: About Me

Francesca Biller-Safran is an award-winning journalist and humorist who writes investigative articles, features, editorials and essays for newspapers, magazines, websites, literary journals and public radio.

She can be reached at reportersafran@gmail.com

Work has been published on The Huffington Post, Salon.com, The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, ColorsNW magazine, The Jewish News Weekly of San Francisco, Interfaithfamily.com, The Benicia Herald, The Santa Monica Sun, The Brentwood News, Syndicated News.com, and many others.

Titles include:

Matzah Sushi, Confessions of an Obama Widow, History in the Making- Race and Gender on Center Stage in 2008 Election, Winking Her Way to the Top, Chicken Soup and Sushi for the Japanese-Jewish Soul, Dreams of a Beautiful Bat Mitzvah, Temporaily Suspending My Job as Parent, 95 year-lld Grandma Drops Boyfriend for Not Voting, Homophobes just Jealous of "Fabulous" Gay Weddings, and more...

Hard News investigative pieces include a 5,000 word political cover story about the 2008 presidential elections for ColorsNW magazine with in-depth reporting and analysis, and other political and business news coverage for newspapers and radio.

Biller-Safran is the recipient of the following professional journalism awards: The Edward R. Murrow Award, two Society of Professional Journalism First Place Mark of Excellence awards, two Golden Mike Awards and The Greater Los Angeles Press Club Award for Outstanding Excellence in Investigative Reporting, Hard News Series Repoting, and Broadcast Series Reporting.

Awards received are for a seven-part radio documentary series on the state of Foster Care in Los Angeles County, a four-part series about the myths and realities of welfare, live coverage of the Heaven's Gate Mass Suicide, and On-the-Spot Reporting.

Professional Internships and Fellows include The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Los Angeles Times, CNN and CBS.

Safran is currently writing a book of short stories and essays about how humor has played a role in multicultural, interfaith and multiethnic identity, specifically with her experience growing up as a Japanese Jewish girl in Los Angeles. :)

Specialties: multiculturalism, ethnic identity, politics, women's issues, gender identity, social inequities, class issues

Published works have appeared:

The Huffington Post

The Jewish News Weekly
Interfaithfamily.com
ColorsNW magazine
Senses magazine
Babyzone.com
The Benicia Herald
Los Angeles Newspapers: Coastal Community Newspapers, The Los Angeles Tribune, Play Del Rey News, Santa Monica Bay Week, Play Del Rey News
The Brentwood News
The Santa Monica Sun
Forum magazine
KCSN Radio

My passion is ...

Reading, writing and learning something in a new way

I know too much about ...

Nothing, you can never know too much

My parents always told me ...

Not to take myself too seriously

My childhood ambition ...

To To read and write with no time constraints

My favorite memory ...

Learning to sing from my mother and write and draw from my father

Why I write ...

Because it is through writing that I discover the world

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

James Baldwin, Yo Yo Ma, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, The New Yorker Magazine, Without Feathers by Woody Allen, Chet Baker, Alfred Hitchcock Movies

My first job ...

A modeling commercial for Japanese television at age 12

My best moment ...

Gettting lost in passages of books

My inspiration ...

Movies by the Marx Brothers, Mel Brookes, Woody Allen, The Monty Python Show, Ted Koppel, Leonardo da Vinci, Lucille Ball, Frank Siantra's voice, Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong

Celebrations & Holidays > Celebrations & Holidays (Other) How feasts are more festive at a multicultural table

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While growing up within two diversely different cultures has left me and my siblings with bittersweet challenges, we have always had the sweet comforts of the family meal and a 'welcoming' table that has satisfied both our appetites and spirits. Feasting on distinctive recipes passed down from my father's Russian-Jewish family and mother's exotic blend of Japanese-Hawaiian serve as a reminder that we are a family nourished by honoring our heritage and the diverse ingredients that make us whole. My family is blessed with the piquancy of two cultures that make meals both savory and resplende...

More..

• Professional Journalist
• Creative Writing Bronze
• Marketplace Approved Writer
• Marketplace Premier Writer
• News Writer
• Helium Charter Member