On this episode we're joined by Roberto Camacho. Roberto is Chicano (an American of Mexican heritage), a freelance journalist who often writes about issues impacting local immigrants, especially Chicanos but touches on other subjects too, like hip hop culture. He is based in San Diego and is a 2017 graduate of Arizona State University.

Roberto talked about life as a freelancer, connecting with communities that haven't had good relationships with American journalists in the past, and how he looks for stories about groups that are closest to the harm that's being done. He also shared examples of his writing about groups protecting undocumented people from ICE, pollution in local neighborhoods, and hip hop.

Story examples

Protecting Immigrants from Ice

https://boltsmag.org/how-volunteer-patrols-are-working-to-protect-san-diego-immigrant-communities-from-ice/

Port Communities Long Fight Against Industrial Pollution Emissions Impact

https://nextcity.org/features/san-diego-port-communities-long-fight-industrial-pollution-emissions-impact

Neighborhood Kids Bring Revolutionary Message To Hip Hop

https://www.calonews.com/featured-topics/culture/the-neighborhood-kids-bring-revolutionary-messages-back-to-hip-hop/article_39a80635-98a3-494b-987b-694e20336338.html

Group Documenting Latino People Killed By Police

https://www.palabranahj.org/archive/the-heavy-toll

Roberto's salutes: Ruben Salazar, Shaun King, Brandon Loran Maxwell, Aysha Khan, Abraham Marquez, Ben Camacho, Jeremiah Cothren and all the journalists in Gaza.

Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org

Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com)

Tweet us at @journalismpod and Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.social

Subscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.substack.com