Comm Week 2025: Full Schedule

10:00am PDT

How to Prepare for a Journalism Career

Monday April 21, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Nollyanne Delacruz is planning to advise students about their aspirations in journalism. She will speak on applying to internships, networking, and adjusting to a new job, as well as discuss how student journalists can use their time in college to prepare for a job after graduation.

Hosted by: Dr. Penchan Phoborisut

Speakers

Nollyanne Delacruz

Breaking News Reporter, Bay Area News Group

Nollyanne Delacruz is a Bay Area News Group breaking news reporter based in San Jose who writes for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton in December 2023 with a B.A. in communications with a concentration in journalism and a minor in Asian American... Read More →

Monday April 21, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

2:00pm PDT

Marketing & Social Media for Destinations

Monday April 21, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT

Hetebrink AB

Mark will cover how destination marketing is a vital part of many places and cities to stay top of mind for both leisure travel and also business/group segments. Covering paid, owned and earned channels, you will learn how all three areas are vital and key aspects of any business marketing efforts, and how research and utilizing cutting edge data can guide you to success.

Hosted by: Professor Marie Loggia-Kee

Speakers

Mark Rudyk

Vice President, Visit Carlsbad

Mark graduated from CSUF with a degree in Communications, while serving as the photo editor of the Daily Titan. His career path led him into the early days of graphic design, which begin his path into the marketing field. He worked for ski resorts Mammoth Mountain and Heavenly in... Read More →

Monday April 21, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

7:30pm PDT

Telling A Tale Through Writing that Sings

Monday April 21, 2025 7:30pm - 9:00pm PDT

Gilman AB

Peter Larsen, a veteran feature writer for the Orange County Register, exemplifies the best of what it means to be a storyteller. Feature writers are a special breed of storytellers. They craft illuminating and poignant stories that plumb the depths of humanity, immersing readers into the world of their protagonists and taking readers on journeys that move -- and sometimes compel -- them to action. These storytellers weave their narratives with tension, dialog, drama and scenes that linger in the mind's eye, long after the story has been read.

Hosted by: Professor Vik Jolly

Speakers

Peter Larsen

Pop Culture Reporter, OC Register

Peter Larsen is a veteran journalist with a passion for storytelling, whether covering Hollywood’s biggest events or breaking down political news. As the Orange County Register’s Pop Culture Reporter since 2004, he has reported from the Oscars, Emmys, Comic-Con, and Coachella... Read More →

Monday April 21, 2025 7:30pm - 9:00pm PDT
Gilman AB TSU

Journalism

11:00am PDT

How to Cover Breaking News

Tuesday April 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:30pm PDT

Gilman AB

The presentation will focus on how to cover breaking news. As a journalist, this is one part of the job that's unavoidable. The focal point will be to teach the basics on how to report, showcase, and stay on top of a breaking news story as it develops by the minute. He will be bringing in examples of how he have covered breaking news stories in the booth, and the directions he gave out to reporters in the field. Any other questions and concerns are welcomed during the Q&A portion.

Hosted by: Dr. Penchan Phoborisut

Speakers

Cody Gion

News Producer, ABC 10News San Diego

Since graduating CSUF in 2019, Cody started his journey in the local TV industry in El Paso, Texas, eventually working his way to San Diego. Throughout his career, he has been presented with opportunities to cover stories that impact the community. Whether it's covering city council... Read More →

Tuesday April 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:30pm PDT
Gilman AB TSU

Journalism

11:30am PDT

Quantitative Data Analysis in Journalism

Tuesday April 22, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Titan Theater

By leveraging the tools of data analysis, journalists can do bulletproof work that not only shines a light on the actions of powerful individuals and entities, but also enables deeper and richer storytelling. Mendelson will discuss examples of this work in his presentation.

Hosted by: Professor Roselyn Du

Speakers

Aaron Mendelson

Data Journalist, The Trace

Aaron Mendelson is a data journalist at The Trace. Previously, he was an investigative and data journalist at the Center for Public Integrity and at Los Angeles NPR affiliate KPCC/LAist. His work has spanned beats and formats and has been recognized by honors including a Loeb Award... Read More →

Tuesday April 22, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Titan Theater TSU

Journalism

1:00pm PDT

Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea

Tuesday April 22, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Gilman AB

Melanie will present tips and tricks that helped her develop her own journalistic style. Whether you are in print, broadcast, photo, or radio journalism, these tools can help you find your reporter voice. As an early-career journalist, Melanie will also speak about how she found her own path into the industry after graduating from CSUF and how she landed her dream job.

Hosted by: AAJA

Speakers

Melanie Nguyen

Business Reporter, Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Melanie Nguyen is a CSUF alumn, class of 2023, that studied journalism and marketing. While she was at Cal State Fullerton, she served as a board member for the AAJA-CSUF chapter and a news editor for the Daily Titan. She has written for several local news organizations across California... Read More →

Tuesday April 22, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Gilman AB TSU

Journalism

11:30am PDT

Shaping My Career and Our Industry

Wednesday April 23, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT

Hetebrink AB

This presentation traces Brandon Kilman's journey from campus to content creation across local publications, major networks, and brand storytelling at Disneyland Resort. He will share how digital-first approaches are revolutionizing media careers and creating new opportunities for today's graduates. The session explores the intersection of traditional journalism with emerging technologies, particularly how AI tools are transforming multimedia production and content creation. Attendees will gain practical career advice and insights into the skills gap in today's digital storytelling landscape.

Hosted by: Dr. Penchan Phoborisut

Speakers

Brandon Killman

Audience Engagement Producer, LAist

Brandon Killman is a creative digital storyteller who discovered a love for engaging content creation while working as a digital editor for local publications. His experience at CNN and ABC-7 honed his skills in producing daily social media stories and adapting broadcast news for... Read More →

Wednesday April 23, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

2:00pm PDT

From Script to Screen: Behind NBC's Most Captivating Stories

Wednesday April 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT

Hetebrink AB

Our panel will spotlight the influence of these women storytellers and CSUF alumnas at NBC, weaving the threads of inclusion, complexity and emotional depth into the very fabric of modern television, ensuring that their voices echo throughout time. Students have the opportunity to network with the leaders through a Q & A session and learn about their careers in the evolving news industry. Vikki Vargas and Stephanie Miranda-DeLucia are also both recipients of the CSUF Communications Alumni Wall of Fame.

Hosted by: Latino Journalist Club

Speakers

David Reese

News Director, NBC

As news director at NBC Palm Springs, Reese oversees all aspects of news and local programming for the station. He has more than 35 years experience in news, most of it in Los Angeles where he held management positions at several stations, including 15 years at NBC4.

Vikki Vargas

News Content Specialist Orange County Bureau Chief, NBCLA (Retired)

A proud Cal State Fullerton alum, Vargas was the first Hispanic female reporter to be hired at NBC4. She was the face of Orange County for NBCLA for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2023. Vargas began her career as a reporter and weekend anchor at KESQ in Palm Springs (1981–82... Read More →

Stephanie Miranda-DeLucia

Executive Producer, NBCLA

Stephanie Miranda-DeLucia is the Executive Producer for Today in LA on NBC4. She began her career as a producer at the NBC affiliate in Midland, Texas, after earning a B.A. in Communications from Cal State Fullerton, and has since worked in Tucson, Arizona, and San Diego before joining... Read More →

Wednesday April 23, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

4:00pm PDT

Daily Titan Veterans Speak Out: Where Are Today’s Journalism Jobs?

Wednesday April 23, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm PDT

Tuffree AB

Even with the global contraction of traditional news organizations and tight newsroom budgets, jobs for recent graduates with journalism skills are still out there — sometimes in surprising places. Alumni with a wide variety of careers will talk about their post Daily Titan lives, and answer your questions about where you can go with a CSUF journalism degree.

Hosted by: Professor Walt Baranger and Professor Frank Russell

Speakers

Jordan Mendoza

Sports Training and Breaking News, College Sports, USA Today

Jordan Mendoza has been working for USA TODAY since 2021, starting off as a sports intern before he was hired as a breaking and trending news reporter. Jordan covered several topics and events in the Los Angeles area for two years before moving to a full-time sports reporter in 2023... Read More →

Noah Biesiada

County Reporter, Voice of OC, The Orange County Register

Noah Biesiada serves as Voice of OC’s county reporter, covering the county board of supervisors and the $9 billion government they oversee. Biesiada started as an intern in July 2019, helping launch Voice of OC’s disaster news coverage and report on the cities of south Orange... Read More →

Todd Harmonson

Senior Editor, The Orange County Register

Todd Harmonson is the Orange County Register's senior editor and one of the lead editors for the Southern California News Group. He is an award-winning journalist who spent much of his career in sports as a reporter and, later, as the Register's sports editor. Harmonson has been honored... Read More →

Lucio Villa

Senior Software Engineer, The Washington Post

I started my career as a photojournalist, capturing stories through visuals before transitioning to web design, where I crafted engaging digital experiences. I then moved into management, leading creative and technical teams before transitioning over to as a software engineer. Now... Read More →

Cathi Douglas

President, Sports trending and breaking news (College sports), Cathi Douglas Communicaitons Inc.

An award-winning, respected leader in the fields of journalism and public relations, Cathi Douglas is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America, received its highest honor – the Distinguished Service Award – and served as president of both Orange County PRSA and IABC.Upon... Read More →

Wednesday April 23, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm PDT
Tuffree AB TSU

Journalism

7:00pm PDT

Narrative Reporting Tips from LA Times Metro Reporter

Wednesday April 23, 2025 7:00pm - 9:00pm PDT

Hetebrink AB

No matter what the subject, it always helps to write stories narratively! This session will help explain where Brittny's story ideas come from, the reporting that goes into it, and the writing process to help draw in more readers.

Hosted by: Professor Anne La Jeunesse

Speakers

Brittny Meija

Metro Reporter, LA Times

Brittny Mejia is a Metro reporter covering federal courts for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she wrote narrative pieces with a strong emphasis on the Latino community and others that make up the diversity of L.A. and California. Mejia was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2021 in local... Read More →

Wednesday April 23, 2025 7:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

11:00am PDT

The Intersection of Sports, Entertainment, and Arts: A Conversation with Senior NFL Insider Josina Anderson

Thursday April 24, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Titan Theater

Learn about Ms. Anderson’s amazing career path to become the first female senior NFL insider for ESPN and CBS. We’ll dive into her 20 years of experience in journalism, production, and content creation. We’ll also discuss her foray into entrepreneurship, with her latest venture London Farrow Productions.

Hosted by: Professor Jasmine Phillips, Professor Timothy Jackson, and NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists, Cal State Fullerton Chapter)

Speakers

Josina Anderson

CEO, London Farrow Productions, Senior NFL Insider, London Farrow Productions

Josina is a dynamic Emmy and NABJ award-winning television professional with over 20 years of experience in journalism, production, content creation, and communications. Recognized as ESPN's and CBS’s first female Senior NFL Insider, she has a proven track record of breaking major... Read More →

Thursday April 24, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Titan Theater TSU

Journalism

2:00pm PDT

Celebrating 25 Years with Tusk Magazine

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT

Tuffree AB

From then to now: Celebrate 25 years of Tusk Magazine with the OG adviser Jeff Brody. The panel of former editors explores some of the reasons the magazine launched, shares anecdotes and offers insight for the future. Learn how the hands-on experience of creating the magazine helps set the stage for a variety of careers.

Hosted by: Professor Marie Loggia Kee

Speakers

Jeff Brody

Founder of Tusk Magazine

Jeff Brody taught Journalism and Communications at Cal State Fullerton for more than 24 years. He served as adviser for The Daily Titan and founded Tusk Magazine. He won the outstanding journalism teacher of the year award for four-year universities in 1994 from the California Newspaper... Read More →

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Tuffree AB TSU

Journalism