Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "jaredgoyette"

Farewell 2012: Our top 12 articles of the year

2012-12-31T20:46:57Z

It’s been an eventful year here at The Sacramento Press. We said bittersweet farewells to some key staff members and welcomed new ones to the team. We will be sharing our New Year’s resolution with you later, but for now let’s take a look at what had readers clicking in 2012.

In case you missed anything, or if you’re just looking to take a trip down memory lane, here are 2012’s hottest items from The Sacramento Press:

12.) Broderick: stiff drinks, big portions coming to West Sacramento by Jared Goyette
In another food truck/concrete establishment match made in heaven, Chris Jarosz and Matt Chong from Whicked ‘wich food truck joined forces with Steve Hamm, Marvin Maldonado and Thaxter V. Arterberry to open Broderick’s in West Sacramento. Head over tonight for live music and free champagne. Five-dollar cover after 10 p.m.

11.) Zoellin to open Bacon and Butter in Midtown May 20 by Brandon Darnell
Former Golden Bear chef Billy Zoellin opened his own breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant on 21st Street. It’s closed for New Year’s, but stop in some Friday for all-you-can-eat flapjacks between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

10.) Carmichael Dave: I’m coming back by Brandon Darnell
Radio-personality “Carmichael Dave” Weiglein pledges not to fade into obscurity after being fired from KHTK 1140 The Fan. You can now find him at The CD Networks.

9.) Pour House opened Friday in Midtown Sacramento [Photos] by Jared Goyette
Pour House put taps at their tables and opened its doors to offer a “Prohibition-era speakeasy” vibe. Head over tonight for cocktails and The Golden Cadillacs. No cover!

8.) Invisible Children: KONY 2012 by Rachel Aquino
If you didn’t know who Joseph Kony was in 2011, you probably do by now. The Ugandan warlord is now famous for his brutal tactics which, among other atrocities, target children. Rachel Aquino’s article about local opportunities to engage in the movement to hold Kony accountable had everyone clicking.

7.) "The Grey" - Part 2: Interview by Tony Sheppard
MovieBriefs columnist Tony Sheppard complemented his film review of “The Grey” with an interview with actor Frank Grillo as well as director and Sacramento native Joe Carnahan.

6.) Baroque Philharmonia: A softer side of the Mondavi Center by Chad Avakian
Contributor Chad Avakian attended a symphony performance by the Philharmonia Baroque at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. While Avakian gave the ensemble a rave review, The Sacramento Press found itself in want of a classical music expert, and musical baroque masters nationwide voiced their disappointment.

5.) Jimmer Fredette capitalizing on limited playing time by Chris McClain
Kings contributor Chris McClain hit a nerve when he opened a debate on the fate of “Jimmermania.” Fans across the board debated Fredette’s value to the Kings and how head coach Keith Smart utilized (or did not utilize) him on the court.

4.) A look at Purgatory, the grid’s newest restaurant-lounge by Melissa Corker
Corker previewed a new restaurant-by-day, dance-club-by-night establishment which sought to provide a spot for sinners to mingle with saints. No info on how things are going thus far. Update us if you have the scoop.

3.) New Orleans fare coming to Broadway by Brandon Darnell
New Orleans native Eric Crawford brought some of the bayou to Sacramento when he opened Original PoBoys with his family at Broadway and Alhambra. Almost a year out they are still satisfying residents’ cajun cravings.

2.) The Hobbit - Frame rates, 3D/2D, and second thoughts by Tony Sheppard
Columnist Tony Sheppard makes the list again with his detailed review of one of 2012’s most anticipated films. His review was accented not only by detailed technical analyzation but also by his commentary on how well the popular novel transferred to the big screen.

And the No. 1 read article on The Sacramento Press from 2012 is:

1.) Local Man Fired for Feeding Cats by Heather Ireland
Ireland pulled heartstrings and invoked strong reactions from readers on both sides of the issue when she chronicled Larry Ottoviani’s story. Ottoviani was fired from 7UP Bottling Company after seven years of employment. His crime? Feeding feral cats. Ottoviani and his employers disagreed as to whether he was tending to the strays on company time and property.

There you have it – our year at a glance. Thank you to all of our readers, writers and those who stick strictly to the commentariat. You are truly what makes our site, and each day at the office, great.

Behold, Sacramento's stylin' 'staches

2012-11-30T19:28:22Z

All right, so check it out.

Tomorrow is December 1, which means that Movember will officially come to a close. For the past month men (and women) around the globe have been sporting mustaches to promote and raise funds for men's health issues.

As Dr. Eandi told us earlier this month, one of the greatest contributors to diseases like prostate and testicular cancer is an aversion to seeing the doctor. All right then, boys – hopefully for at least the next few months you won't be able to see a 'stache without reflexively reaching for the phone to schedule a checkup.

Insight Coffee Roasters will host their Movember Finale on location tomorrow at noon. Come on down for one last Movember celebration, and a complimentary shave provided the weather doesn't scare their barber off.

Yesterday we asked readers to vote in our Sac Press mustache contest. The ballot had Accounts Manager Randy Balzarano up against Editor-in-Chief Jared Goyette.

After a tight race during which both candidates had multiple moments to enjoy a lead, Balzarano ended up taking home a whopping 68 percent of the votes. Congratulations, Randy. Jared, we'll see your mustache next week.

But that's not all. We also have a great group of of 'stache-sporters throughout our community. They've submitted their photos to The Sacramento Press for your critique. Cast your vote for the best mustache, and the top three winners will take home two free movie tickets and free popcorn courtesty of Esquire IMAX Theatre.

You can find our Movember photo album on our Facebook page here.

Tell me, readers: Which Sacramento 'stache is the most stylish?

Sac Press mustache madness – We need your vote!

2012-11-28T19:58:45Z

Movember, the annual mustache growing charity event to promote awareness of prostate cancer, is coming to a close. Soon it will be time for men across the globe to to sharpen those razors and shed the lip sweaters they've spent the month so fondly grooming.

But not quite yet.

Voting starts today in the face-off between Sac Press Editor-in-Chief Jared Goyette and Accounts Manager Randy Balzarano. The gentleman with the least amount of votes will proudly sport his 'stache into mid-December.

Got your own mustache? Post a photo to our Facebook page showcasing your crumb catcher, or email a pic to journalism@sacramentopress.com with your first name and general locale. We'll put it to a vote Thursday the 29th, and the top three mustaches will take home two free move tickets and free popcorn courtesy of Esquire IMAX Theatre.

All right, let's get to it. For the past month Goyette and Balzarano have grown and combed meticulously to go from this:

to this:

Let's hear it, readers – who's got the best 'stache? Cast your vote

Hansen and Yee take questions from the public in final forum

2012-10-31T16:12:38Z

The last debate between Steve Hansen and Joe Yee took place at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret on K and 10th streets Tuesday night. In a cordial showdown, the differences between the two candidates seemed arguably lessened, as both men agreed that any winner would be good for Sacramento.

“After over a year of campaigning, I think a lot of issues have come to the fore,” said Hansen. “Joe (Yee)’s been a great person to run against because we both deeply care about this city.”

Within the immediate downtown/Midtown/Land Park area, the race for City Council has been a close one. There were only 75 votes between first and second place during the primaries in June. Even this late in the race, there were nearly 140 people who wanted to listen for the last word.

“It’s important to have informed voters,” said Yee, “so we can all work toward our vision of Sacramento.”

There have been some familiar concerns that have enveloped a variety of neighborhoods within District 4, such as safety, schools, parks and the future of “The Claw,” Sacramento’s most loved lawn waste picker-upper. But other pressing topics were presented by members of the public who wanted to know more about where Hansen and Yee stand.

On residential and commercial zones working together toward urban development;

Hansen: “It’s a simple question of leadership. When people in your district or in your community have problems that you can help them with, I believe you have an obligation to do what you can to help them. To me, this is a customer service job.”

Yee: “There are roles in the city to help people get together and have a discussion, but there could be that fear of getting too much in the weeds. Government has its roles, and I think it should respect the limitations.”

Private property neglect and demolition within the city limits;

Yee: “Demolition by neglect is a very difficult issue to try to resolve. It’s difficult to regulate conduct. I don’t have a solution for it now – It’s always been a challenge of how to make people responsible for what they have, to preserve what we believe to be of important value within our community. I’d be glad to work with other members of the community to try to develop some policies where we can prevent demolition by neglect.”

Hansen: “We have to make sure that our heritage isn’t lost. It’s actually something that distinguishes Sacramento from many other cities is the quality and quantity of the Victorians still remaining. Not every property is worth saving. We just have to make sure everyone is treated fairly.”

Community underrepresentation;

Yee: “I think there’s a significant part of District 4 that we haven’t talked about. There’s River Oaks, Swallow’s Nest and west Natomas. It is the job of the council member to represent the entirety of the district, not just where you live. The council member needs to recognize the diversity within the district, the different needs and reach out to those people.”

Hansen: “I don’t think there’s an inherent tension where you can be from one neighborhood and not look after another. It’s been 30 years since someone from the central city, the grid, has sat on City Council. We have unique identities, that doesn’t mean we’re not part of the same quilt, that we’re not part of a wonderful city that can, despite our differences, work together.”

Alternative plans for the railyards;

Yee: “It’s hard to ignore the influence of the railyards. As many of you may know, there have been recently three different master plans for the railyards. Even the latest one, the business model that created that plan, is no longer viable. Pre-recession plans did not acknowledge the realities that we deal with currently. It has great potential. It was once said that the railyards is a once-in-a-lifetime project, and I believe that to be true. We need to be careful of what we approve, of what the vision is to make sure it is worthy of that site that is sustainable.”

Hansen: “I think we do need the railyards to be reflective of our downtown mixed use – housing, retail, livability and the vibrancy that will come from people who are living in the city that, I think, will help the Downtown Plaza, will help K Street. We know that redevelopment is gone, is dead as we know it, so we need to find new sources of money if we’re going to pay for the infrastructure. Otherwise it’ll sit there for a lot longer.”

Despite the varying subject matter, different personalities and ideals on how to guide the city forward have vastly separated the candidates throughout the campaign. Critics have pegged Yee as stiff and traditional, though his supporters see him as sincere, and point to his experience as his best asset. Hansen has campaigned hard, with a noticeably heavier social media presence, and he has even given out his personal cellphone number at every opportunity, including during the closing statements of the debate.

As election day approaches, the event served as the last time people could get up close and personal to the District 4 candidates, even if there’s just a little time left to make up one’s mind.

“I think both of them tried to answer a lot of questions,” said Midtown resident Karen Humphrey. “I think they both tried to be constructive with their answers, but I’m still mulling over what they said.”

Note: The Sacrtamento Press would like to thank our event sponsors, Capitol Towers, for supporting the debate.

View the story "Steve Hansen's amazing green socks and other tweets from the D4 debate" on StorifySteve Hansen's amazing green socks and other tweets from the D4 debateIf the election were held on Twitter, Steve Hansen would win, judging from the tweets last night during the final District 4 City Council debate. (Yee's supporters were out in force as well, just not as glued to their phones). All the tweets and a few Facebook posts from last night: Storified by Jared Goyette · Wed, Oct 31 2012 09:30:05 The #D4SP debate just started! Politics + @KBARatPRG after! http://pic.twitter.com/E0LtIYwOChris Brune Let's get ready to rrrrumble! — at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cosmopolitan-Cabaret/134056153305996" class="">Cosmopolitan Cabaret</a>. go, steve, go!Thomas Dodson RT @pweekly: @steve4sac socked it to the competition tonight #d4sp #sacramento http://pic.twitter.com/taUIm8AEAnthony Donnelly Baller socks from @Steve4Sac. #justsaying #d4sp #Sacramento http://lockerz.com/s/257619896Girls on the Grid Voting for @Steve4Sac primarily cuz he's got green striped socks. The dude's got flair #d4sp #vote #AmazingSocks #debate #SacramentoAlexandra Cunningham The #D4SP debate can be seen LIVE here - http://www.accesssacramento.org/ (click on the 'channel 17' icon) Thanks @accesssac!The Sacramento Press Huge disconnect between those who want growth & those who are committed to terrifying people of the dangers of growth. #sacramento #d4spGirls on the Grid As an alumni i'm loving all this talk about CKM student safety and bike lanes on Freeport #d4sp #debate #SacramentoAlexandra Cunningham We'll get your question answered Janna! Check the comments later today. Bust. Didn't get to ask my question. wanted to hear candidates' take on strong mayor initiative. #d4sp #sacramentoJanna Marlies Maron Why don't I have @Steve4Sac's cell phone number? Apparently I'm the one... #d4spEmily Sheldon "Prohibition didn't work" - @steve4sac on placing a moratorium on new liqueur licenses in #midtown #MyMan #d4spPatrick Harbison Thoughtful issues from both candidates, but Steve Hansen seems to know everybody! #d4spcollin poseley Great questions from the audience! Thank you for hosting the #D4SP debate Cosmopolitan Cabaret. http://pic.twitter.com/JUUqEPSsThe Sacramento Press

Voter questions and followups: How the Sac Press debate with Hansen and Yee will work

2012-10-17T00:33:03Z

The race between Joe Yee and Steve Hansen for the District 4 seat on the Sacramento City Council is reaching its hurried climax, as the candidates go from one forum to the next, with two this week alone. We decided to take a slightly different approach for the debate we're hosting on Oct. 30, and we'll need your help.

The format is based off of two common observations that seem to hold true in most races. First, candidates tend to answer questions more candidly and completely when they come from voters as opposed to journalists. Secondly, followup questions are key to getting candidates to move beyond prepared stock answers and into the real substance of the issues.

Here's how the forum will work.

We're asking everyone who plans to attend the debate to RSVP using this link. The debate will occur at 6:30 p.m. in the Cosmopolitan Cabaret theater, 1000 K St. As part of the registration process, you will be asked to submit a question you'd like to ask the candidates. If you live in District 4 and are willing to ask your question in front of the audience, please fill out that form.

I'll be sorting all the questions by topic and trying to identify the ones that are the most insightful, penetrating, and that address important issues for city residents. That's why it's important to RSVP: The sooner people register and submit their questions, the sooner I can get started.

The night of the debate, I will be a facilitator, establishing the topic order and asking specific audience members to ask their presubmitted questions at the appropriate times.

But we won't just be moving from question to question. Sacramento Bee Associate Editor Foon Rhee will take on the task of asking followup questions for each candidate. He will also be given time at the end of the evening to ask questions on any subject he thinks has been overlooked.

And, in a move inspired by Candy Crowley’s recent moderation of the presidential debates, Sacramento Press Associate Editor Brandon Darnell will live fact check the debate, and pass on questions or concerns to Rhee.

The Sacramento Press is a community-driven online newspaper, and it only makes sense that we would get most of our debate questions from residents. We also do our best to combine that community ethos with the values of traditional journalism, and Rhee's (and The Bee's) participation will help add an element of expertise and tough-mindedness that is as important in political coverage as it is in debate moderation.

The forum comes in the final week of a campaign that has been fought hard by both candidates. Hansen said he believes it could be a crucial time period.

"We're kind of forum-hopping these days," Hansen said Monday. "I think that, that last week, it's going to be almost a closing argument kind of thing. There is a large number of absentee voters or maybe still holding their ballots. We'll be looking to see how we can earn their votes."

For Yee, one of his frustrations has been condensing his responses to TV-friendly soundbites -- an issue we'll avoid with an hour and half devoted to just two candidates.

"It's tough to try to answer a complex question in 60 seconds," Yee said. "I find that to be a real challenge. So, that's been a bit of frustration for me personally."

When asked to name the highlights of the campaign, both Yee and Hansen mentioned talking to voters and witnessing the tireless efforts of their volunteers.

"I think the high point has been talking to people in the district, as well as throughout the city," Yee said. "I think that's been very, very gratifying."

Hansen was taken aback by the work of his volunteers and the encouragement of his supporters.

"I sort of took a leap of faith in getting in the race, and to me, it's been miraculous, because that leap of faith has been rewarded with people who have helped encourage and support me that really weren't known to me beforehand," he said.

The candidates will see the fruit of their labor on Nov. 6, but only after answering a final round of questions on Oct. 30. We hope to see you there.

Jared Goyette is the editor of The Sacramento Press. Find him on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Training for the Running Dead Zombie Mud Run: Taking on my beer belly (and zombies)

2012-09-10T15:42:51Z

You know where all those beers have gone when you look down to see if your seatbelt is on, and all you see is your own gut.

It must have been this way for some time, but I hadn't noticed until now. For the last few months, I'd been picking up a lot of little signs that maybe it’s time for me to shape up and get healthy.

My daughter helped. Toddlers have a gift for being blunt in a way that adults often can't – they just say what they see, and when she was mastering sizes and body parts, she connected the two concepts in a way I won't soon forget.

"This is my belly," she said, pointing to her midsection. "Daddy has big one. Mamma has a small one, and me too …"

She continued in this vein before she added, with a 2-year-old’s enthusiasm, her own emphasis.

"Daddy, daddy, you have a big belly!"

"You're right, Cissa, I do," I told her.

For years I've been starting and then stopping halfhearted attempts to shape up. I've lost count of the gym contracts I've signed, only to go once or twice before either paying their ridiculous cancellation fees or letting the contract expire. LA Fitness still sends me emails.

I even tried GymPact, an app that pays you to go the gym and charges you if you don't. It works via a contract – you promise to go to the gym a certain number of times per week and decide how much you'll be charged if you fail to go. You earn a few dollars for completing the contract – money that comes from those who failed to complete theirs – and get dinged if you don't meet your goal.

Great idea, but this is how it worked out for me: My wife mocked me for signing up and, about $30 later, I proved her right.

My problem has always been that there are few things I detest more than being bored, and running in circles or doing repetitious exercise has always struck me as dull and uninteresting. This isn't a criticism of people that like those things, I just never have, and wish it were different.

I think though, that I've found a short-term solution – one that, if it works, I might be able to build into something more permanent.

Zombies. I just need zombies chasing me. It seems to work in the movies, and the need to escape a gruesome creature with designs to feast on my brains might just be the motivation I've been seeking.

I jest, but just a little: I've signed up for my first 5K run, but not one of those boring, run-in-a-straight-line-along-some-road type events. The "Running Dead Zombie Mud Run", which takes place Oct. 20 at Gibson Ranch, is a 5K run filled with "military style training obstacles that you would see in a boot camp," including, as the name suggests, lots of mud.

But the best part is the zombies. Each participant wears flag-football belts on their waists, and volunteer "zombies" try to yank the flags off. To be eligible for prizes, participants must have at least one of their flags left when they get to finish line.

This is the kind of 5K race that should, in theory anyway, be ideal for a listless and easily distracted runner like myself. It won't be like: "Run. Run some more. Oh look, a curve. Why are we running again? Couldn't I just walk? Oh God, not another hill," but more along the lines of, "Run. Dive into the mud! Is that a zombie? Damn, it's fast. RUN! Ah! It's squirting blood! Run faster!"

If that sounds like fun to you, then consider joining me. The first “wave” of participants begin the race at 9:00 a.m., followed by waves at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m, with kids getting their own starting time at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online and cost $65 if bought before Oct. 1, and $75 afterward. Members of the military can join in for $49, and children ages 13-17 pay $40, and must have a release signed by a guardian. A message from our business desk: Enter "SACPRESS" as a coupon code when you register, and you'll get $10 off.

The problem remains, however, that I am not in my best zombie-escaping condition. My training starts today. My first objective is to work on my cardio and running time so I have some chance of not puking on a volunteer zombie or fellow racer. That’s not the goo they signed up for.

I'll be writing more about my training leading up to the race. It won't be pretty, but whatever you do, don't encourage me. Gentle encouragement from friends and family has been great and well-intentioned, but when it comes to getting in shape, it hasn't done the trick, and doing this zombie run is about trying a new approach.

So if you see me running through Midtown, tell me that I'm slow and don't have a chance of finishing the race. Point out that I have an encroaching beer belly and I'm just over 30 but have sprouts of grey hair. Run circles around me. If you're feeling really motivated, dress up like a zombie and start chasing me.

You can start now – please give your negative feedback in the conversation below this article. I just ask that you be creative about it (remember, I hate being bored).

Jared Goyette is the editor of the Sacramento Press. Follow @JaredGoyette

Sacramento Current Interviews Tom Negrete of The Sacramento Bee and Jared Goyette of Sacramento Press

2012-06-21T03:08:58Z

Tonight (right now in fact) Sacramento Current (Sacramento's oldest and best podcast about local public affairs. see www.sacramentocurrent.com) is interviewing Tom Negrete of The Sacramento Bee and Jared Goyette of Sacramento Press about the state of news media in our city and at large. We'll have the audio up just as soon as our friends at Third Bedroom Studios and RanSackedMedia.com can work their magic.

The Sacramento Press welcomes its new Editor in Chief: Jared Goyette

2012-04-23T17:05:58Z

We are excited to announce the newest addition to The Sacramento Press team – Jared Goyette.

Jared is the fourth editor in chief The Sacramento Press has had since it launched in 2008.

For the past three years Jared was the online producer for The Miami Herald, writing headlines, selecting the front page stories, editing images and managing social media accounts. On top of managing the morning shift at The Herald, Jared founded a hyperlocal publication called Open Media Miami.

Open Media is the community news partner of The Herald and covers the downtown and Midtown areas of Miami.

Jared said he started Open Media Miami because he “wanted to experiment with online news coverage … and immerse (himself) in the topics and issues that fascinate (him): local news, civic engagement on the web, urbanism and online journalism from the ground up.”

He has grown that site from a staff of one blogger (Jared) to an operation with two editors, a part-time writer, a small sales team and a handful of freelancers.

Having been the publisher of Open Media, he brings with him the experience of growing a neighborhood news site. He has organized community socials and candidate debates, served as a spokesperson and salesperson for Open Media Miami and worked tirelessly to break stories around the clock.

So why did Jared move across the country to take a job with The Sacramento Press?

“I believe that for local journalism to stay both relevant and sustainable, we must preserve what’s valuable from traditions of the craft while being unafraid to embrace the open, participatory, constantly evolving, and innovative nature of the web,” he said.

“The way SacPress is built, both as a company (as part of Macer Media) and as a site, reflects an understanding of this reality in ways that are hard to find in the industry. As a sustainable model for a news and social media operation that has both professional reporters and an active group of over 2,000 citizen journalists, SacPress is breaking new ground, and is one of a few sites across the country that is in the process of defining what the future of local news might look like. That’s exciting to be a part of and was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

When asked what he is looking forward to about working at The Sacramento Press, he said, “The energy in the office is great and it’s going to be fun to work with a talented, small team, in which everyone knows each other and is working toward the same goals. It’s a privilege to work for a site with such an active community, and I’m looking forward to getting to know our readers and contributors at our events and around town.

“Also, there is a reason why journalists and reporters are so often featured in the movies or on TV shows – we’re right in the middle of the action. We have, as they say, ‘A front seat to history,’ and Sacramento, with the railyards, the arena deal, and so much else in flux, is at an interesting point in its history right now. I’m going to give this job everything I have and enjoy it at the same time. You can’t ask for more than that, and I’m eager to jump right into it.”

Jared joins a fabulous editorial team – City Politics Reporter Melissa Corker, Business Development Reporter and Copy Editor Brandon Darnell and Intern Coordinator Elizabeth Orfin. During my time here, I’ve really enjoyed working with Melissa, Brandon and Elizabeth. Here’s what I can say about our team:

Melissa enjoys reading city reports and attending City Council meetings more than anyone I’ve ever met. She is a self-proclaimed “policy wonk” and you could call her the energizer bunny when it comes to covering everything on her beat. She approaches all of her stories with zeal (and coffee in hand) and a bubbly sense of humor. She absolutely loves her beat and her job and we couldn’t be happier to have her on our team.

Brandon keeps our content clean and balanced with his keen, copy-editing eye. He edits all in-house content on top of being a full-time reporter. He also works closely with our interns, sharing his journalistic expertise and photography knowledge. Brandon is a great storyteller and does a wonderful job of focusing on the people behind the businesses he profiles, the surrounding area and the history behind the building.

Elizabeth loves to edit. She is a former Sacramento Press intern who now coaches our interns with reporting, writing and staying organized. She is extremely detail-oriented and is the glue that holds our internship program together. She is always looking for ways to improve how we do things and she’s extremely efficient so as soon as she has an idea it gets put into action immediately.

When asked what new approaches Jared plans to bring to The Sacramento Press, he responded by saying “Online journalism can have a lot in common with a radio. You have a live stream of content, you’re taking questions and input from your audience, and you’ve got to be on your toes to update any developing stories.

“I want to bring more of that live and interactive sensibility to SacPress. We’ll still have features, but there will be more immediacy to our day-to-day news coverage, with more reporting, and wider a mix story formats coming from our staff writers. We’ll do what the story calls for, be it a few graphs, a Q&A, or a full feature with a video, a searchable database and a map.”

Citizen journalism is at the core of The Sacramento Press, and when asked about citizen journalism, Jared compared journalism to an art form that should be shared.

“My view is that journalism and writing are crafts that should be celebrated and shared with as many people as possible. It’s the same with other crafts or art forms, like acting or playing the guitar. Say, for instance, I’ve been playing the guitar for a few years and you want to learn, so I teach you a few chords. Or maybe you already know how to play and you teach me some songs that you know, and vice-versa. Maybe we write a song together. Does any of this threaten me as a guitarist? Would it make sense if I started complaining that the price of guitars was too low and that therefore, no one was attending my concerts? Of course not, but that’s the kind of sentiment you hear from some critics of citizen journalism.

“If people are writing, in a civil and transparent way, about issues that are important to their community, that’s fundamentally good for society. I’m passionate about journalism and writing and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned from others, just as I’m certain that I still have a lot to learn myself,” he said.

Jared has a degree in geography and urban studies from Temple University, but all of the jobs he’s held after college have been at news publications, so I asked him how he got into journalism.

“I grew up in a household where we watched the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour
every night and argued about politics. I’ve been an online news junkie since the time of dial-up modems and ‘You’ve got mail.’ I had planned to go into policy work or maybe law school, but I kept being drawn back to writing and journalism. I was, just as I am now, driven by the love of the craft, an intense curiosity, and the desire to use the tools of journalism to fight for what is right and fair,” he said.

“It may sound cliché or overdone, but George Orwell was a big hero of mine. One afternoon, while in an exchange program in Brazil about eight years ago, I was listening to a Christopher Hitchens lecture on the life Orwell, in which he said something to the effect of, ‘If any of you have ever thought seriously of taking up the profession of writer… don't give up. The life I have been trying to describe is an exemplary one. It will repay your study.’

“In that moment, something clicked. I decided to go for it, and haven’t looked back since. I volunteered, I freelanced, I interned, I got one job, then another, and another, until I eventually ended up at the Miami Herald, and now here. I love what I do, and I love the fact that if I do it well enough, I can help solve problems and improve people’s lives. It’s not like that all the time, but that possibility always exists, and that’s what makes me come back everyday wanting to do better than the day before.

Jared just moved to the heart of Midtown, which has been our main coverage area at The Sacramento Press. I asked him what excites him about living in the central city.

“It’s the right city at the right time. My wife and I have moved around a lot over the last few years, but she’s about to finish her doctorate in audiology and our daughter is almost two and a half. We wanted to be in a place where we could start thinking about schools, getting a house, and more long term plans.

“Every city has its challenges, but one thing that stood out about Sacramento for us is that it’s affordable, and that a higher quality of life is accessible here for middle class families than in places like Miami (where we came from) or than in bigger, more expensive cities like San Franciso or New York.

“We live right in the middle of Midtown, and I have to say that the grid is phenomenal. There are so many restaurants and cafes, each one with its own particular personality. The old Victorian houses here have character. It’s easy to get around – there are bike lanes and broad sidewalks, and the streets are lined with trees. I’ve walked for miles over the last week, through downtown and Midtown, and I still have a lot to explore. This is a great place to live.”

When I first started at The Sacramento Press, I was an intern, working to realize the founders’ dream of creating a neighborhood news site in Sacramento. I’ve seen a lot of changes and a lot of growth in the last three and a half years, but I’m very happy to be leaving the newsroom in such good hands.

Jared can be reached via email at jared@sacramentopress.com, on Twitter @JaredGoyette or on his public Facebook feed at facebook.com/JaredMGoyette.