CSUF Comm Week 2026: Full Schedule

11:30am PDT

Monday April 27, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm PDT

The business of delivering the news on TV and online has changed leaps and bounds over the past 30 years. But as much as the job has evolved, the basics are the same. A long-time reporter offers an insider's perspective.

Hosted by Professor Penchan Phoborisut

Speakers

Craig Gropper

Craig Gropper began his TV news career with a Bachelor's degree in English from Whitman College and a Master's in Journalism from New York University. His first stop was the NBC affiliate in Midland, TX, where he reported and anchored. From West Texas, he moved up the ladder to Southwest... Read More →

Monday April 27, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Gilman AB TSU

Journalism

4:00pm PDT

Building Local News Without a Roadmap

Monday April 27, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Tuffree AB

Justin Pardee launched The Raincross Gazette in 2021 with no journalism training and no newsroom — just a conviction that Riverside deserved better local coverage. Five years later, the Gazette reaches more than 15,000 subscribers with a 41% open rate and a full-time editorial team. In this session, Justin shares what he learned about digital reporting and writing by doing it from scratch: what the textbooks don't tell you, how he developed his editorial voice and standards outside the profession, and what it actually takes to build a trusted news product in a city that needs one.

Hosted by Professor Felicitas Baruch

Speakers

Justin Pardee

Founder, The Raincross Gazette

Justin Pardee is the founder and publisher of The Raincross Gazette, Riverside's home for reliable local news. What began in 2021 with 89 subscribers and zero journalism training has grown into a full-time newsroom reaching more than 15,000 readers. A lifelong Riversider and graduate... Read More →

Monday April 27, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Tuffree AB TSU

Journalism

4:00pm PDT

Inside MLB Public Relations: Behind the Scenes with the Angels

Monday April 27, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Titan Theater

Adam Chodzko serves as the senior director of Public Relations for the Los Angeles Angels, where he plays a key role in shaping the team’s public image and communications strategy. In his talk, he will share insights from his career, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to represent a Major League Baseball organization. Drawing from his experience, he will also discuss the fast-paced, dynamic nature of working in the sports industry and the unique challenges and rewards that come with it.

Hosted by Professor Ricardo Valencia

Speakers

Adam Chodzko

Senior Director, Communications, Los Angeles Angels

This year marks Adam Chodzko's 18th season working in Major League Baseball. He enters 2026 as his 17th season with the Angels, having spent the past four years as the organization's Sr. Director of Communications. In his current position, he oversees the Club’s baseball information... Read More →

Monday April 27, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Titan Theater TSU

Journalism

7:00pm PDT

Shaping Complex and Sensitive Stories with Meg James of the LA Times

Monday April 27, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT

Hetebrink AB

Meg James is a senior entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times. She will discuss her work covering television, corporate media, and investigative projects, offering insight into how she reports on the business side of the entertainment industry. She will share perspectives on major shifts in television, the strategies and decisions within corporate media organizations, and the role of investigative journalism in uncovering the forces shaping modern media.
Hosted by Professor Felicitas Baruch

Speakers

Meg James

Senior Entertainment Industry Writer, The Los Angeles Times

Meg James is a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times covering the business of Hollywood, with an emphasis on network and cable television, Spanish-language media, and advertising trends. She has reported on the television industry since 2002, focusing on major broadcast networks and... Read More →

Monday April 27, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

10:00am PDT

Stacking vs. Producing: How to Maximize your Rundown to Create an Engaging Newscast

Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Tuffree AB

Anyone can stack a rundown, but what does it really mean to be a televsion news producer? In this session, you will learn the tools to set your rundown apart from the competition and what really makes a great and engaging newscast.

Hosted by Professor Penchan Phoborisut

Speakers

Adrian Garcia

Executive Producer, NBC 10 Boston

Adrian Garcia graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2016 with a degree in print journalism, but decided to go to the dark side of TV. And he's so glad he did. He started his career at KGUN-TV in Tucson, AZ where he worked in a newsroom full of talented journalists who took him under... Read More →

Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Tuffree AB TSU

Journalism

5:00pm PDT

Covering the Summer and Winter Olympics as Student Journalists

Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT

Hetebrink AB

CSUF sports media students had the opportunity to cover the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and 2026 Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics. They told compelling stories in print, video, and social media surrounding the Games. This panel of students will speak about their experiences.

Hosted by Professor Gayle Jansen Brisbane

Speakers

Jonathan Mansour

Student, CSUF

Jonathan Mansour is a senior journalism student at Cal State Fullerton. He participated in the CSUF Olympics Study Abroad in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, and served as a student lead for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. He also served as an intern for the Titans Sport... Read More →

Noah Scherson

Student, CSUF

Noah Scherson is a journalism student at CSUF and staff writer for The Daily Titan. He has published in all four desks for The Daily Titan (sports, opinion, lifestyle, and news). He reported on the 2024 Paris Olympics through print and broadcast mediums and served as a student lead... Read More →

Connor Alicaya

Student, CSUF

Connor Alicaya is a senior journalism student at Cal State Fullerton. He participated in CSUF's two Olympic Games study abroad programs, the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the 2026 Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics. He also served as an executive producer for CSUF's student-led broadcast... Read More →

Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

10:00am PDT

The Backpack Journalist: One Reporter. One Camera. Endless Stories.

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Tuffree AB

What does it take to tell a powerful story, on deadline, all alone? Emmy-winning Multimedia Journalist Juliet Lemar breaks down the realities of turning daily news into compelling, impactful stories. This session is a real-world guide to crafting cinematic, character-driven stories, under pressure, with practical techniques to help you stand out and embrace your creative spark.

Hosted by Professor Penchan Phoborisut

Speakers

Juliet Lemar

Emmy-winning MMJ | NBC 6 Santa Barbara

Juliet Lemar is an Emmy-winning multimedia journalist with a passion for character-driven storytelling, covering everything from murder to puppies. A proud Cal State Fullerton alum, she currently works as an MMJ (the Swiss Army Knife of reporters) in Southern California. She reports... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Tuffree AB TSU

Journalism

7:00pm PDT

The Art of Narrative Journalism

Wednesday April 29, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm PDT

Hetebrink AB

Learn how to transform any subject into an engaging story. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times reporter, will share her techniques for finding ideas, conducting thorough reporting, and structuring narratives that boost readership.

Hosted by Professor Anne LaJeunesse

Speakers

Brittny Mejia

Metro Reporter, Los Angeles Times

Brittny Mejia is a Metro reporter covering federal courts and immigration 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 f... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

12:00pm PDT

Inside The Life of a Pro Sports Insider

Thursday April 30, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Tuffree AB

Marc Stein has been covering the NBA for more than 30 years since graduating from Cal State Fullerton. He's worked extensively in newspapers, television, radio, and podcasting, and will discuss the various stages of his career, tips for success in the modern era, and the many ways that the sports media business has evolved over the past three decades. Stein will appear remotely.

Hosted by Professor Gayle Jansen Brisbane

Speakers

Marc Stein

Publisher, The Stein Line

After graduating from Cal State Fullerton in 1991, Marc Stein has covered the NBA for more than 30 years. He is the publisher of "The Stein Line "after stints at "The New York Times", ESPN, "The Dallas Morning News", and "The Los Angeles Daily News." He is also a contributor to Amazon... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Tuffree AB TSU

Journalism

5:00pm PDT

The Dying Practice, but the Undying Need for Physical Media: Presented by ProComm Magazine

Thursday April 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT

Hetebrink AB

As a print publication on campus, ProComm Magazine upholds, preserves, and sustains the dying practice of physical media! In a digital age, the importance of physical media is called into question, but the feeling of holding something in your hand that was crafted by thoughtful intention remains the same! As creative director of Tusk Magazine’s 26th Edition and the managing editor of ProComm Magazine’s upcoming second release, I invite you to explore the magic behind physical media with me and learn from how it affects audiences.

Hosted by Professor Marie Loggia-Kee

Speakers

Gregory Ferraro

Managing Editor & Photo Director, ProComm Magazine

Gregory is a fourth-year Communications Journalism major with digital media certification, who is also minoring in Philosophy and Business: Entertainment and Hospitality. He creates compelling stories and visuals across digital, print and social platforms, blending journalism, design... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Hetebrink AB TSU

Journalism

11:30am PDT

4:00pm PDT

4:00pm PDT

7:00pm PDT

10:00am PDT

5:00pm PDT

10:00am PDT

7:00pm PDT

12:00pm PDT

5:00pm PDT

Get help with the event