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Catherine Stifter
Senior Fellow, California Health Journalism Fellowship Mentor, Impact Fund Former Public Radio Trainer, Editor and Producer
Catherine Stifter is happily retired from a satisfying 38-year-long career in public radio. Highlights include working with hundreds of station-based and independent reporters, editors and producers who were enrolled in NPR's On-Site Training Projects and Diversity Initiatives; a stint as board member of the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) and travel to South Africa with other NPR producers to conduct a country-wide journalism training project prior to Mandela’s election. Catherine was Managing Editor on independent public radio productions that won Peabody Awards for The DNA Files and Crossing East, First Asians in America For 14 years, Catherine helped mentor and fund community collaborations that used media to illuminate health issues within vulnerable communities across the US through Sound Partners for Community Health She directed Capital Public Radio’s award-winning community-engaged documentary series The View From Here. Catherine is proud to have had roles as mentor and managing editor for the Next Generation Radio training project. She frequently serves as a mentor for the Center for Health Journalism's Fellows and Impact Fund grantees.
Articles
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Reporters covering stories of people in stressful situations can find themselves struggling with "vicarious stress" and "compassion fatigue." Taking time to practice self-care and mindfulness can help reporters process their own emotions, even as they bear witness to others' difficulties.
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When reporters strive to foster community engagement, it not only stands to make for better journalism, but it can actually improve the well-being of the community.
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One out of four adults in California is a high school dropout. "Class Dismissed" takes an up-close look at the crisis through the lives of four young people from the Central Valley. The stories reveal what’s at stake for their future and ours.
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Unyque Jackson started kindergarten in Oakland. Her parents divorced when she was five. And Unyque moved to the San Joaquin Valley where she lived in her father’s house and was raised by her grandmother.
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As he tells it, Geronimo Garcia was on the path toward dropping out by the time he started school.
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This project was led by Catherine Stifter, a 2013 California Fellow, who takes an up-close look at the high rates of high school dropouts through the lives of four young people from the Central Valley.
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Capital Public Radio launched its multimedia documentary series with a personal, in-depth look inside the lives of adults with autism today. "The View From Here: Autism Grows Up" follows four adults in the Sacramento region with autism who are aiming for a life of choice and opportunity.
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Why is the high school dropout rate in the San Joaquin Valley among the highest in the California? CapRadio will produce a documentary that tells stories of youth and adults touched by the dropout crisis with accuracy, depth, nuance and respect.