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
Murder suspect killed at Santa Rita Jail
A murder suspect was killed, likely in a homicide, at Santa Rita Jail this week, Alameda County sheriff's officials said.
1st day of sex crime trial for former FCI Dublin guard 'Dirty Dick' Smith
Darrell "Dirty Dick" Smith is accused asking women at FCI Dublin to flash him parts of their breasts, pinning them against the wall and bribing them with cellphones in exchange for sex.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs: Suit names new celebrities, new photos in Orinda gang-rape allegations
An amended lawsuit filed by a Bay Area woman last week alleges that more celebrities were involved in an alleged gang rape in Orinda involving rapper Sean “Diddy" Combs, who is being held in federal detention in New York on sex-trafficking criminal charges.
Oroville in Northern California votes to become non-sanctuary city
The city of Oroville in Northern California's Butte County decided to veer from the state's sanctuary law, in what is seen as a largely symbolic move.
Piedmont friend describes trying to save former classmates from deadly Cybertruck crash
For the first time, a young man described trying to save two of his four friends in a fatal Cybertruck crash in Piedmont.
Motorcycle passenger killed in San Leandro train accident ID'd
The motorcycle passenger who died after being struck by an Amtrak train when her driver rode over the train tracks after fellow riders lifted the railroad crossing arms in San Leandro has been identified.
Did ICE targeting change in 1st days of Trump administration?
Has ICE targeting of immigrants changed in the first days of the Trump administration? The answer: Yes and no.
Federal prisons holding 700 immigrants in detention, BOP says
The federal prison system as of Wednesday was holding about 700 immigrant detainees at four facilities, a Bureau of Prisons executive told a House committee.
Senators object using prisons to detain immigrants 'swept up' in Trump's mass deportation efforts
Seven senators, including two from California, wrote to the U.S. Attorney General objecting to a plan that would use federal prisons to detain immigrants "swept up in the Trump Administration's mass deportation efforts," and urged her to reconsider the move.
Black history month: Celebrating some amazing Bay Area youth
Black history month aims to pay tribute to African Americans, and is a chance to educate the public about championing and cheering on members of the Black community. KTVU is highlighting some amazing Bay Area youth during February, from poets to weightlifters.