THIS YEAR MARKS the 10th anniversary for San Quentin Rehabilitation Center’s satellite chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Northern California Chapter. It’s the first and only chapter of the national organization inside of a U.S. prison.
Pioneered in 2015 by journalist Nancy Mullane and two-dozen incarcerated journalists in the prison, the SQSPJ chapter stands as a beacon for integrating journalistic integrity into the fabric of correctional institutions.
“Having a chapter of SPJ inside San Quentin speaks to the importance of recognizing the professional quality of work that can be produced by people behind prison walls,” said incarcerated journalist Juan Haines, who has been a member since its founding.
Today, more than 40 incarcerated individuals are members of SQSPJ, working behind the wall to produce print, audio, podcast and video journalism for local and national publications, including KALW radio, the San Quentin News prison newspaper, San Quentin TV, The Marshall Project criminal justice-focused nonprofit news outlet, and many other news outlets in the Bay Area and beyond.
SQSPJ has had a profound impact in elevating the voices of the incarcerated, promoting justice, rehabilitation, and human dignity. Its professional development programs, media initiatives and advocacy efforts have not only empowered incarcerated people to share their stories, but has challenged societal perceptions of justice and reform.
In fact, its impact is partly responsible for elevating the success of media programs that inspired Gov. Gavin Newsom to want to build a multimillion dollar rehabilitation center at San Quentin.
“It’s been a great program for volunteer recruitment in the media center and it’s great for helping incarcerated people network to gain support,” said Haines. “SPJ helps us build resources and reentry opportunities for the work we do.”
Freedom and the press
Bostyon Johnson is the managing editor for San Quentin News and SQSPJ’s current president.
“SPJ is important because we get to work with people who are in the free world doing the work in real time,” Johnson said. “That helps us understand today’s media world and the technology that exists in it.”
Many former San Quentin residents and SPJ members have gone on to continue doing the work of media upon their release from prison, including Rahsaan “ New York” Thomas, Greg Eskridge of KALW’ s “Uncuffed” podcast, Thanh Tran and Adamu Chan, to name a few.
Some of the volunteers for SQSPJ have been helping out for several years. They have become what Johnson refers to as “great job references” for formerly incarcerated SPJ members trying to make it in the field of journalism upon their release.
“SPJ is important because we get to work with people who are in the free world doing the work in real time. That helps us understand today’s media world and the technology that exists in it.” Bostyon Johnson, San Quentin News managing editor
Michael Bott is an investigative reporter for NBC Bay Area. He has been sponsoring SQSPJ for several years. On Saturday afternoons, he escorts journalists to the San Quentin media center for a couple hours to share tips and help incarcerated journalists fine-tune their skills. They also discuss ongoing project ideas across media platforms.
Not all SQSPJ members are print journalists. Some are artists, others make short films, do podcasting or other forms of media. Some are students of the craft or assistants, using their skills to help with editing, coloring or sound on film projects.
SQSPJ is a completely independent volunteer program. However, once each year, its sponsors conduct a fundraiser to help raise money to pay the membership fees for incarcerated journalists, to help purchase equipment, and plan media day events to showcase incarcerated talent. Bay Area journalists are often invited to attend these events.
Fundraiser showcases SQSPJ work
This year’s fundraiser took place Aug. 16. It was hosted by formerly incarcerated SQSPJ member Dante D. Jones, who is a film editor, and Ben Trefny, the executive producer of KALW. This year’s goal was to raise $5,000, for dues, equipment, training and mentorship.
The event was titled the San Quentin Media Fest and it was held at the KALW office in San Francisco. A crowd of community members and journalists from local outlets attended the event. Free drinks and an array of pizzas were served. A panel discussion moderated by Bott addressed audience questions about the origins and value of the SQSPJ program.
The panel included formerly incarcerated SQSPJ members like Thomas, Eskridge, Tran, Brian Asey and Vincent O’Bannon.
“It was a very informative event for people who had no idea that SPJ existed inside San Quentin,” said O’Bannon, a former chapter president who was recently released from the prison. “The audience got to see some of the films and other content created by current and former members. Overall, the event turned out well.”
The message that resonated at the event was that SPJ could not survive in San Quentin without the support of community members. It is a flagship program, a first and only program of its kind. It endures through volunteer support.
But it is also a necessary program, acting as a guide for incarcerated journalists to uphold high standards of ethics and integrity, seeking truth, minimizing harm, acting independently, and being accountable, important but rarely seen qualities found in a prison.
It’s also necessary to promote and protect the First Amendment freedom of the press in prison, which is also a cornerstone of a healthy American democracy. SQSPJ has stood as a testament for a decade and hopes to continue.
Information on donating to the program can be found on the SPJ NorCal website. Anyone interested in volunteering can email the organization.
Steve Brooks is a California Local News Fellow with Bay City News Foundation, reporting from inside San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. His perspective gives readers insight into issues and news from inside the prison. See more of his work at Inside/Out on Local News Matters.