Hello! My name is Steph Rodriguez and I’m an award-winning editor and journalist working in San Francisco, California. I have 22 years of experience working in the industry covering topics like local and national music, the performing arts and pop culture. I also have extensive experience as a food editor and love writing about your favorite chefs, dishes and neighborhood spots.

I’m currently a Digital Editor at KQED, where I produce and edit online news, science and art content for its digital platform. I’m also a leader in the newsroom when it comes to sharp headline writing and SEO strategies.

Before this role, I was the Food Editor at SFGATE, where I led one of the largest teams in the newsroom. Through the food vertical, my team operated as a daily source for food happenings throughout the Bay Area. We published a variety of in-depth food features and quick-hitting daily news items. At our peak, my food reporters and I attracted 1.6 million online readers to our stories in one week.

My professional experience also includes multiple roles at the alternative weekly newspaper the Sacramento News & Review. As Managing Editor, I worked with a dedicated pool of freelance writers as well as collaborating with my editorial colleagues and the design department on special issues.

As Dining Editor, I wrote and assigned engaging food features in addition to producing special issues such as the Dessert Issue (No. 1 at CNPA 2018) and the Comfort Food Issue (SN&R’s most popular issue 2019). As Cannabis Editor, I wrote and assigned a diverse range of content relating to the industry’s changing regulations at the state and city levels, as well as investigative pieces that explored unregulated products on the gray market, to features about the increase in mothers exploring cannabis use.

I’m open to opportunities such as a features editor, as well as editing roles across arts and culture, food and music. Let’s work together!

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @Wordstospill and also on Threads @Wordstospill.