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
Breakdown of who is paying for FIFA World Cup police security in Bay Area
Police officers from Oakland to San Jose have been working overtime shifts, even before the World Cup started, stationed in hotel parking lots to provide extra security for the traveling Australian and Paraguay teams practicing in the Bay Area and playing soccer at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. But who is paying the local officers, and where is the money coming from?
18-year-old arrested for 'Columbine' massacre shooting at Chico library
An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested after a shooting at a library in Northern California left two people dead, Chico police said Tuesday, adding that his motivation "appears to be founded in a desire to commit a Columbine High School massacre type of shooting."
What should I do this weekend? Bay Area newsletters offer some answers
A lot of us wonder what we should do for fun on the weekend. Local Bay Area newsletters are offering up some suggestions. "Local newsletters are having a moment right now," said Kolby Hatch, creator of Oaktown Weekly.
Murder suspect dies in Santa Rita Jail restroom
A 44-year-old Oakland murder suspect suffered a seizure at Santa Rita Jail and then died days later while using the restroom of a cell, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office – the second in-custody death at the facility in a week.
Former San Quentin death row prisoner sues Alameda County for $290M
A 73-year-old Black man who was incarcerated on San Quentin's death row for three decades is suing Alameda County, specifically the District Attorney's Office, for $290 million, alleging that he never got a fair trial because the jury who convicted him was chosen unconstitutionally – all but one were white.
Santa Rita jail death: Man didn't show up for breakfast
A 37-year-old man died at Santa Rita Jail after he didn't show up for breakfast and was found lying in his bunk unresponsive a day after being put into custody there, according to the Alameda County Sheriff.
Dead gray whale along San Leandro shoreline
A dead gray whale has washed up along the San Leandro shoreline near the Bay Trail south of Marina Park.
Video: Sea lion leaps into canoe during Monterey Bay race
An enthusiastic sea lion leaped out of the Monterey Bay over Memorial Day weekend, hopping onto a racing outrigger canoe, before slipping back into the saltwater and becoming an instant viral sensation.
Oakland police in compliance with all 51 reforms: federal monitor
For the first time in more than two decades, a federal monitor declared that the Oakland Police Department has achieved compliance with all 51 reforms that it was ordered to complete following what's now infamously known as the Riders scandal.
Photos show San Leandro police chief's Jeep, Chevrolet in alleged hit-and-run
The CHP determined that the chief was at fault for clipping another car's side mirror, but not guilty of a crime.