Redwood City has changed a lot in five years, and the Pulse has been here to record it. Since October 2021, we have followed elections, emergencies, major developments, local businesses, schools and the people behind the headlines. 

Today, the Pulse operates under the nonprofit Embarcadero Media Foundation. This anniversary is a chance to look back at the journalism, milestones and community relationships that shaped our first five years. 

These five years belong to the community, too. Readers have sent tips and photos, shared their experiences, challenged us and supported our work. This page looks back at some of the journalism and moments that brought us here. 

The Pulse in pictures

From breaking news and public meetings to festivals, local businesses and neighborhood traditions, these images capture some of the stories the Pulse has documented since 2021.

  • The illuminated Redwood City sign, bearing the city’s “Climate Best by Government Test” slogan, spans the entrance to Arguello Plaza at dusk.
  • A limited-edition Redwood City Pulse tote bag was offered to Bash at the Basement attendees who donated $20 or more in support of local journalism. Photo by Sheila P.
  • Northeastern University in Silicon Valley presents a panel discussion with Rasika Bhalerao, Susan Gonzales, Michelle Iracheta, Harry McCracken and Michelle McIntyre to discuss AI and Media: The Impacts, Challenges, and Opportunities on August 26, 2023 in San Jose, California. Photo by Ruby Wallau for Northeastern University
  • “Babe” Babraham Lincoln performs in the monthly Silhouette burlesque show at The Hub Redwood City on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney.
  • Redwood City Pulse editor Michelle Iracheta, front, and reporter former Nicholas Mazzoni, back, in Palo Alto on Nov. 14, 2023. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
  • A performer dances at the Día de los Muertos celebration in Redwood City on Nov. 5, 2023. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
  • Music on the Square. Courtesy Redwood City Events.
  • Chris Pilek of TroubleHouse, left, examines a Christmas tree made from a book with John Eames in Pilek’s backyard in Redwood City on Nov. 18, 2025. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • Embarcadero Media CEO Adam Dawes meets the public at the Kiwanis Farmers Market in Redwood City in 2023. Photo by Michelle Iracheta.
  • An employee looks through cannabis products at Embarc Dispensary in Redwood City on Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • A conductor leads the Redwood Symphony during a performance at Courthouse Square in downtown Redwood City.
  • Saturn, a drag-burlesque dancer, performs at the monthly Silhouette burlesque show at The Hub Redwood City on Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney.
  • Attendees pass by the Fox Theatre and watch performances during a Día de los Muertos celebration at Courthouse Square in Redwood City on Nov. 2, 2025. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • Embarcadero Media representatives gather at the Redwood City Pulse’s booth during Bash at the Basement at Sports Basement in Redwood City on April 16, 2025. Pulse editor Michelle Iracheta is second from left.
  • A member of Zoppé Italian Family Circus performs a precarious balancing act. The circus returns for its annual visit to Redwood City starting Nov. 1. Courtesy Peter Speyer.
  • Patrons order cocktails at the bar prior to an event at The Hub Redwood City on Jan. 8, 2024. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney.
  • A playful mural by Matt Evans at 234 Marshall St. Courtesy shollisjohnson.
  • The Redwood Symphony. Courtesy Joel Wade Photography
  • The sky glows moments before sunrise over Emerald Hills. Photo by S. Hollis Johnson.
  • Former reporter Leah Worthington and former true crime blogger Doug MacGowan sit behind a booth at the Redwood City Kiwanis Famers Market. Photo by Michelle Iracheta.
  • Celia Avendano, right, paints Monica Sosa’s face at the Día de los Muertos celebration in Redwood City on Nov. 5, 2023. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
  • Northeastern University in Silicon Valley presents a panel discussion with Rasika Bhalerao, Susan Gonzales, Michelle Iracheta, Harry McCracken and Michelle McIntyre to discuss AI and Media: The Impacts, Challenges, and Opportunities on August 26, 2023 in San Jose, California. Photo by Ruby Wallau for Northeastern University
  • Decorative pink flamingos grace the front lawn of the Redwood City Woman’s Club clubhouse during the club’s monthly meeting on June 5, 2025. Photo by Joanne Engelhardt.
  • A classic red Chevrolet is parked outside American Legion Post 105 in Redwood City. Photo by Gato K. Rivera.
  • Former reporter Avery Luke stands next to the Redwood City Pulse booth at the Farmers Market engaging guests. Photo by Michelle Iracheta
  • A flock of birds gathers at Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay. Photo by Laurel Laran.
  • The Fox Theatre in Redwood City.
  • Redwood City Pulse editor Michelle Iracheta poses at the Pulse booth during Bash at the Basement, a Yelp and Embarcadero Media Foundation fundraiser supporting local journalism.
  • 08/26/23 – SAN JOSE, CA: Northeastern University in Silicon Valley presents a panel discussion with Rasika Bhalerao, Susan Gonzales, Michelle Iracheta, Harry McCracken and Michelle McIntyre to discuss AI and Media: The Impacts, Challenges, and Opportunities on August 26, 2023 in San Jose, California. Photo by Ruby Wallau for Northeastern University
  • A red-and-yellow rose blooms. Photo by Gato Rivera.
  • Heidi Hartley and Redwood City Pulse editor Michelle Iracheta pose at the Pulse booth during Bash at the Basement at Sports Basement in Redwood City on April 16, 2025. Photo by Paolo B.
  • Redwood City Pulse Editor Michelle Iracheta stands behind a booth at the Redwood City Kiwanis Farmers Market. Photo by Avery Luke.
  • Chalk Full of Fun brings together professional chalk artists and newcomers to create colorful sidewalk artwork in Redwood City’s Courthouse Square. Courtesy Baranduin Briggs/Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation.
  • We Love Redwood City — a photo shared in the city newsletter. This shot was taken during Valentines Day 2024.
  • Redwood City couple Megan Gardner and Taylor Pope displayed all their dragons for Appreciate a Dragon Day in January. Photo by Devin Roberts.
  • A three-story Tesla coil lights up Redwood City’s sky outside the Public Library as people look gather to watch on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. Photo by Leah Worthington. 
  • Redwood City Symphony. Courtesy Redwood City Events
  • Zoppé Italian Family Circus. Courtesy Joel Wade Photography.
  • Music on the Square in Redwood City. Courtesy Joel Wade Photography.
  • Friends of Edgewood volunteer docent Deborah Anthonyson, center, guides a spring wildflower hike at Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve in Redwood City on April 24, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • A young participant pets a leopard shark in an open tank during a World Oceans Day educational outing aboard the Marine Science Institute’s Research Vessel Robert G. Brownlee on the San Francisco Bay between the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge and Dumbarton Bridge on June 6, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • Silicon Valley Clean Water authority manager Matt Zucca walks with Burlingame resident Rui Pierre, 14, past the headworks building during a public tour of Silicon Valley Clean Water’s wastewater treatment facility in Redwood City on June 17, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • City Hall in Redwood City on July 7, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • Sheedy Drayage Co. workers lift a box containing the ribcage of a Neoparadoxia repenningi skeleton onto the second floor of the Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery before moving it to a future natural history gallery in Redwood City on Aug. 17, 2026. The skeleton of the extinct hippo-like animal was found during the construction of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • An aerial view of downtown Redwood City on Aug. 30, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • Graduates walk onto Terremere Field during Sequoia High School’s graduation ceremony in Redwood City on June 5, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.
  • Photo of a Caltrain conductor waiting in the doorway of a train at the Redwood City Caltrain station
    A southbound Caltrain closes its doors before leaving the Caltrain station in Redwood City on April 13, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.

Five Years of Telling Your Stories

2021: The Pulse launches

The Redwood City Pulse launched in October 2021 as part of Embarcadero Media. Led by Editor Michelle Iracheta and Reporter Leah Worthington, with support from the broader Peninsula editorial team and freelancers, the Pulse set out to become a 24/7 digital news source and gathering place for Redwood City.

2022-23: Building a community newsroom

During the first years, we covered local elections, wildfire threats, winter storms and important debates over housing, schools, public safety and local businesses. We also created more ways for residents to contribute photos, opinions, local history and neighborhood stories.

2024: A nonprofit future and new ways to cover the community

In January 2024, Embarcadero Media, the Pulse’s parent organization since its launch, converted to the nonprofit Embarcadero Media Foundation. Later that year, the Pulse received its first California Journalism Award and launched its first podcast series, Redwood City Election Watch 2024. 

2025: Growing and improving

The Pulse received four California Journalism Awards, including honors for enterprise reporting, photography, food writing and our Election Watch podcast. We also redesigned our home page in response to reader feedback.

2026: Five years and our biggest awards year yet

The Pulse received 17 California Journalism Awards, including three first-place honors. Our Express newsletter now reaches roughly 12,000 subscribers, connecting more readers with the news and stories that matter to Redwood City.

Award-winning local journalism

Since receiving its first statewide honor in 2024, the Redwood City Pulse has earned 22 California Journalism Awards for reporting, photography and multimedia work focused on local government, immigration, business, elections, culture and community life. The honors include three first-place awards announced in 2026.

Selected award-winning work

First place, Community Focus Award: “Redwood City community breaks on ICE”, by Miranda de Moraes

Third place, Best Podcast: Redwood City Election Watch 2024, by Simmerdeep Kaur and Michelle Iracheta

First place, Photo Story/Essay: “Silhouette Burlesque brings bold performances to The Hub in Redwood City”, photographed by Anna Hoch-Kenney, with reporting by Hannah Bensen

First place, Coverage of Business and the Economy: “Cannabis retailers in Redwood City generate about $1M tax revenue annually”, by Hannah Bensen

Second place, Enterprise News Story or Series: “North America’s first hydrogen-powered garbage truck debuts in Redwood Shores: cleaner, but costly”, by Simmerdeep Kaur

Second place, Photo Story/Essay: Redwood City’s Día de los Muertos celebration, photographed by Magali Gauthier. Read about the Pulse’s first statewide award.

Support the Pulse’s next five years

For five years, the Pulse has covered the meetings, emergencies, decisions and everyday moments that shape Redwood City. That work takes time, persistence and journalists who know the community.

Your donation helps us:

  • Attend public meetings and explain decisions affecting residents
  • Respond quickly when news breaks
  • Pursue public records and accountability reporting
  • Follow important stories beyond the initial headline

Monthly gifts provide dependable support throughout the year and help the newsroom plan deeper reporting while continuing to cover the daily news.

Support the Pulse today and help sustain trusted local journalism in Redwood City for the next five years and beyond.


Supporters of the Redwood City Pulse

Thank you to the organizations supporting the Redwood City Pulse and helping us mark five years of local journalism.