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
Man stabbed in California prison nearly 180 times, video of his death leaked
A 36-year-old man was stabbed nearly 180 times at a California state prison and someone inside captured video of the gruesome death before leaking it to the outside, where it went viral on social media.
Alameda County sheriff's deputies shoot and kill man near San Leandro
Alameda County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man they mistakenly thought was walking toward them with a gun early Monday morning near San Leandro, according to authorities.
Puerto Rican cultural symbolism of Bad Bunny's halftime show explained
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday marked the first time such a show was performed in Spanish, and many were left pondering the cultural significance of the symbols the wildly popular entertainer used in his 13-minute piece. We're here to break down the moments, symbol by symbol:
Alameda County's new order will effectively ban armed ICE officers from courthouses
The Alameda County court system is the first in the Bay Area to narrowly define when a peace officer can carry a weapon inside a courthouse, which will also effectively prevent federal immigration officers from entering public court spaces when they are armed.
Former OPD leader Floyd Mitchell is Fremont's new police chief
Floyd Mitchell is Fremont's new police chief, KTVU has learned.
Alameda County court links defendants with caseworkers to prevent recidivism
The Superior Court of Alameda County this week launched an expanded pretrial services program which means that people who have been charged, but not convicted of a crime, will be connected with caseworkers and direct links to social services.
Swarm of earthquakes strike San Ramon, jolting residents
At least 25 moderate and smaller earthquakes hit San Ramon on Monday morning, jolting some residents awake.
Cellmate investigated for homicide at Salinas Valley State Prison
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials said they are investigating the death of 66-year-old incarcerated man at Salinas Valley State Prison on Thursday as a homicide.
Mountain lion in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood released to wild
A young male mountain lion was spotted in San Francisco and eluded animal control officers for hours, while simultaneously captivating a human audience – watching online and in person – for more than a day.
SJPD sergeant in 'good spirits' after being shot in head; slain suspect identified
San Jose police on Thursday said one of their sergeants is in good spirits and has since been released from a hospital after being shot in the head by a gunman during a multi-city shooting spree that ended with officers killing the suspect.