Roland De Wolk
Encyclopedia
Roland De Wolk is an internationally recognized journalist who is expert in an unusually wide array of skills in the news and information industries. His deep background in print, broadcast and online journalism
and widely cited accomplishments have placed him the center of a turbulent and tumultuous industry as it faces its greatest challenges and opportunities in centuries.
De Wolk spent the first half of his three-decade plus experience as a notable newspaper reporter at publications such as the Oakland Tribune http://www.insidebayarea.com and San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/ long before the creation of the World Wide Web
. He was also published as a successful freelance reporter in publications such as the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com as well as legendary international publications, such as the Paris Metro
(now defunct).
Citing concerns about the future of print journalism
, in 1991 De Wolk accepted a job at one of the largest and most successful broadcast news
outlets in the nation http://www.ktvu.com where he created the station’s first investigative reporting position, which he continues holding today. In 1993 he also accepted an adjunct professorship of journalism
at San Francisco State University
’s notable Journalism Department http://www.journalism.sfsu.edu/ where he taught and still teaches everything from the History of Journalism
to Online Journalism
, as well as newswriting, reporting, feature reporting and investigative reporting. He was also the managing editor
for broadcast of the internationally noted Chauncey Bailey Project http://www.chaunceybaileyproject.org/.
De Wolk’s most notable accomplishment at San Francisco State University
has been the co-creator of the Online Journalism Program in the mid 1990s. With Professor Emeritus
Leonard Sellers, De Wolk founded the program that started one of the very first original online news and information sites in the world, NewsPort .Org (v. 1). He is the author of the very first Online Journalism university textbook http://www.abacon.com/dewolk/, widely used in the United States
and abroad to this day, though critics have called for a new edition, citing the many changes that have taken place in the industry since his pioneer work.
Roland De Wolk has won most major journalism awards in his career, including the Society of Professional Journalists
Career Achievement Awardhttp://www.spjchapters.org/norcal/awards.html, four James Madison Freedom of Information Award
s from SPJ, the coveted Casey Award http://www.journalismcenter.org/awards/index.html and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Journalism http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/edward-r.-murrow-awards100.php.
De Wolk has been a fellow at Stanford University
, the Poynter Institute
, and has been a principal speaker
for groups such as Best Practices
in Journalism and the Investigative Reporters and Editors
http://ire.org. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, lives in the San Francisco Bay Area
with his wife, San Francisco Chronicle
political reporter Carla Marinucci
. They have two grown sons.
Online journalism
Online journalism is defined as the reporting of facts when produced and distributed via the Internet.As of 2009, audiences for online journalism continue to grow...
and widely cited accomplishments have placed him the center of a turbulent and tumultuous industry as it faces its greatest challenges and opportunities in centuries.
De Wolk spent the first half of his three-decade plus experience as a notable newspaper reporter at publications such as the Oakland Tribune http://www.insidebayarea.com and San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
http://www.sfgate.com/ long before the creation of the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
. He was also published as a successful freelance reporter in publications such as the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com, Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
http://www.chicagotribune.com as well as legendary international publications, such as the Paris Metro
Paris Métro
The Paris Métro or Métropolitain is the rapid transit metro system in Paris, France. It has become a symbol of the city, noted for its density within the city limits and its uniform architecture influenced by Art Nouveau. The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run to 214 km ...
(now defunct).
Citing concerns about the future of print journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, in 1991 De Wolk accepted a job at one of the largest and most successful broadcast news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
outlets in the nation http://www.ktvu.com where he created the station’s first investigative reporting position, which he continues holding today. In 1993 he also accepted an adjunct professorship of journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
’s notable Journalism Department http://www.journalism.sfsu.edu/ where he taught and still teaches everything from the History of Journalism
History of American newspapers
The history of American newspapers goes back to the 17th century with the publication of the first colonial newspapers.-Colonial period:-The New England Courant:...
to Online Journalism
Online journalism
Online journalism is defined as the reporting of facts when produced and distributed via the Internet.As of 2009, audiences for online journalism continue to grow...
, as well as newswriting, reporting, feature reporting and investigative reporting. He was also the managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
for broadcast of the internationally noted Chauncey Bailey Project http://www.chaunceybaileyproject.org/.
De Wolk’s most notable accomplishment at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
has been the co-creator of the Online Journalism Program in the mid 1990s. With Professor Emeritus
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Leonard Sellers, De Wolk founded the program that started one of the very first original online news and information sites in the world, NewsPort .Org (v. 1). He is the author of the very first Online Journalism university textbook http://www.abacon.com/dewolk/, widely used in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and abroad to this day, though critics have called for a new edition, citing the many changes that have taken place in the industry since his pioneer work.
Roland De Wolk has won most major journalism awards in his career, including the Society of Professional Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
Career Achievement Awardhttp://www.spjchapters.org/norcal/awards.html, four James Madison Freedom of Information Award
James Madison Freedom of Information Award
The James Madison Freedom of Information Award is a San Francisco Bay Area honor given to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the advancement of freedom of expression, particularly freedom of information .The award is intended to reflect the spirit of former U.S...
s from SPJ, the coveted Casey Award http://www.journalismcenter.org/awards/index.html and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Journalism http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/edward-r.-murrow-awards100.php.
De Wolk has been a fellow at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, the Poynter Institute
Poynter Institute
The Poynter Institute is a non-profit school for journalism located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school's mission statement says that "The Poynter Institute is a school dedicated to teaching and inspiring journalists and media leaders. It promotes excellence and integrity in the practice of...
, and has been a principal speaker
Principal Speaker
Principal Speakers were the public spokespersons of the Green Party of England and Wales but have since been replaced in the party by a national Leader and Deputy Leader...
for groups such as Best Practices
Best practice
A best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark...
in Journalism and the Investigative Reporters and Editors
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that focuses on the quality of investigative reporting. Formed in 1975, it presents the IRE Awards and holds conferences and training classes for journalists. Its headquarters is in Columbia, Missouri, at the University of...
http://ire.org. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, lives in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
with his wife, San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
political reporter Carla Marinucci
Carla Marinucci
Carla Marinucci is a political reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, specializing in California state gubernatorial politics and national politics. Marinucci is a veteran California political reporter and has also covered business and crime in the past for the Contra Costa Times and The San...
. They have two grown sons.