Read the January 2024 issue of Justin Chapman's free Substack email newsletter, featuring the first in-studio episode of his Pasadena Media TV show "Pasadena Monthly" featuring an interview with Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris, stories to keep an eye on, book recommendations, and more!

Justin Chapman writes, produces, and hosts a monthly TV talk show on Pasadena Media's TV channel, called "Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman," formerly known as the award-winning "NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman." The thirteen episode, the first filmed in Pasadena Media's TV studio, aired Monday, January 29, 2024, and featured a discussion with Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris. Watch the full episode below:

Pasadena Media’s award-nominated local TV talk show, “Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman,” formerly known as the award-winning “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman,” will air its first episode filmed in studio this Friday at 5 p.m. PT on Pasadena Media’s cable TV channels and streaming apps. The episode will feature a review of the month’s top stories in Pasadena, a history segment and a discussion with Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris.

“‘NewsRap Local’ and ‘Pasadena Monthly’ have been filmed virtually every single month since April 2021, so we’re excited to finally move the show into Pasadena Media’s TV studio and up the game,” Chapman said. “With the election right around the corner, it’s a new day in Pasadena and a new chapter for ‘Pasadena Monthly.’ Tune in and join us on the journey.”

Harris has been Pasadena’s police chief for just over one year. Before that, he served as the police chief for the City of San Gabriel starting in 2016. He also serves as president of the LA County Police Chiefs’ Association, actively engaging in advancing the science and art of police administration and crime prevention. After receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps, Harris began his career in law enforcement as an LA County deputy sheriff. He also served for 23 years in the Monterey Park Police Department, where he was promoted through the ranks to captain.

“Pasadena Monthly” airs at 5 p.m. PT on the fourth Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. The show is written, hosted and produced by Chapman, directed and edited by Jeffrey Stanfill and executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.

“This is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said.

Last year, Chapman won two 1st place journalism awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, as well as two 3rd place awards and two finalist positions. He has won a total of 10 awards from the LA Press Club in recent years, including three 1st place awards. In 2022, the previous iteration of the show, “NewsRap Local,” won a 2nd place award in News Programming at the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE video awards.

Guests on “Pasadena Monthly” and “NewsRap Local” have included Congress member Judy Chu; Congress member Adam Schiff; Assembly member Chris Holden; Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo; Pasadena city manager Miguel Márquez; LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; JPL director Dr. Laurie Leshin; and many others.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has served on a number of local boards and wrote hundreds of articles for two dozen print and digital publications, including KPCC/LAist, Alta Journal, Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Irish Post, Berkeley Political Review, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena Now and many others. He was a professional child actor who starred in dozens of movies, TV shows, commercials, and plays. He previously served as Communications Officer for USC’s Pacific Council on International Policy and currently serves as the District 6 Council Liaison/Field Representative to Pasadena Vice Mayor Steve Madison.

Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org.