Pauline Bartolone
Editor-at-Large

Pauline’s been a journalist for two decades, covering health care, education and the many disparities that exist in California.
For CapRadio, Pauline produced the podcast “Making Meadowview,” a series of stories about how people in one South Sacramento neighborhood overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Pauline was CapRadio’s health care reporter for four years, a founding reporter for CalMatters and a staff journalist at Kaiser Health News. Her work has aired frequently on NPR, and her byline has appeared in many national and California-based outlets, such as WashingtonPost.com, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, Daily Beast, CNN.com and Scientific American.
But Pauline’s true passion is long-form radio. She’s won multiple regional Edward R. Murrow awards, national recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists and a first-place prize from the Association of Health Care Journalists.
For the better part of a decade, Pauline freelanced from Latin America. Her reporting on melting glaciers in the Ecuadorian Andes was part of a George Polk award-winning radio series in 2006.
When she’s not producing stories, Pauline is getting crafty, practicing the Brazilian martial art of capoeira and chasing around her young daughter.
Pauline has a master's degree in journalism from UC Berkeley.
A Sacramento region family’s personal journey navigating the war in Ukraine
April 28, 2022
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Dina Samodarov started a quest to get her nephew out of the war zone. Her father threw himself right into it.
How Ukrainian Churches in Sacramento are leading the war response
March 4, 2022
Ukrainian Christians in the Sacramento area, many of whom came to California as refugees themselves, have been mobilizing to help Ukrainians under siege in their homeland.
Ukrainians in Sacramento protest Russian invasion, praying for ‘support of the whole world’
February 24, 2022
Throughout the Sacramento region — from the rallygoers at Capitol to Roseville churches to members of the Kings — people of Ukrainian descent and their supporters expressed shock Thursday over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Omicron surge strains Sacramento
January 13, 2022
From businesses to schools to hospitals, Sacramento area community members are dealing with widespread absences and low morale as COVID-19 cases reach their highest peak so far during the pandemic.
'We missed the truth': California parks reinterprets John Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento to include Indigenous experiences
December 23, 2021
The colonial-era fort in downtown Sacramento, where thousands of school-children learn about California history, is being reinterpreted to reflect Sutter’s murderous and exploitative treatment of Native Americans.
'The Ghost File' adds history to California State Library’s haunted reputation
October 28, 2021
Rumors have circulated for decades that the California State Library is a center for paranormal activity. So librarians set out to document the history behind the building’s 'spooky' reputation.
Sacramento region residents want to preserve open and wild spaces, new poll suggests
October 8, 2021
Over 90% of respondents in a new CapRadio/Valley Vision survey of the Sacramento metropolitan area said they value the preservation of open space for wild animals and plants.
More California schools — including in Sacramento — are taking on COVID-19 testing
October 1, 2021
More and more California school districts are performing COVID-19 testing on school campuses to keep kids safe and classrooms open.
Participation, Baby! How Some Cities Are Experimenting With A Community Budget Process
September 24, 2021
If your city leaders asked you how to spend millions of tax dollars, what would you suggest? Some cities in California have been experimenting with a participatory budget process. Hear how it works and why it seems to be gaining momentum.
Sacramento City Unified Parents Frustrated With District’s Independent Study Program
September 13, 2021
Roughly 1,600 students at Sacramento City Unified schools have chosen to continue learning at home through the pandemic. But most of the kids remain without teacher assignments, and parents say the district has left many questions unanswered.