Evictions went down in California during the pandemic, thanks to an eviction moratorium that protected tenants. But the housing struggles of undocumented communities aren’t being captured by authorities.

Author Archives: Madeleine Bair
Madeleine Bair is an award-winning journalist and media developer, and the founder of El Tímpano. Madeleine has been carrying a microphone in her backpack since she belonged to the Oakland bureau of the Peabody Award-winning youth media organization, Children’s Express. As Senior Program Manager at the international nonprofit, WITNESS, she led a pioneering initiative dedicated to advancing the use of citizen video as a tool for human rights. Madeleine has taught radio production to young adults, worked on a morning show at Chicago Public Radio, and produced multimedia for Human Rights Watch. Her stories have appeared in the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, Colorlines, and Orion, and broadcast on PRI’s The World and Independent Lens. She lives with her partner and son in Oakland, where she spends her free time making mixtapes, dancing cumbia, and exploring the region on bike.
El Tímpano expands its civic media to East Contra Costa
El Tímpano will conduct an in-depth listening process to hear from residents what they want to see in local Spanish-language media.
El Tímpano collaborates with Latino USA
This collaboration is the latest of El Tímpano’s ongoing coverage of health and housing produced with, for, and about the Bay Area’s Latino and Mayan immigrants.
El Tímpano is growing
First we built a community. Now we’re building a newsroom, and expanding to the wider Bay Area.
El Tímpano takes home major award
El Tímpano’s COVID-19 coverage was judged best by peers in journalism that centers communities and their information needs.
Introducing El Tímpano’s advisory council
We are excited to announce El Tímpano’s advisory council, composed of a number of individuals who believe in El Tímpano’s vision of community-centered local news, and have supported the organization’s growth and success. They come to us with backgrounds in arts, community organizing, Mayan- and Spanish-language media, international journalism, movement strategy, civic engagement, and more. […]
Covering overcrowding with a systems lens
We’re collaborating with local stakeholders to cover the crisis of overcrowded housing and its impact on public health.
El Tímpano partners with The Oaklandside
The two newsrooms launch new a new partnership to serve and reflect Oakland’s Spanish-speaking communities.
How El Tímpano is listening during COVID-19
El Tímpano has provided information to our audience about COVID-19, and responded to 100s of questions, comments and concerns.
Co-designing with El Tímpano’s community
Read about our process of co-designing a community advisory board, how plans shifted, and what we learned in the process.