Judy Hodgson

'78 Journalism

Judy Hodgson moved with her young family to the Humboldt County in 1972.
Her husband, Robert, began teaching at Humboldt State University and Judy returned to college after a six-year absence. She graduated in 1978 with a degree in journalism.

Hodsgon's career spans more than 25 years. While at HSU she wrote a column on her new hometown of Fieldbrook for the Arcata Union newspaper. Her first professional job, as a county government reporter, came in 1981 for the Union. She became the editor in 1983.

In 1990, along with partners, she purchased the 6-month-old North Coast Journal monthly and grew the paper over the next eight years. In 1998 the Journal became a weekly and tripled in size.

Today the Journal has a circulation of 21,000 and 14 employees. The newspaper holds a respected position in the community for its fair, balanced and aggressive news reporting along with its comprehensive arts and entertainment coverage.

Hodgson has twice been named a Woman of Achievement by the American Association of University Women. Along with her staff, she has received more than a dozen California Newspaper Publisher Association awards in nearly every category including editorial writing and investigative reporting. She has been honored by the California Teachers Association for education reporting, won a Democracy in Action Award from the Humboldt County League of Women Voters and a Beacon Award from the California First Amendment Coalition.

In March 2005, the North Coast Journal is to receive the James Madison Freedom of Information Award in Community Media from the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.