Lisa Fernandez
Lisa Fernandez is an old-fashioned newspaper reporter who works online in a TV station.
Lisa came to KTVU in 2017 and has worked in the Bay Area as a journalist for more than 30 years.
At KTVU, Lisa covers the sexual abuse scandal at the all-women's FCI Dublin prison, where she was chosen by the Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California in 2024 as the "Journalist of the Year," the in-custody deaths at Santa Rita Jail, and the federal oversight over the Oakland Police Department. She also covers breaking news, civil rights cases, immigration and education issues and actually loves doing a light feature.
Lisa truly believes that journalism can effect change, by letting the public know more about the world that they live in.
Lisa spent most of her career as a print reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, covering cops, city hall and religion. She's also worked at the LA Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Reuters, NBC Bay Area, and the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, New York, where she is from.
She met her husband in 1995 when they were both young reporters at her first real journalism job: Bay City News in San Francisco.
Lisa loves to teach journalism and she has been an adjunct professor at San Jose State University. She has her master's degree in journalism from Medill at Northwestern University.
In her free time, Lisa volunteers with the Society of Professional Journalists at San Quentin Prison helping incarcerated men hone their writing and reporting skills, and she coaches high school seniors write their college essays.
She is also an exercise instructor, teaching spin, yoga, aqua and body sculpting classes.
Lisa lives in Oakland, Calif., with her husband. She has two adult children.
Have a story tip or idea for Lisa? Contact Lisa at lisa.fernandez@fox.com or (510) 874-0139.
The latest from Lisa Fernandez
Swarm of earthquakes strike San Ramon, jolting residents
At least 25 moderate and smaller earthquakes hit San Ramon on Monday morning, jolting some residents awake.
Cellmate investigated for homicide at Salinas Valley State Prison
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials said they are investigating the death of 66-year-old incarcerated man at Salinas Valley State Prison on Thursday as a homicide.
Mountain lion in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood released to wild
A young male mountain lion was spotted in San Francisco and eluded animal control officers for hours, while simultaneously captivating a human audience – watching online and in person – for more than a day.
SJPD sergeant in 'good spirits' after being shot in head; slain suspect identified
San Jose police on Thursday said one of their sergeants is in good spirits and has since been released from a hospital after being shot in the head by a gunman during a multi-city shooting spree that ended with officers killing the suspect.
Mother killed by distracted driving on San Mateo Bridge: CHP
A deadly Tuesday afternoon crash on the San Mateo Bridge has been attributed by the California Highway Patrol to distracted driving, in a tragic situation that killed a 54-year-old mother who had fled Venezuela for a better life in the Bay Area.
Oakland gets $900,000 from Kaiser, PG&E for police cadet program
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee on Wednesday announced that the city has secured nearly $900,000 from Kaiser Permanente and PG&E to reinstate a police cadet program that was not funded in 2023 because of budget constraints.
2nd in-custody death at Martinez jail this month
A 62-year-old man died at the Martinez Detention Facility on Sunday, the second in-custody death at the jail this month, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff's office.
Former Oakland officers take fatal 'ghost chase' case to Supreme Court
Two former Oakland police officers have taken a deadly "ghost chase" case to the US Supreme Court, hoping to persuade the justices that they did not violate a bystander’s due process. The case centers on the death of Lolo Soakai, who was killed in a freak accident while getting food at a taco truck with his mother.
Homicide at California Medical Facility prison in Vacaville
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the death of an incarcerated man at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville as a homicide.
DA charges man with murder in Oakland's 1st homicide of 2026
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has charged a man with murder in Oakland's first homicide of 2026.