Renee Schmiedeberg

Here’s some of my work

General News

$5M+ worth of meth found in fake watermelons, celery shipment near US-Mexico border

More than 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine were found hidden in shipments of celery and watermelon during two separate incidents in Otay Mesa near the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced this week.

Confusion and chaos as large voter turnout crowds San Diego Mexican Consulate

Many waited for hours outside the San Diego Mexican Consulate in Little Italy as the consulate took votes from Mexican citizens living in the U.S. for the Mexican presidential election. But by the time polls closed, myriad voters still hadn’t cast their ballots.

Explainer: Why are we still changing our clocks for daylight saving time?

Why are Californians, who voted to stay on DST year-round, still changing their clocks? This story reached 1M+ page views in 1 day and is 1 of NBC7.com’s highest performing stories EVER published. My story was syndicated across all NBCUniversal local markets.

Toxic algae causing sick sea animals to wash up on San Diego shores. Here’s what you should know

Fifteen seals and sea lions in San Diego have been treated for toxic acid exposure so far, and more will likely need treatment.

MS-13 gang member from El Salvador arrested at US-Mexico border: CBP

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested an alleged member of the violent street gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) who was entering the country illegally, border officials announced last week.

Club Q shooting hero, an SDSU grad and US Army vet, recounts disarming gunman

Army veteran and SDSU grad Rich Fierro recounts subduing a gunman who went on a shooting rampage at Club Q, a well-known gathering place for the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs.

NBC News: Mountain lion spotted on camera roaming through the streets of a California coastal city

NBC News picked up a local story I wrote. A mountain lion was spotted in several parts of Oceanside — including peering into the windows of a movie theater.

Shark attacks swimmer in Del Mar, beaches to reopen Tuesday

A 46-year-old man was bitten by a shark in Del Mar and hospitalized Sunday, prompting Del Mar lifeguards to close beaches for swimming and surfing in the area.

‘Burglary tourism’: Foreign organized crime groups are targeting San Diego homes: DA

Organized crime groups from outside the U.S. have been burglarizing some of San Diego’s most affluent neighborhoods in what is known as “burglary tourism”.

Liveblog: Hilary Weakens to Tropical Storm, Will Make Landfall in San Diego County Sunday

I covered historic Hurricane Hilary extensively for NBC 7 San Diego’s digital and social platforms.

Boy killed, 4 others shot in large National City party at vacant house

A shooting broke out at a large house party in National City late Friday night, killing one 12-year-old boy and injuring four other people, according to National City police.

10 Killed in Shootout at Baja California Road Racing Event

This Baja shooting ambush was a breaking news situation on the weekend, requiring me to quickly put together and send information to across NBC 7’s website and social platforms.

PHOTOS: San Diego in awe as SpaceX rocket dazzles SoCal sky

This story reached 36,000 page views in one day and was NBC 7’s top performing story at time of publication. It remained a top-performing story even days later and got picked up by The Today Show.

Owner watches as flames destroy only Pauma Valley Indian Reservation grocery store

The Trading Center was the only grocery store on the Pauma Indian Reservation in San Diego County’s northernmost reaches. I felt that this story was worth diligent reporting as the Pauma Reservation is an underreported region.

Multiplatform and Enterprise Stories

These are original stories I pitch, write, interview, shoot and edit — then disperse into content for all platforms (web, broadcast, streaming and social media).

Michelin Guide goes to Mexico for 1st time, spotlights Tijuana, Baja California restaurants

The Michelin Guide, the gastronomical world’s highest measure of cooking, ranked Mexico’s restaurants for the first time. I visit each one Tijuana and speak with chefs on this accomplishment for both NBC 7 and our Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 20.

SoCal Photographer Captures One-in-a-Million Shot of a Shark Breaching off San Diego

With his Canon R5 in hand and a 400mm f/2.8 lens attached, Jordan Anast captured the three-second breach in six frames

Oceanside Mexican restaurant ‘Valle’ earns first Michelin star — 1 of only 7 in US

I interview Chef Roberto Alcocer of Valle, newly-awarded Michelin-star restaurant. We discuss his love for Mexican cuisine and why so few U.S. Mexican restaurants have Michelin stars and why the stars have yet to come to Mexico.

An Unusual Bloom is Happening in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Here’s Why

Record rains have fallen over most of San Diego County, and as of recently, the same is true of the desert. I interview a reserve manager living at working in the Anza-Borrego Desert to find out why.

‘I’ve worked Christmas since I was in 7th grade’: San Diego Chinese restaurants open on holidays

Here’s why Chinese restaurants are usually open during the holiday and where to go for your Christmas Chinese food fix

Fashion Week San Diego: Local designers bring original collections to fall 2023 show

Here’s what Fashion Week San Diego is all about and why designers love doing what they do

AAPI Month: San Diego bakery Caked combines traditional Asian flavors into decadent American desserts

CAKED blends Asian flavors with heavier, more decadent American-style desserts to create a scrumptious and unforgettable flavor

Cheez-It Stop pops up in Joshua Tree, pumps Cheez-It crackers from ‘gas pump’

A “gas station” that pumps out Cheez-It bags (and no actual petrol)? In the middle of the desert? Yes, it’s true. Stranger things have happened in the desert. But cheesier? Probably not.

A Souplantation Concept Restaurant is Reopening in La Mesa — slowly. Here’s What We Know

When Souplantation closed all locations nationwide amid the onset of the pandemic in 2020, it took the La Mesa location with it. But the buffet restaurant’s cult-like following is still holding out hope one woman will bring it back.

Shoot, edit, export

I shot and edited all videos here from start to finish.

Received 10K likes on Instagram in 1 week

“Michelin Guide goes to Mexico for 1st time, spotlights Tijuana, Baja California restaurants” awarded First Place by the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists in their Daily Reporting and Writing Food Story category for the 2025 Journalism Awards Contest.

“Oceanside Mexican restaurant ‘Valle’ earns first Michelin star” awarded Second Place by the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists in their Daily Reporting and Writing Food Story category for the 2024 Journalism Awards Contest.