Bruce B. Brugmann
Encyclopedia
Bruce B. Brugmann is editor and publisher of the San Francisco Bay Guardian
, a weekly alternative newspaper published in San Francisco.
Brugmann was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa
. He earned a bachelor's degree
from the University of Nebraska, where he was editor of the college newspaper, and a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Brugmann spent two years in the Army as an infantryman and journalist, including a stint in South Korea
, where he worked at the Stars and Stripes as a bureau chief. Brugmann spent a year working at the Lincoln Star, three years at the Milwaukee Journal, and three years at the now-defunct Redwood City Tribune.
Brugmann was one of the founders of the California First Amendment Coalition
as well as the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
.
He is known as a passionate advocate for public access to public records. He won a Beacon Award from the California First Amendment Coalition. The Northern California Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists, which he served as president of, gave him a Career Achievement Award. He served as a board member on the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, which enforces San Francisco's public records rules.
In recent years, Brugman usually maintained a low public profile in San Francisco. However, during a short lived advertising campaign in the mid-2000s, Brugmann became, literally, the face of the Bay Guardian. Advertisements featured photographs and graphic depictions of Brugmann appeared in print, on signs, and on the advertising panels of SF Muni buses. The text of the ads related to the functions of the Guardian, such as local news, relationships, classifieds. etc., and always concluded with the exhortation, "Read my paper, dammit!" With his features and his words being carried throughout the city on the sides of the buses, Bruce Brugmann was, for a short time, unavoidable.
San Francisco Bay Guardian
The San Francisco Bay Guardian is a free alternative newspaper published weekly in San Francisco, California. The paper is owned mostly by its publisher, Bruce B...
, a weekly alternative newspaper published in San Francisco.
Brugmann was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. He earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of Nebraska, where he was editor of the college newspaper, and a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Brugmann spent two years in the Army as an infantryman and journalist, including a stint in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, where he worked at the Stars and Stripes as a bureau chief. Brugmann spent a year working at the Lincoln Star, three years at the Milwaukee Journal, and three years at the now-defunct Redwood City Tribune.
Brugmann was one of the founders of the California First Amendment Coalition
California First Amendment Coalition
The First Amendment Coalition is a nonprofit public interest organization committed to freedom of speech, more open and accountable government, and public participation in civic affairs...
as well as the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
The Association of Alternative Newsmedia is a diverse group of covering every major metropolitan area and other less-populated regions of North America. AAN members have a combined weekly circulation of over 6.5 million as well as a print readership of nearly 17 million active, educated and...
.
He is known as a passionate advocate for public access to public records. He won a Beacon Award from the California First Amendment Coalition. The Northern California Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists, which he served as president of, gave him a Career Achievement Award. He served as a board member on the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, which enforces San Francisco's public records rules.
In recent years, Brugman usually maintained a low public profile in San Francisco. However, during a short lived advertising campaign in the mid-2000s, Brugmann became, literally, the face of the Bay Guardian. Advertisements featured photographs and graphic depictions of Brugmann appeared in print, on signs, and on the advertising panels of SF Muni buses. The text of the ads related to the functions of the Guardian, such as local news, relationships, classifieds. etc., and always concluded with the exhortation, "Read my paper, dammit!" With his features and his words being carried throughout the city on the sides of the buses, Bruce Brugmann was, for a short time, unavoidable.