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
Woman dies at Santa Rita Jail after being sent back from hospital
A 37-year-old Oakland woman died Friday at Santa Rita Jail after a trip to the hospital the day before, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
Here's how to pronounce Alysa Liu's name: It might not be how you think
There has been a lot of mispronunciation of Oakland Olympian Alysa Liu's name.
Judge denies holding sheriff's office in contempt over Santa Rita Jail heat claims
An Alameda County Superior Court judge has denied a request to hold the sheriff's office in contempt of court in the case of a man complaining that his cell is too hot. But the judge did schedule a resentencing date for the man who has been held at Santa Rita Jail for 13 years.
'Bye Girl!' What California Gov. Newsom said about Kristi Noem's departure
It didn't take long for California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his fiery social media team to weigh in on President Trump firing Kristi Noem on Thursday from the head of the Department of Homeland Security. “BYE GIRL!" Newsom shared on X.
Video: Santa Rita Jail deputies acknowledge 120-degree heat in cell
Leonard Jones, who holds the title of being among the longest held in Santa Rita Jail, is working toward reducing his 59-year prison sentence, while simultaneously fighting with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office over what he describes as unfair treatment, including being subjected to 120-degree heat at times in his cell.
Santa Rita Jail staff says they saved more than 330 lives in 2025
The staff at Santa Rita Jail saved 336 lives in 2025 – up from 250 the year before and the sheriff announced she's "updated" the mail system to reduce the influx of contraband coming in, according to a Tuesday news release from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
Pro-Flock activists push Richmond council to extend contract, turn cameras back on
A group of pro-Flock activists rallied on Tuesday ahead of a Richmond City Council meeting touting the benefits they see in having automated license plate readers capture photos of cars – and criminals – as councilmembers are poised to extend the contract with the controversial company.
2 Bay Area mayors disagree over ending Flock surveillance contracts
As Bay Area cities cut ties with Flock, two South Bay mayors share their differing views on ditching the surveillance technology to fight crime amid immigration concerns.
Antisemitic chant breaks out at San Francisco mayoral event
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood held an event on Wednesday where a woman yelled an antisemitic comment, prompting the mayor to respond on social media.
Well-known Sikh volunteer kidnapped in Tracy, found dead near Lake Berryessa
Sheriff's officials confirmed Monday that a body found near Lake Berryessa over the weekend was a father of triplets who was abducted last week 100 miles away in Tracy and who was a well-known volunteer at his Sikh temple – and that he wasn't the target.