Overview: Alyssah Hall, a Rancho Cucamonga resident, has joined Black Voice News as a local news reporter. Hall completed her bachelor’s degree in Journalism at California State University of Los Angeles and previously worked as a contributing writer for the Los Angeles Sentinel. She was chosen from hundreds of candidates for Berkeley’s California Local News Fellows and hopes to cover a variety of topics including mental health and wellness and solutions-oriented stories.
BVN Staff
The Inland Empire is gaining another local news reporter in September as Rancho Cucamonga resident Alyssah Hall joins Black Voice News.
“With a focus on local government and community news, Alyssah will be a welcomed addition to the newsroom,” stated Black Voice News Publisher Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds. “There are so many amazing Inland Empire stories that are currently going untold. Her presence and expertise will help us provide much more coverage in the region.”
After completing her bachelor’s degree in Journalism at California State University, Los Angeles, Hall exercised her reporting skills as a contributing writer for the Los Angeles Sentinel. During her time reporting for the weekly paper, Hall interviewed local politicians and highlighted local businesses. Reporting in Los Angeles allowed her to expand her knowledge of the region, and she hopes to do the same in the Inland Empire.
“It’s exciting to kind of dive deeper, and it feels like it’s already home for me,” Hall explained. With how vast the Inland Empire is, Hall is eager to expand her knowledge of the area, beyond Rancho Cucamonga.
Chosen from hundreds of candidates as one of University of California, Berkeley’s California Local News Fellows, Hall joins over 30 other local news reporters who were selected this year by newsrooms across the state for a two-year fellowship. During her fellowship, Hall hopes to cover a variety of topics including mental health and wellness and solutions-oriented stories.
“I want to give people an answer, give people hope. I love Black, impactful stories. I love Black, uplifting stories. I’d want to cover local businesses and just see what’s going on in the area,” Hall explained.
Hall is also interested in exploring stories that will have an impact on the communities such as reporting on the maternal mortality crisis and examining hospital practices. Although Hall typically covers art and culture, she hopes to expand her reporting to cover other topics.
The team at Black Voice News covers several issues that impact the lives of Inland Empire residents such as maternal health and wellness, environmental justice, social justice and culture.
“Alyssah lives in the area and brings the added advantage of having grown up in the region. We’re overjoyed to welcome Alyssah as the newest member of the Black Voice News editorial team,” stated Black Voice News Executive Editor Stephanie Williams. “Her passion for reporting and interest in delivering content designed to inform and empower our community makes her an ideal fit for our newsroom.”
Hall shared that she is excited to learn from the reporting team at Black Voice News. She will join the team alongside CatchLight/Report for America corps member Aryana Noroozi and health reporter Breanna Reeves, a former Report for America corps member.
During her study at Cal State LA, Hall was a multimedia reporter for the university newspaper and also shared her hopes of expanding her knowledge of photojournalism and increasing Black Voice News’ social media engagement.
“I just want to grow. I want to learn. I feel like being a journalist, you’re always learning,” Hall said. “I’m so excited to do that in such an amazing spot. I just feel so grateful and blessed to even be considered to be here.”
When Hall isn’t out reporting on the community or conducting interviews, she enjoys journaling, eating delicious food, hanging out with friends and family and doing physical activities like yoga and pilates.