SAN QUENTIN, Calif. — Like journalists everywhere, the staff of the San Quentin News cover news, sports and the local arts scene. But these reporters are pen men with a difference.
They work for a paper written by and for inmates of San Quentin State Prison.
“When we first started, a lot of people were real dismissive of the paper,” said Michael R. Harris, editor-in-chief of the San Quentin News.
“Once we started printing the paper . . . you see this prison come to life in terms of cooperation, in terms of, hey, this is an opportunity to be able to tell the stories from your perspective,” said Harris, 47, serving 25-to-life for attempted murder. The newspaper has a staff of four, although all inmates are invited to contribute.
Each edition contains straight news, such as an analysis of recent ballot initiatives, plus puzzles, poetry and sometimes, helpful tips, such as how to cool a soda using a wet sock.
Other papers might be struggling for circulation. But not this one, said Aly Tamboura, who is serving a 14-year sentence for assault and is the paper’s design editor. When the paper’s handed out, “guys just run. They want the paper.”
