Meet the Reporters: Jessica Zimmer

A regular View contributor for close to a decade, Jessica Zimmer started her journalism career at The Santa Rosan, her high school newspaper. She’s since written for periodicals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and in Florida, including AsianWeek, The Tallahassee Democrat, and The Gainesville Sun.

Within minutes of talking to Zimmer it’s clear she takes pride in knowing the View’s readership area, its civic-advocates, and merchants. Despite living in Santa Rosa, she fluently described La Fleur Hair and Nail Spa on Arkansas Street, Christopher’s Books on 18th Street, and Jackson Park.  She’s delighted to have met View founders at an anniversary party at Farley’s. She likes to walk the neighborhoods, talk to a range of people, and bring friends to show them places and observe their reactions. 

Her approach to reporting embodies deep curiosity about and an intimate understanding of neighborhood perspectives and faith that collaboration at the local level can foster community growth. 

“Neighborhood issues are more complex than they may seem,” she highlighted, noting that her job requires transparency, listening, peacemaking, and collaboration. “I show people the neighborhood.” 

“Jessica is a careful and diligent reporter who wants to accurately reflect the facts,” said View publisher Steven Moss. “She has strong ties to and great compassion for the neighborhoods we cover.”