John Ferrannini graduated from Sacramento State in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications with a philosophy minor, and currently works at the Bay Area Reporter, the oldest continuously published LGBTQ+ newspaper.
At the Bay Area Reporter, Ferrannini has reported across the world, from villages near the Gaza strip after conflict with Hamas to locally in San Francisco. During his coverage in Israel, Ferannini was one of two Americans, along with multiple reporters from Europe, invited by a public relationships team.
“We really wanted to make the stories balanced in the sense that they provide multiple perspectives and not just the perspective of Israel,” Ferrannini said. “When I got back, we were sure to talk with people who were Palestinian, or just also people who wouldn’t have the takes that one would expect.”
Throughout Ferrannini’s reporting, he said he spoke to both Palestinians and Israelis in San Francisco, all who shared differing opinions regarding the war.
Ferrannini has also been recognized for his work outside of his Gaza coverage, winning awards from the San Francisco Press Club and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Some notable awards include first place for faith and religion coverage and first place for coverage during the 2024 election. Today, Ferrannini serves as the secretary for the San Francisco Press club.
“I don’t even remember winning,” Ferrannini said. “It’s actually doing the job, the actual experiences that have been more impactful than any award that I want.”
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Learning another language is the biggest piece of advice Ferrannini has for any State Hornet students and journalists.
“That will give you access to reporting on different communities that they might not otherwise have access to,” Ferrannini said. “Companies aren’t just looking for writing and publishing skills, but in terms of being able to find sources and work out in the field.”
During his time at Sacramento State he served as a staff writer, co-editor-in-chief and copy editor. Ferrannini said one of the best memories in The State Hornet was participating in a letter writing campaign in order to save the newsroom from the campus administration.
When not working, Ferrannini can be found helping out with church events and spending time with his boyfriend and family.
