Prof. Rucker Honored By TV Academy Professionals
Special tv industry recognition
NATAS SF is dedicated to the advancement of excellence in television. Prof. Rucker has chaired the SF Chapter's Diversity Committee, and still engages academy members and students in timely, eye- opening and long overdue candid discussions.
Bob's former member of the Board of Governors, NATAS San Francisco chapter.
Sf 49ers pick sjsu grad for radio games
Congrats Justin Allegri
The San Francisco 49ers have announced SJSU ALUMNUS as one of four new team radio broadcasters to collectively fill in for Voice of the 49ers, the legendary Bay Area sports announcer, Greg Papa who continues to focus on his health. Justin is a long time friend and Prof. Bob's SJSU journalism school graduate assistant. Justin describes his career journey.
Sports Broadcasting Passion
As a journalism undergraduate Justin stood out with natural visual story telling talents. He has keen critical thinking skills, loves to tell stories that impact listeners, and excels with creative technical skills shooting and editing videos. In college his special 2009 project: Obama's Inauguration - What it took to elect the first African American President of the United States.
Building a PRO Career
Justin Allegri was the Voice of SJSU Spartan sports for many years before moving on to announcing for the San Jose Giants minor league baseball team, and University of California-Berkeley (CAL) football and basketball. teams. See his YouTube Channel
iSRAELi/HAMAS WAR - Prof bob leads talks with pros :
TV Journalists' Candid Talk / 2024 Middle East War Fallout
(Click link:) YouTube Live Stream Recording May 30, 2024
A lively hour-long interaction with reporters who've lived and worked in the region, and tell why feelings on both sides run deep and fuel mistrust. Exploring a nearly 4,000 year cultural history plagued by constant violence and political missteps. How recent developments have created a shocking humanitarian hunger and safety crisis that's raising tensions and triggering global protests especially on America's college campuses. Some traditional freedom of assembly school administrators are now risking their jobs when local police are called in to restore order.
Moderator:
Bob Rucker
A former CNN National News Correspondent in San Francisco, Professor and Director Emeritus of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San Jose State University. For 37 years he taught journalism at two major American institutions of higher education, including the University of Illinois, UC. Rucker specialized in teaching broadcast journalism skills development and media student critical thinking about how to create safe environments for sharing insightful and candid conversations about sensitive diversity issues. Rucker is also a member of the the Board of Governors for the San Francisco/NorCal Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Distinguished Professional Panelists/Event Director
& Co-Producer:
Adam Housley
Reported during the Iraq War from Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan and the Persian Gulf. He has covered the war on terror from Pakistan and in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He was on air in Kuwait when the first missiles and warning sirens began on March 20, 2003, and boarded ships in the Persian Gulf along with U.S. Special Forces as they looked for illegal shipments of weapons into Iraq. Housley has reported for KCPM-TV (NBC) in Chico, KTXL-TV in Sacramento from 1999 to 2001, and has received a Regional Associated Press Award and a Regional Emmy Award for his reporting skills.
Lisette Poole
A freelance journalist who spent 14 years living in the Middle East and North Africa, and covered war and peace issues for The Associated Press and The Times of London. Poole has taught at CSU East Bay for more than 24 years. Her masters degree thesis, "Crisis reporting: 91 days to the invasion of Iraq seen through U.S. elite media," focused on "understanding the type of pressures administration and military officials bring to bear on media professionals in times of war, and how news stories about countries seen as “enemies” affect that reporting.
Jim Jakobs
Currently the News Director for KMPH-Television in Fresno. He began his career in 1995 at KCRA-Television in Sacramento, and did stints at KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco, KOVR-TV in Sacramento, KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City and back to California where he worked for 7 years at KFSN-TV in Fresno. He’s passionate about promoting young professionals during the early stages of their careers and wants to help grow the Fresno influence through the local NATAS chapter.
Anthony Mata
Formerly Chief of Police in San Jose, CA. Mata is now the Investigations Bureau Chief for the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. Mata has been monitoring police, public and college campus responses to nationwide protests since the start of the Israeli-Hamas War. As police chief, he worked closely with Bay Area college campus officials and oversaw local police responses to protests in America’s tenth largest city following the brutal death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Enabling overdue TV Industry conversations
Understanding What 'Diversity Inclusion' Means
A very revealing 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
Prof. Bob Rucker developed, produced and hosted 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
PROF BOB TV INDUSTRY ROLES
49 Years In TV News
49 Years In TV News
CBS 5 San Francisco local news anchor salutes his former professor for nearly 40 years of distinguished service to broadcast journalism in television, university teaching and professional career advising.
SJSU UPDATE NEWS
49 Years In TV News
Spring Semester 2025
TV Newscast produced by
broadcast journalism students.
Prof Bob guest lectures each semester and encourages the next generation of reporters.
Adviser/Mentor
TV news was Bob's career passion. Teaching at the University of Illinois, UC and San Jose State for nearly 40 years was his greatest joy in life. And now mentoring pros and students in his retirement is pure fulfillment.
See more: ProfBob on YouTube
Fond Memories
Threats & Dangers
A Zoom reunion with Bob's 1970s
first TV newsroom colleagues.
In Des Moines, Iowa they "busted their tails" learning on the job at WHO-TV13 before moving on to career successes in broadcasting & many other professions.
Threats & Dangers
Threats & Dangers
Threats & Dangers
In 2024 Bob produced and hosted
an extraordinary panel for the San Francisco chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. "Navigating Tensions in War Coverage" focused on dangers for media covering the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and U.S. demonstrations on American
college campuses.
LGBTQ In TV News
Threats & Dangers
Threats & Dangers
TV professional journalists from the LGBTQIA+ community share candidly about the personal pressures of coming out to family and colleagues, plus facing unique and uncomfortable workplace expectations as “The Invisible Diversity” while trying to advance in their broadcast careers. Bob produced this & shared his story.
SJSU Journalism GRAD eARNs national RECOGNITION 2023
NBA Hall of Fame Sports Writer for ESPN with SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson.
MARC J. SPEARS was honored by his alma mater program, the
Journalism and Mass Communications School with the prestigious
William Randolph Hearst Foundation National Award in 2023.
Event special video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4SX93kBoJ8
MARC J. SPEARS
Was a student in Prof. Bob's SJSU media lecture classes. Spears graduated in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. They stayed in touch and developed a mentor/advisor/ close friendship during Spears' exceptional professional career success.
When Marc J. Spears was in seventh grade, he set a goal to become a respected national sports reporter. In this SJSU Journalism School Hearst Award video tribute, national sports figures, family and media colleagues celebrate Marc's skills and determination to see
his dream come true!
Past sjsu HEARST AWARD RECIPIENTS (VIDEOS)
Outstanding Public Communications That Calmed The Nation
Prof. Bob produced the Hearst Foundation Award Ceremony on Zoom:
Outstanding Public Service 1st Amendment Free Press
2018 Hearst Award Ceremony Live @ SJSU:
Background information:
What's Going On & Unique Reactions
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
Livermore Storytelling Sessions: 'Hearing Your Truths'
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
Bay Area Police on Black Lives Matter
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. )
Meeting This Important Moment
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."
San Jose state University - sad news
Outstanding Professor
Kathleen Martinelli was a wonderful human being and a gifted media professional. She was a very popular and beloved professor, and an extraordinary JMC School colleague and academic adviser. Students and faculty greatly benefited from her attention to details, her wisdom, knowledge, and caring style.
Lasting Memories
She and I started teaching at SJSU within the same year back in the early 1990s. She was a blessing to have as a colleague and dear friend who was always so supportive of me and my family. I pray now that Kathleen be reunited with her beloved husband for a joy filled life eternal. They truly were a power couple of love!
Dr. Kathleen Martinelli 1956 - 2024
Heartfelt sadness with the announcement that a beloved former SJSU Public Relations Professor and JMC School Director passed away on Sept. 7th. Kathleen joined the faculty a few months before I arrived, and we quickly became dear friends. She always had something good to say to encourage, and lift everyone's spirits! Her memorial is on Oct. 12th.
Prof Bob's Beloved Sister Passes Away.
Honoring a lifelong ANGEL
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,
Special memories: https://share.vidday.com/e/h-uz5cuj