Photo by Allan Schaben of the LA Times
I’m a news reporter for KCBS News, the CBS all-news radio station in San Francisco. I cover breaking stories around the Bay Area, often going live at a moment’s notice.
Previously, I was a reporter and editor for NPR, where I covered Elon Musk’s rollercoaster deal to acquire Twitter. I was also a Jill-of-all-trades at KQED, starting as an editor and eventually doing nearly every job in the newsroom, from reporter to host, editor to producer, plus a couple other random stints of editing podcasts, running camera, and producing a weekly TV show. That’s the theme of my career: stepping up to fill the needs of the newsroom in whatever medium. I believe my core skills — writing, and understanding what makes a story, and talking to people to earn their trust — have made me a valued contributor wherever I work.
As a video journalist for the Associated Press, I covered breaking news across Southern California and the West for video and the wire, while dreaming up original story ideas and collaborating with print reporters on cross-platform packages.
Writers Guild of America strikers picket Universal Studios Tuesday morning, the second day of the strike in Universal City. Nov. 6, 2007
I used to hold down the LA desk in the evenings, churning out wire copy. When I could escape the confines of the bureau, I shot wildfires and mudslides, produced at the Sundance Film Festival and dreamed up lifestyle and business story ideas. Finally, AP’s broadcast unit realized I had to be set loose and I soon made the leap to being a full-time Video Journalist.
My first love was radio. I worked as a producer for National Public Radio, news/talk commercial stations, and reported for local stations. My favorite local public radio newsroom was New Hampshire Public Radio, where I often freelanced for NPR’s newsmagazines, On the Media, The World, Studio 360 and Marketplace.
Raquel Maria Dillon behind the mic in the studio at New Hampshire Public Radio, 2004.
As a student at UC Berkeley, I produced a half-hour news magazine about religion that won a 2007 Student Emmy, freelanced short, non-narrated features for Current TV, and practiced my stand-ups (all while working part-time at KGO Radio and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat).
I will always get excited about breaking news, but the stories I’m drawn to most are about health and healthcare, education, scientific research, climate and natural resource issues, values and emotions. I continue to develop as a reporter and storyteller through training opportunities like the National Press Photographer Association‘s Advanced Storytelling Workshop, the Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources fellowships, and SoundVision Productions’ science literacy workshop.
I grew up on a New Jersey cul-de-sac and now live in Oakland, California. I built this website myself (with a little help from my brother).