PSFA STORIES

Fourth-year SDSU journalism major Calista Stocker will focus on neighborhood coverage for the Mission Times Courier

San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies students earned recognition at this year’s Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Pro Chapter Awards, bringing home honors across nearly a dozen categories as well as multiple scholarships.

After 12 years in the Minors, Suchon made his Major League debut as a fill-in radio announcer for the Colorado Rockies

A mentorship program for future PR professionals worked wonders for this new graduate, who landed a job in less than a week.

After 12 seasons and nearly 1,800 games in Triple-A, SDSU alum Josh Suchon finally gets the call, stepping into the Colorado Rockies radio booth for two games at Coors Field on July 18. A full‑circle moment that reunites him with his Colorado roots has been years in the making.

Using eye-tracking software, researchers measured how quickly participants read news articles. Some browsed their TikTok accounts for five minutes right before reading. The others didn’t.

Melanie Ehrenkranz (‘12) took a leap after graduation and moved straight to New York City with no job lined up. Determined to pursue a career in journalism, she quickly found her beat covering technology and wellness.

Jesse Marx, student media manager at JMS, helped edit and fact-check a Pulitzer-finalist investigative series by the San Francisco Chronicle on deadly police chases. The reports exposed systemic issues, highlighting nearly two deaths per day, often innocent bystanders, with little officer accountability.

Bella Ross (‘20) started her journalism career at SDSU with a passion for politics and activism. Being a freshman during the 2016 presidential election, Ross was the one leading protests around campus with a megaphone in hand.

When Will Fritz (’19) was at SDSU, he was known as a passionate and driven student journalist. At the Daily Aztec, he stood out as an accomplished senior staff writer, writing 190 stories in three years and eventually taking charge as editor-in-chief.

Dr. Alanna Peebles, professor in San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, took her course JMS 545: Media and Youth to new heights this semester.

Alina Ajaz is the recipient of this summer’s School of Journalism and Media Studies-Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship.

Honoring outstanding students whose work is advancing storytelling, representation, and learning innovation.

While many SDSU students use spring break as a time to rest and recharge, 34 JMS majors embarked on an impactful journey to Hangzhou, China to learn about the country, its media ecosystem and what it is like to be a college student there.

New course provides hands-on journalism training to help students share Imperial Valley’s evolving story

The School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) at San Diego State University has chosen the next student leaders for its independent, student-run media organizations: Bella Biunno and Calista Stocker as co-editors-in-chief of The Daily Aztec and Sammi Thomas as the new general manager of KCR College Radio.

Kemi Giwa’s journey from a newsroom enthusiast to a political communications expert began in the Bay Area.

Elaina Smith (‘11) is making her mark in country radio. An award winning host known for her interviews with the hottest stars in Nashville, Tenn., Smith hosts the nationally syndicated radio show “Night with Elaina,” is the voice of the American Country Music Awards and People’s Choice Country Awards and now is joining Backstage County, the fastest-growing nationally syndicated program for country music.

JMS Alumnus Jackie Levy’s (‘01) journey began with a leap of faith, arriving at SDSU with an unclear idea of what he wanted to do.

Jesse Marx is the newest member of the School of Journalism and Media Studies’ family. Serving as the inaugural Student Media Manager, he is already putting KCR and the Daily Aztec (DA) on a path to success.