Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Awards
Timeline
Generic

Tony Hicks

Summary

Three decades of navigating professional journalism with adaptability and passion across diverse publications, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Digital First Media/Bay Area News Group and current role at Bay City News, covering nine Bay Area counties and extensive Northern California regions.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience

Work History

Reporter

Bay City News
Berkeley, California
08.2020 - 08.2025
  • Covered Contra Costa County.
  • Selected as 2023 Columbia Journalism School Age Boom Academy fellow.
  • Chosen as 2022 National Press Foundation Living Longer fellow.
  • Recognized as 2021 Gerontological Society of America Journalists in Aging fellow.

Healthline/Medical News Today
01.2019 - 01.2024
  • Wrote health and medical-related content part time

Bay Area News Group/Digital First Media
01.1995 - 01.2017
  • Reported news (crime, education and Berkeley city beat), wrote features, columns, music and movie criticism, and travel features.
  • Covered Michael Jackson criminal trial in 2005, SXSW Music Festival in Austin (2002-2006) and post-Katrina Mardi Gras from New Orleans (2005).
  • Wrote Sunday front page centerpieces, ranging from the battle over trail access in East Bay open spaces to the backstory of murder and robbery of a Bay Area armored car guard.
  • Organized benefit concert raising more than $50,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims.
  • Mentored college and high school journalism students.
  • Contributed to team coverage of Super Bowl 50; helped grow company’s online platform through social media, SEO-driven content, live chats, and videos.
  • Interviewed dozens of high-profile figures, including politicians, Oscar winners, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.
  • Music and pop culture work highlighted by Howard Stern, Jay Leno, KITS-FM (Live 105), KSAN-FM (97.7 The Bone), and weekly appearances on Mark Silverman’s XM-Radio show.

Freelance
  • Berkeleyside, Diablo magazine, Riff magazine, Oakland magazine, Parents Press, SportStars, Patch, Bay Area Parent, Common Sense Media, BAM music magazine

Education

Bachelor's Degree - journalism, political science

San Francisco State University

Skills

  • Writing and editing
  • Investigative reporting
  • Deadline management
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Topic prioritization
  • Team collaboration
  • Curiosity and inquiry
  • Accuracy and attention to detail
  • Source development
  • WordPress proficiency
  • Microsoft Office expertise
  • Media server management
  • Medical writing

Awards

  • National, American Association of Sunday Feature Editors award for criticism and column writing (2003)
  • State, California Newspaper Publishers Association awards for spot news (2002), features (2005), and columns (2007)
  • Regional, San Francisco Press Club award, first place in digital media column writing (2023, 2022); second place environmental/nature reporting (2023); Peninsula Press Club award for best features columnist (2016); 13 awards from East Bay/Bay Area Press Club for music reviews, features, columns, news, and sports writing (1997-2011)

Timeline

Reporter

Bay City News
08.2020 - 08.2025

Healthline/Medical News Today
01.2019 - 01.2024

Bay Area News Group/Digital First Media
01.1995 - 01.2017

Freelance

Bachelor's Degree - journalism, political science

San Francisco State University

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE