Alumnus John Baldwin’s gift gives new life to The Daily Aztec newsroom

Once described as “dungeon-like,” “dark” and “impossible to see across,” The Daily Aztec newsroom was never the kind of place where creativity truly flourished. 

That all changed this summer. Thanks to a generous $150,000 donation from San Diego State University alumnus John Baldwin, the student newspaper’s workspace underwent a complete transformation, one that has reshaped not only its walls, but also its culture.

“This was his way of giving back to JMS and the Daily Aztec specifically. We’re proud and happy to have his name on the list,” said Jesse Marx, SDSU’s student media manager.

Baldwin’s story is as remarkable as his impact. Though he never graduated from SDSU, his brief time in journalism classes inspired him for life. 

According to Temple Northup, director of the School of Journalism and Media Studies, Baldwin credited those classes for teaching him the communication and storytelling skills that helped him build a successful business.

“He never actually graduated from SDSU,” Northup said. “But it shows the impact that just a few classes had on his entire life. Once he reached the later stages of his life, he wanted to give back to help journalists.”

Before his death earlier this year, Baldwin endowed scholarships and ultimately donated funds to remodel The Daily Aztec newsroom, a project that had been in planning for nearly a year. The new space, located in the basement of Lamden Hall, features open layouts, brighter lighting, a conference area and updated technology, including a smart TV and multimedia equipment.

For Marx, who helped oversee the renovation process, the goal was to create “a more open, bright social environment for people to actually collaborate.” The old newsroom, he said, had become symbolic of isolation.

“It struck me as a very antisocial place,” Marx recalled. “When I heard that we had some money to do a real renovation, I was thrilled. I thought we had an opportunity to rethink what The Daily Aztec is, and how editors and contributors communicate with each other.”

Marx also mentioned how students previously avoided the newsroom altogether. “Some told me they’d only been in here two or three times before, but now they’re in here almost every day,” he said. 

“That’s my non-scientific way of judging the impact.”

The renovation wasn’t just cosmetic, it also redefined the space’s purpose. The newsroom is also shared with KCR College Radio and serves as a hub for student media collaboration, from editorial meetings to holding the Daily Aztec class.

“Now it’s a much more open space,” Northup said. “It means we can hold the DA class there, which just didn’t exist before. It makes the newsroom more inviting for any students who happen to wander in.”

The Baldwin family will be formally recognized during a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for February, where the School of Journalism and Media Studies hopes to celebrate Baldwin’s legacy and raise additional funds for further improvements.

Though Baldwin never returned to see the completed newsroom, his generosity continues to shape the next generation of student journalists - not only through a renovated workspace but through a renewed sense of purpose.