily be passed over or avoided again as too sensitive, stressful or too time consuming to be addressed in parishes. “Generic tier one proposals enable that wiggle room.”
Some delegates wondered aloud at the end, that unlike Jesus, practical assessment of our top 12 proposals might suggest “the diocese was not committing again to fully embracing those struggling on the margins, or those who do not feel welcomed in The Church.”
That could be rectified, however, in the next process step in the review by the DSJ Steering Committee. It must take this delegate Tier 1 priority list, and work to develop a forward looking diocesan strategic plan to present to Bishop Cantu. Some weekend delegates are included on that committee.
It is my fervent hope and prayer that they speak up, and boldly craft an ambitious seven year plan that identifies more closely with the courageousness of general assembly delegates who were profoundly moved and inspired by the Holy Spirit.
I was so proud to be included among this large and heartwarming group of steadfast believers in Jesus who so eagerly want to walk much more closely in the footsteps of Our Lord.
The entire San Jose Diocese Catholics last year actively participated in "listening sessions" called for by Pope Francis. All were invited to share their thoughts and more than 7500 ideas and suggestions were generated on how this South Bay diocese should move forward.
Meanwhile. the highest ranking Cardinal in California is now talks about ‘radical inclusion’ for L.G.B.T. people, women and others in the Catholic Church.
Please read the ground-breaking ideas and insights offered by Cardinal Robert W. McElroy...
This very revealing new 2022 series by the San Francisco & NorCal Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' breaks new ground as it candidly explores the life experiences and cultural concerns of professionals working in television news.
February: Impact of George Floyd & BLM Global Protests
March: Women in Television News, Their History & Now
April: Muslims & Middle Eastern Journalists Concerns
May: Asian TV Journalists / Hate Experiences Revealed
June: LGBTQ Journalists, The"Invisible Diversity"on TV
Planned: Latino/Spanish Speaking Journalists Share
Prof. Bob Rucker produces these candid insider conversations, and draws out thoughtful interactions for better understanding of what individual cultural identities bring to the TV industry. They also discover and inspire common ground for continuing discussions at broadcast stations nationwide . These eye opening talks help energize brainstorming in newsrooms looking to do more meaningful storytelling that informs, and connects with all viewers from every cultural community.
Read: Focus less on salary, more on inclusion
2020 Zoom Reunion of SJSU Alumni who traveled together through historic sites of the Civil Rights Movement as college media students. Goal: Seeing what it took for a Black man to be elected President of the United States in 2008.
<--Click to hear how this unique learning trip has influenced their lives since then.
Eager to prove ourselves in the 1970s as young and feisty TV journalists in Des Moines, Iowa, we were eager to offer something new to local TV news viewers. We proudly remember how we "busted our tails" before moving on to successes in broadcasting & other professions.
For more than 25 years, San Jose State University students in Prof. Bob Rucker's "Diversity In Media" course were taught how to create a safe space for large group candid interactions about personal experiences related to race & ethnic cultures, gender, sexual orientation, religious cultures and disabilities. Since 2017, the television facility in the Journalism School enabled students, campus faculty and community leaders to record and share experiences as learning opportunities.
Two Emmy Award Winning Former Students Guest Lecture:
Fond Memories Treasured.
In December, 2020, at the end of Prof. Bob's last MCOM 105: Diversity in Media class, many offer fun insights on his 30 years of teaching
at San Jose State University
Videos:
Professional colleagues & more former student comments.
Prof. Bob Rucker's YouTube Channel
See videos of his interviews & class guest interactions in 2020.
Screen TV episode:
Station 19: "Get Up. Stand Up." Season 4 Episode 12
100 years after Tulsa race massacre
Still reckoning with police violence after George Floyd death.
Tulsa 2021: An America Tragedy (CBS, 5/31/21)
Creating Racially Just Workplaces
Ten lessons for talking race
Saying publicly "I'm a racist."
"Not the end of the story." Washington Post Opinion, 4/21/21
TV's "Friends" lack of diversity, 2021
Facebook called "toxic workplace environment" 4/23/21
Racial bias in the U.S. Military, 3/18/21
CA pastor enables people to publicly say they are racist to help heal. 2/23/21
Americans see Blacks, Asians & Latinos all facing discrimination
Denver mayor talks about who they are and being a 'welcoming place,' 2017
INFO & INSIGHTS ON:
Arab & Middle Eastern Americans
How to videotape your Social Identity insights and stories:
People candidly discuss their cultural identities, and share concerns about stereotypes, and false perceptions.
CLICK links to learn briefly about each of these cultures:
How to videotape your Social Identity insights and stories:
People candidly discuss their cultural identities, and share concerns about stereotypes, and false perceptions.
CLICK links to learn briefly about each of these cultures:
Stats: Livermore's Population
Definitions of "Diversity Terms"
Learn about the values and
traditions of others in the world:
SCHOLARLY REPORTS:
Robin DiAngelo - Author
Racial & Social Justice Her Video: Explaining common excuses
Examining systematic racism 2021
Stephen O. Roberts citations in:
Apathy toward systems of racial advantage or denial they exist, 2020
Insightful interactions on video:
Fremont, California Police Chief Kimberly Petersen speaks with Prof. Rucker about her career, BLM, and her diverse family. (Announced her retirement in 2021)
African American Fremont Police Captain Sean Washington shares his personal insights on BLM. (Announced as the next Fremont, CA Police Chief.)
Insightful interactions on video:
Fremont, California Police Chief Kimberly Petersen speaks with Prof. Rucker about her career, BLM, and her diverse family. (Announced her retirement in 2021)
African American Fremont Police Captain Sean Washington shares his personal insights on BLM. (Announced as the next Fremont, CA Police Chief.)
Capt. Washington speaks to SJSU Diversity in Media class, Fall 2020.
Former San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia opens up about 2020 unrest ( He's now the Dallas police chief. )
America is finally ready to share.
Learn how to approach friends &
neighbors in meaningful ways to create a welcoming environment.
Smithsonian:
How to Talk about Racism & Racial Identity
PBS Kids:
Talking Race & Racial Identity
Popular TV Entertainment On George Floyd & Police Issues:
America is finally ready to share.
Learn how to approach friends &
neighbors in meaningful ways to create a welcoming environment.
Smithsonian:
How to Talk about Racism & Racial Identity
PBS Kids:
Talking Race & Racial Identity
Popular TV Entertainment On George Floyd & Police Issues:
ABC's Grey's Anatomy & Station 19
Hollywood cauldron of Race Issues."
Veteran African American Bay Area police captain shares personal experiences and feelings about a local Black Lives Protest in 2020. Due to Covid 19 pandemic health restrictions, interviews were recorded on Zoom.
During the fall semester at San Jose State University,
Diversity in Media students had an extraordinary follow-up class interaction with Fremont Police Captain Sean Washington.
Fremont, CA. police chief opens up about BLM in 2020.
More videos on Prof. Bob Rucker's YouTube Channel
After teaching journalism and mass communications at San Jose State University for more than 30 years, Prof. Bob Rucker retired in December, 2020.
Many Bay Area media friends, colleagues and former students pay tribute, and congratulate Prof. Bob on the impact he has had on generations of journalists.
This video was produced by former students Ryan Kern, Kiet Do and Kevin Rule, and include comments from many others all across the United States.
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