Salvador Hernandez
Glendale,CA
Summary
As native of Southern California, have covered local governments, police agencies, courts, political figures, and done so understanding the cultural and political undercurrents that drive this region. In this growing, changing and diverse community, a reporter must understand the region to avoid the cliches and pitfalls of covering this iconic area. As a veteran breaking news reporter, I have experienced working quickly, accurately, and timely to capture readers' fleeting attention. I've learned to navigate different beats and topics, and how to source quickly when the need arises.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Reporter
Los Angeles Times
07.2022 - Current
- As a reporter on the Fast Break Desk, have covered crime, politics, natural disasters, and enterprise stories, looking beyond impact of daily breaking news
- Coverage included reporting that led Air Force to admit that SpaceX launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base caused sonic booms impacting 100 miles of coastline, investigating the growing legal, illegal, and grey areas of ketamine use after the death of Matthew Perry, how a growing conspiracy theory tried to lay blame of floods in Southern California on cloud seeding, how the possible rescheduling of marijuana could impact California's ailing legal marijuana industry, and how one county deployed a litany of local resources to confiscate a young girl's goat after she refused to have it slaughtered at a county fair.
- Worked cooperatively with team members in Fast Break Desk, as well as other teams, to produce fast and accurate reporting that appeals to readers.
- Use social media for reporting, gathering tips, and to promote articles and coverage.
Senior Breaking News Reporter
BuzzFeed News
02.2015 - 07.2022
- Cover national breaking news as it happens, including mass shootings, terror attacks, politics, crime and natural disasters
- Expanded coverage, dove into the impact of news events and looked for angles overlooked by competitors
- Looked for opportunities to launch investigative and enterprise stories.
- While covering law enforcement’s growing use of DNA genetic genealogy, uncovered the FBI’s secret access to a private DNA database being used without users’ consent or knowledge.
- Covered the steady rise of armed, right-wing groups, including an armed standoff in Oregon with federal officials, law enforcement's tacit support of right-wing militia groups, militia leaders' move from fringe to political elections, militia groups' growing presence at the U.S.-Mexico border, and multiple investigations into Oath Keepers, including their founder's use of donations and dues for his personal use.
- Covered natural disasters, such as large wild fires, hurricanes, and the often overlooked impacts on migrant workers
- Coverage of law enforcement included how politics, corruption, race, and strategies adopted by agencies affect the search for justice
- Employed public records, use of social media, fast sourcing in often unfamiliar regions, knowledge in navigating the world of policing, courts, politics, and old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting.
Crime & Breaking News Reporter
The Orange County Register
01.2005 - 01.2015
- Covered breaking news in real-time, providing constant updates for readers online while crafting stories for next day print publication
- Wrote an average of three stories daily and was responsible for expanding on breaking news – profiles, consequences and effects of policy – while promoting articles and gathering information on social media
- Coverage included firefighting strategies, policing techniques, criminal trends, law enforcement abuses, investigative work, and enterprise articles
- Stories included uncovering nepotism in a local fire agency, financial mismanagement by safety agencies, organized crime, and law enforcement use of FBI informants in local mosques.
Editor in Chief
Daily Sundial
12.2004 - 05.2005
- Coordinated seven sections that were published four times a week
- Worked with reporters to develop story ideas, and provided guidance on how to improve reporting and coverage on campus.
Co-founder and Editor in Chief
El Nuevo Sol
03.2004 - 05.2005
- One of the founding members of the Spanish-language student publication in Cal State Northridge
- Responsibilities included editing, reporting, writing, layout, design and organization of staff, as well as planning how to expand readership.
Staff Writer (Internship)
Al Dìa
05.2004 - 08.2004
- Eleven week internship, published 42 stories on a strict deadline in Spanish
- Covered Dallas/Fort Worth area, local education, international economic events, health, and professional sports with an emphasis on the Latino community
- Articles required connecting events at state and international level to local community
- Stories were written in Spanish and translated for the paper’s mother publication, The Dallas Morning News.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Cal State Northridge
Northridge, CA01.2005
Worksamples
- A Politically Savvy Prosecutor Is Tanking Orange County’s Justice System Through Racism, Ego, And Retaliation
- A Former “Build The Wall” Contractor Said The Group Only Paid A Fraction of The $8 Million Tab For a Border Wall
- One Of The Biggest At-Home DNA Testing Companies Was Secretly Working With The FBI
- Person One: Some Members Of The Oath Keepers Militia Say It’s Founder Betrayed The Group’s Mission — And Them
- Facebook Continues To Host Militant Groups And Ads Despite A Ban On Right-Wing Extremism
- A Major Militia Group Said Its Website Was Take Down Days After It Sent members To The Capitol Riots
- Ryan Bundy Helped Lead Two Armed Standoffs Against The Government. Now He’s Running A Conspiracy-Laced Campaign For Governor
- The Government’s Botched Case Against Cliven Bundy Has Revived The Movement To Take Back Federal Land
- Far-Right Figures Are Claiming Immigrants Are Bringing Ebola To The US. Officials Say That’s “Patently False.”
Programsandrecognitions
- OC Press Club, Best News Story 2012, “Blood Brothers,” OC Register, Aug. 4, 2011
- Loyola Marymount Journalist Law School - 2012
- Investigative Reporters and Editors, investigative training, USC – Feb. 2010
- Freedom Forum Online Multimedia Seminar – Aug. 2007
- Chips Quinn Scholar Summer 2005
- Outstanding Graduating Senior, Cal state Northridge, College of Media and Communications
Programs and Recognitions
- Assisted in LA Times coverage of secretly recorded tapes revealing city officials racist comments, followed by deep political turmoil, which earned the LA Times the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News
- OC Press Club, Best News Story 2012, “Blood Brothers,” OC Register, Aug. 4, 2011
- Loyola Marymount Journalist Law School - 2012
- Investigative Reporters and Editors, investigative training, USC – Feb. 2010
- Freedom Forum Online Multimedia Seminar – Aug. 2007
- Chips Quinn Scholar Summer 2005
Timeline
Reporter
Los Angeles Times
07.2022 - Current
Senior Breaking News Reporter
BuzzFeed News
02.2015 - 07.2022
Crime & Breaking News Reporter
The Orange County Register
01.2005 - 01.2015
Editor in Chief
Daily Sundial
12.2004 - 05.2005
Staff Writer (Internship)
Al Dìa
05.2004 - 08.2004
Co-founder and Editor in Chief
El Nuevo Sol
03.2004 - 05.2005
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Cal State Northridge
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