Shirley Lau is an arts and culture beat reporter for Oakland North and can be easily spotted at local food festivals and cultural events. She received her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from California State University, Fresno in 2007. While at Fresno State she was a reporter for the university’s award-winning student-run newspaper, The Collegian. She reported on a range of topics but focused on the “faces and places” of the Central Valley—her home for the last 24 years. Before beginning her journey as a grad student, Lau was an intern at Fresno Magazine, a monthly Central Valley lifestyle magazine. After her internship, she worked her way up the ranks and became the Associate Editor and managed the magazine as well as its four ancillary publications.