Melissa McKenzie on Muck Rack

Melissa McKenzie

Verified
(She/Her)
California, Santa Clara
As seen in: Palo Alto Weekly, The Almanac, Mountain View Voice, Pleasanton Weekly, The Silicon Valley Voice, Danville San Ramon, Redwood City Pulse
Covers:  Community events, A&E, business (opening/closing), features, general assignment (all coverage must be within the Tri-Valley - between Sunol and Alamo and Dublin out to Livermore)
Doesn't Cover: Anything outside of the coverage area. If I am not the right reporter for a topic, I will send it to the proper contact.
SoCal girl in a NorCal world. 📝 Journalist ⌨️ Content Strategist. Occasional PR pro.

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Melissa McKenzie’s Biography

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Originally from Southern California, I am an experienced journalist and content creator with over 10 years of reporting and writing experience. My work has been featured in the Mercury News/Silicon Valley Community Newsgroup, Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine, Redwood City Pulse, Palo Alto Weekly/Palo Alto Weekly special inserts, Menlo Park Almanac, Santa Clara Weekly, Gilroy Dispatch, Morgan Hill Times, Atherton Living Magazine and Out and About Magazine, in addition to webpages including pamp…

Melissa McKenzie’s Journalist Portfolio

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Living the hyphen: East Palo Alto author looks to her Tongan roots to find a hero

Living the hyphen: East Palo Alto author looks to her Tongan roots to find a hero

Growing up the daughter of Tongan immigrants, Tonga Victoria often felt stuck between her Tongan and American…

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Intimate Black Lives Matter Protest Held in Santa Clara - The Silicon Valley Voice

Intimate Black Lives Matter Protest Held in Santa Clara - The Silicon Valley Voice

A small but mighty gathering of protesters descended upon the steps of Santa Clara City Hall on June 5 for a …

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Seven holiday pop-up markets you don't want to miss | Holiday Spirit 2019

Seven holiday pop-up markets you don't want to miss | Holiday Spirit 2019

The German Holiday Market in downtown Mountain View takes place in City Hall Plaza on Dec. 14. Courtesy of Ge…

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Voyager Craft Coffee Expands Footprint in Santa Clara - The Silicon Valley Voice

Voyager Craft Coffee Expands Footprint in Santa Clara - The Silicon Valley Voice

As family-owned businesses across the country are closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one Santa Clara compa…

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Jiaren Cafe Fills Void Left by City Lights Espresso - The Silicon Valley Voice

Jiaren Cafe Fills Void Left by City Lights Espresso - The Silicon Valley Voice

When Santa Clara's City Lights Espresso closed at the end of 2018, Old Quad residents and visitors to Frankli…

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Il Postale's Joe Antuzzi Retires, Restaurant Under New Ownership - The Silicon Valley Voice

Il Postale's Joe Antuzzi Retires, Restaurant Under New Ownership - The Silicon Valley Voice

Patrons of Sunnyvale's Il Postale restaurant will soon see new faces at the helm, as longtime owner Joe Antuz…

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Articles

Sean’s K9s Raises Funds, Celebrates ‘Ohana

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By Melissa McKenzie Verified
| The Silicon Valley Voice Verified
Santa Clara Police K9 Maxx is extraordinary. On his first night as a member of the force in 2022, Maxx had his first big moment as a police dog: he apprehended a suspect. He has since worked tirelessly with his partner, Officer Cesar Rodriguez, to keep the streets of Santa Clara safe. On Aug. 12, Maxx showed what it takes to work as an SCPD K9 officer when he demonstrated his body control and apprehension abilities at San Jose’s Napredak Hall.
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Santa Claran Sings in SBMT’s Company

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By Melissa McKenzie Verified
| The Silicon Valley Voice Verified
Alison Starr may have grown up in Los Altos, but the actress, who is performing off stage in South Bay Musical Theatre’s upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, has called Santa Clara her home for the past year. “I lived in Maryland for five years after I got married and my husband and I decided to move back to California to start a family and this is where I’m from,” said Starr.
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Sean’s K9s Holds First In Person Event in Two Years, Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

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By Melissa McKenzie Verified
| The Silicon Valley Voice Verified
Three months ago, Santa Clara Police Officer Cesar Rodriguez was working his regular overnight shift. A four-year veteran of the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), Rodriguez was patrolling the streets with his new partner, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois named Maxx. It was a big night for the pair. Maxx, who, unlike most police dogs was previously a family pet in Texas, had proven himself worthy of police dog work but hadn’t yet proven himself as a member of Santa Clara’s finest.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

It was actually at the Santa Clara Weekly (now Silicon Valley Voice) 10 years ago.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

I learned how to type on a typewriter.

How is social media changing news?

It's simply allowing people to get the most basic of information in the fastest way possible.
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