
My sister Fonnie Rucker was born with Downs Syndrome 66 years ago. Doctors thought she'd live only 25 years. For decades the "beautiful light in her eyes" shined bright, and captured hearts worldwide. Fonnie's Memorial Mass, concelebrated by five San Jose, California diocesan priests, was held September 17, 2022.
2022 was indeed a difficult year of personal loss, but a lifetime of fun & loving memories with our families and friends helped lift our spirits. This extended musical photo gallery showcases some treasured times.
Click to see video:
https://share.vidday.com/e/h-uz5cuj
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
'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 very candid and long overdue discussion ab issues and concerns in the broadcast industry. See video links below.
2022: A local San Francisco CBS anchor salutes his former professor for nearly 40 years of distinguished service to broadcast journalism in television, and in university teaching & career advising. Several former students, from SJSU and U of Illinois UC, also join in this very special celebration.
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
September: 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 while at SJSU through historic sites of the Civil Rights Movement to learn-up close what it took for a Black man to be elected President of the United States in 2008.
<--Click image to hear how that experience has influenced their lives. More reactions below.
Eager to prove ourselves in the 1970s, this feisty group worked in Des Moines, Iowa to bring something new to local TV viewers. We proudly remember how we "busted our tails" before moving on in broadcasting & other professions.
2014 Flashback:
For six years Prof Bob was Director of the SJSU School of Journalism and Mass Communications where students studied journalism, advertising and public relations. Many have gone on to very successful digital media careers nationwide, and around the world!
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.
In 2013, San Jose State University Journalism School special guests from Afghanistan, media professors from Herat and Balkh Universities, report on the cultural differences they have noticed while spending more than two months in the United States. Click the image for a special report produced for KQED-TV in the San Francisco Bay Area, Laily Habib, Basir Daneshyar, Maria Raheen, Faisal Karimi, Shafiqa Fahim, Parwana Taskin and Dean Mohammad Nazari. See another related 'Equal Time' story.
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.
MORE DIVERSITY INSIGHTS FROM PROFESSIONALS' PERSONAL STORIES:
A brilliant young intellectual, outstanding writer, activist and comedian, Baratunde Thurston offers thoughtful and humorous suggestions on racism and police encounters. How To Deconstruct Racism, One Headline At A Time
Those subtle and overt examples of racism in our daily lives. Students at San Jose State University respectfully share candidly:
Video: Racism: My Experience
Two Bay Area police pros on BLM:
Kim Petersen, Fremont PD Chief
Sean Washington, PD Captain
Why silence is not the answer.
Station 19: "Get Up. Stand Up."
Storytelling #4
What was learned & missed?
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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