CSUF Comm Week 2026

Jasmine Wood will share her journey into Government Public Relations and how she successfully got her foot in the door within the public sector. She will discuss the steps she took to break into the field, the challenges she faced, and the importance of building relationships, credibility, and trust in a government setting. Drawing from her experience in public safety communications, Jasmine will offer practical advice for students interested in pursuing careers in public service and strategic communications. Attendees will leave with real-world insight into how persistence, preparation, and passion can open doors in Government PR.

Hosted by Professor Ken Hagihara 

John Hickok, CSUF Communications librarian, will discuss the urgency of accuracy in news today, as online news is littered with fake news, newsatorials, and AI-generated content. Come learn about his fascinating experience working at CNN as a news librarian. He will share how news stories require accurate facts, and his important role of assisting reporters by providing background information for stories.

Hosted by Professor Marie Loggia-Kee

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

Communication theory and research can combine to help solve real-world problems that we see around us every day. In this panel session, students from the Department of Communications Master of Arts program will present and discuss research proposals they developed in corporate communication, entertainment, and professional sports. Theory and research are often seen as ‘esoteric and boring.’ But our panelists will demonstrate just the opposite: Research offers a rewarding outlet for creative people who want to help the world become a better place. If you’re an undergraduate thinking about graduate school, this panel is for you!

Strategic Environmental PR For Generation Alpha: A Framework For Multinational Organizations by Mara Gaborro
This presentation introduces a research proposal on how multinational organizations can more authentically communicate environmental initiatives to Generation Alpha—the next wave of consumers, influencers, and decision-makers who will shape the future economy and society. Drawing from my experience working with global brands navigating cross-cultural communication challenges, my interest stems from a critical gap: many multinational organizations struggle to connect meaningfully with American audiences while meeting rising expectations for authenticity, transparency, and inclusion.

Identity, Image, and Influence: Celebrity Crisis Through Social Identity Theory by Jayde Chaelron
This presentation examines how Social Identity Theory shapes audience reactions to celebrity scandals and informs modern crisis communication strategies. Through case studies of Will Smith, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber, it highlights how fan identity influences whether audiences defend, disengage from, or rally behind public figures. The presentation ultimately argues that successful reputation management depends not only on messaging, but on maintaining and repairing shared identity with audiences.

From the Clubhouse to the Courtroom: The Skaggs Family vs. the Los Angeles Angels by John T. Rodriguez
This presentation will delve into the tragic case of Tyler Skaggs. After a fatal overdose on a team road trip, Skaggs' family filed a lawsuit in June 2021, where former Angels communications director Eric Kay was found guilty for distributing the pill that caused Skaggs' death.

Accommodating to Your Audience: Dua Lipa’s Audience Engagement by Luis Estrada. This presentation examines Dua Lipa’s audience engagement through an analysis of her Radical Optimism Tour, with a focus on the Latin and South American leg.

Faculty representatives will be available to answer questions about the M.A. program. Hosted by Professor Doug Swanson.

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

What happens when the skills you’ve built to manage other people’s stories are suddenly needed to navigate your own? In this session, Stacey Doss, APR, shares how a deeply personal adoption journey unexpectedly became a public narrative, drawing intense media attention and blurring the line between professional expertise and lived experience. She’ll explore the emotional and ethical complexities of being both the strategist and the subject, and how PR instincts can both help—and complicate—moments of personal crisis. Attendees will gain insight into managing media when the stakes are deeply personal, maintaining authenticity under pressure, and redefining boundaries when your personal and professional identities collide.

Hosted by Professor Renee Tuzee

This will be a brief presentation on the journey from student to a gaming manager. This will include all the successes and failures along the journey. After the presentation, there will be an open QA where students can ask questions about navigating the game industry, game development, and work-life balance.

Hosted by Jiwoo Park

The CSUF Titans Forensics (Speech & Debate) Showcase is an exciting annual event celebrating the art of competitive speaking and argument. Featuring standout performances from Cal State Fullerton’s award-winning intercollegiate team, the showcase highlights a powerful platform speech, an interpretive performance, and a dynamic impromptu speech. The event also includes a live, audience-friendly debate on a timely economic issue, offering a front-row seat to the skill, strategy, and impact of collegiate debate. Join us for an engaging evening that brings ideas to life through performance and persuasion.

Hosted by Professor Erika Thomas & Professor Shanara Reid-Brinkley

Chris Little will share his experience with the KFI AM640 broadcast news team and his involvement in the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). He will also share moments from his podcast, The Death of News, and host an interactive writing seminar to give students an inside look at the broadcast writing process.

Hosted by Professor Rob van Riel

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

Chelsea will walk through how she developed the idea for The Zest and turned it from a concept into a fully produced podcast. She also will share the behind-the-scenes process — from researching and booking guests to crafting thoughtful, narrative-driven questions that lead to meaningful conversations. Finally, Chelsea will break down the production side, including editing, publishing, and promoting each episode through social media. 

Hosted by Professor Rob van Riel

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