Kern Sol News is excited to announce the newest addition to the team. 

Columnist Matt Munoz has accepted the role of the Census Project Coordinator and Reporter. Munoz will be leading a team of youth in creating 2020 Census content, such as social media campaigns, events and presentations. Munoz will also act as Kern Sol News’ trusted messenger when it comes to reporting on the 2020 Census. 

“Working with the youth liaisons is really exciting because we are learning together,” Munoz said. 

Munoz will also take a lead in producing Kern Sol News’ webcast “In the 661.” He is excited to put together a team and make the webcast bigger and better than before. 

“We are extremely happy to have Matt Muñoz join our team,” said Kern Sol News Executive Director Reyna Olaguez. “We are confident that his expertise will help bring Kern Sol News to the next level.”

Munoz, a freelance columnist for The Bakersfield Californian, said he is excited to be out in the community, meet new people and take on new projects. 

“I love placing an emphasis on the hyper-local,” said Munoz, the co-founder of local Latin ska reggae band Mento Buru. “Hyper-local content is an important part of any community news source. I love covering local stories, interviewing the people that make our community great, and sharing it with everybody in a unifying effort.”

Munoz is from McFarland and attended McFarland High. He also attended Bakersfield College and graduated from Cal State Bakersfield in 2003 with a degree in Communications and Chicano Studies. 

Kern Sol News is excited to have another team member. Together, the team will continue to mentor youth to become the next generation of storytellers to highlight health and racial inequities across Kern County. 

“The media is always changing — it never sleeps,” Munoz said. “Traditional journalism taught in the classroom is just one part of a larger set of skills required for young reporters today.”

You can reach out to Munoz at Matt@southkernsol.org. And check our his first story here.