Job description
I report and write news articles and feature stories weekly for Dana Point Times as well as sister publications San Clemente Times and The Capistrano Dispatch. In addition to taking photos and editing content (including editorial content, letters to the editor, columns, and calendar events), I oversee and manage the internship program. As senior editor, I also coordinate with reporters, editors, designers, and the advertising team to publish the weekly edition and post digital content. My favorite beats are local government, election issues, and crime.
Why did you choose this program?
I chose this program because I felt at an early age I was meant to be a journalist. I hadn't declared a journalism major until halfway through my first year in college. When I sat down with then-chair Marcy Burstiner, she gave me an honest and informative overview of the program. Her insight into the industry intimidated and excited me and I soon declared my journalism major at Humboldt State University.
How did this program prepare you for your job?
The program's publications The Lumberjack and the Osprey best prepared me for what it would be like to work in the field. I learned deadlines, time management, working with a team, and, most importantly, how to handle criticism and learn from it. Courses like investigative journalism, journalism law, and journalism ethics provided a strong framework in how to approach real-life questions and issues thrown at reporters in the newsroom.
What did you enjoy most about the program?
I most enjoyed the connections and discussions held with staff and faculty in and outside the classroom. I felt that all department instructors wanted students to succeed and were always approachable yet straightforward and realistic about student performance, the industry, and our growth. While I appreciate the authentic connections made with students and teachers, the most valuable tools I was gifted from the program have been my eagerness to continue learning and my ability to receive criticism. These tools are essential in journalism and I attribute the department in helping me develop them.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
If you are someone who appreciates the privilege of telling someone's story, this program will teach you how to do so with professionalism, mindfulness, and skill. Be open-minded and be willing to challenge your comfort zone. If you don't like your voice, push yourself to try broadcast. If you get anxious making phone calls, sign up for the newspaper and call up sources for your stories. This program offers opportunities for you to develop in ways you may not be able to conceptualize yet.