About Lisa

Lisa Pickoff-White is a data reporter and digital producer. Currently at the California Reporting Project, she’s working to turn use-of-force and police misconduct records into a searchable database for public consumption and to drive impactful reporting.

 

At KQED, she’s worked on award-winning investigations examining fire risk, how older people are increasingly living in fire prone areas and the breakdown of emergency response systems. During the pandemic, she dug into her years of experience with death investigations to examine excess and disproportionate deaths due to COVID-19 and drug overdoses. She also has years of experience covering immigration detention, jails and prisons.

 

As a data journalist and digital producer, Lisa has led digital election coverage, from statewide voter guides to campaign finance metrics and election night results. She’s produced applications to meet daily audience needs, from fire, smoke and electrical outage maps to COVID-19 case rates, hospitalizations and deaths.

Experience

KQED, Data Journalist, Senior Producer, November 2016 – present

  • Guide the California Reporting Project on requesting use-of-force and misconduct records from hundreds of agencies and extracting data for investigations and public use.
  • Lead award-winning investigative projects for online and broadcast.
  • Specialize in data reporting and analysis, including elections, fires and policing. Assisting staff with record requests, analysis. Building daily applications, fire maps and COVID-19 case counts.

KQED, Senior Producer, September 2013 – January 2017

  • Won a regional Murrow award for my coverage of and an USC Annenberg California Health Data Fellowship to produce a series examining the treatment of mentally ill inmates in jails.
  • Team won Knight Prototype Grant to produce health-cost transparency database called “essential” by JAMA of Internal Medicine editor. Product-managed form and created social-media strategy.
  • Led migration of KQED News. Led new site launch for The California Report; traffic quintupled in three months. Created and led training program for 50+ staffers.
  • Produced investigative feature examining pipeline safety five years after the deadly San Bruno explosion using data analysis and interviews.
  • Lead investigative projects for online and broadcast.
  • Specialize in data reporting and analysis, including elections, utilities, corrections and Medicare. Assisting staff with public-record requests and data analysis.

Interim Online Editor, May 2013 – September 2013

  • Managed team of reporters, bloggers and photographers through award-winning same-sex marriage reporting, BART strike coverage and other breaking-news events.
  • Researched and implemented a new open source asset management system for staff and freelancers improving productivity and workflow.
  • Created online freelancer guide.

Interactive Producer, July 2010 – April 2013

  • Created and produced award-winning California Proposition Guide, with more than 600,000 page views. Continued guide series with Obamacare Guide.
  • Created and managed photography and video internship program.
  • Wrote daily articles and built interactives, including maps and data visualizations.
  • Manage news homepage, create content packages.

Center for Investigative Reporting, Multimedia Producer, August 2009 – July 2010

  • Product-managed California Watch launch with developers and designers.
  • Produced interactives, including video, audio, Flash and data visualization.

Freelance, reporter, videographer and producer for a variety of outlets, August 2004 – present

  • National radio broadcasts, including Here and Now, The Takeaway and Reveal.
  • San Francisco Chronicle, Reported and built interactive game on water allocation.
  • Washington Post, Produced video-driven interactive for the Beijing Olympics.

Honors

  • National Edward R. Murrow Award, Broadcast Investigation 2020, Older and Overlooked
  • Peabody Finalist, News 2018, Warning system down: California’s deadliest fires
  • Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California Awards, James Madison Freedom of Information 2018, Investigative Reporting 2018 and 2017, Journalism Innovation 2015
  • Regional Edward R Murrow Award, How Are We Treating Mentally Ill Inmates New Series 2016, California Same-Sex Marriage 2014, News Website 2013 Water and Power 2013, Election Coverage 2012
  • Knight Public Service Award and Investigative Journalism Award 2009, Chauncey Bailey Project
  • Online Journalism Award, Small Investigative 2009, Chauncey Bailey Project
  • Online Journalism Award, Best Small Team Student Journalism 2009, It Happens at Midnight
  • Wired Excellence in New Media 2009, It Happens at Midnight
  • Finalist, SXSW Interactive 2010, It Happens at Midnight