2009
The closing of a local launch pad by Jennifer MacKaben and Deidra Boyer
first editor. “Every time I was in [the Reporter's] newsroom it seemed like an HSU journalismgrad reunion when I saw Diane Batley, Luis Molina, John Magers, K a r e n W i l ke n s o n , Dominic Efferson, Ashley Mackin, [and others].” In the case of Ashley Mackin, the Reporter was an ideal first job. The paper hired her two months after she graduated HSU. She had 50 stoThe Eureka Reporter Sfaff, including current alumni, during its last days of work/ Daniel Soloman ries published in her first two weeks. The Eureka Reporter launched as an online ative, award-winning “For me it was a newspaper became a news source and quickly page design made the launch pad for gradu- put out a daily-printed paper a visual treat. Godsend,” she said. “I ating journalists, until paper. The design work and am not glad that the it ceased reporting “The emergence of photographs by HSU Reporter went under, Humboldt County’s news The Eureka Reporter graduates Kevin Bell and because I think it is good in early November last was very interesting to Tyson Ritter were out- to have competition. I’m year. Without the exis- many of us at a profes- standing and innovative.” very grateful to have had tence of the paper, there sional level,” said Prof. Larson said it was fun the opportunity [to work are now fewer career Mark Larson, chairman to see the paper hire so there]” The paper's comopportunities in rural of the JMC Department. many of HSU’s graduHumboldt County. “The Reporter ’s new ates, including Glenn Continued on 3 In 2003, the Reporter printing press and cre- Franco Simmons as its
The evolving medium of the message: technology changing the advertising model p. 15
Newly Formed Journalism Club brings national attention to HSU’s journalism program p. 17
JournAlum
From the desk of the Department Chair by Mark Larson
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his year has indeed been one of challenges and “change.” It includes our local media landscape with the closing of The Eureka Reporter n e w s p a p e r, o u r nation’s new political scene and economic crises at all levels. In the midst of this, our hearts are focused o n P r o f. G e o r g e Estrada, who is on medical leave for the spring semester. He hopes to return to the JMC faculty in the Mark Larson on the back steps of the future on a limited Bret Harte House/ Dwight Johnson basis. In addition, Joan Loitz chose to step away from teaching part-time this year. Prof. Craig Klein has also been gone this year – and potentially next – on a leave of absence to explore professional opportunities. We are blessed, however, with having talented and capable lecturers available to teach their classes, including: Zoe Walrond, Sid Dominitz, Cliff Berkowitz, Annie Reid, Jessie (Misha) Cretser-Hartenstein and Robert Gluckson (one of our alumni!). Maclyn McClary also continues to help out by capably teaching our public relations class in the fall. Kim Moon and Linda McMaster continue their excellent staff work to keep the department functioning. We hope to search nationally for a new tenuretrack position next year, as well as replace Sarah Page in the Lumberjack newspaper ad/business manager position. We wish Sarah the best in her new teaching career. In the midst of all of the above, our journalism department continues to thrive with an increasingly diverse group of majors and minors who are busy working in the student media and a variety of internships (see related story inside). I’m also pleased to have such capable journalism faculty colleagues in Prof. Marcy Burstiner (who will soon have her text-
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book on investigative reporting published) and Prof. Vicky Sama (see story inside about the successful trip to Washington, D.C. she organized for the student Journalism Club this past fall). The impact of your continued support as journalism alumni and friends of the department has been significant, as we were again able to offer about 20 scholarships to our students this year. We also brought in Tim Grey, a national Photoshop guru, to lead a weekend workshop in optimizing workflow and advanced techniques. It’s exciting to see the growing interest in photojournalism among our students. I’m pleased to also have HSU recognize another of our journalism alumni, John Diaz, as one of this year’s three “alumni of the year” (see related story inside). I read the San Francisco Chronicle on a daily basis and feel lucky to have benefited from John’s outstanding career as its editorial page editor. Fund-raising remains one of my top priorities as fiscal realities are affecting our students’ abilities to afford school. We also continue to upgrade our digital audio and video instructional equipment. I’ve enjoyed seeing so many of you this past year at events, or when you drop in for a campus visit! I appreciate your offers of help and support. Our department’s network of alumni and friends represent one of our greatest advantages compared to other academic
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JournAlum Staff Adviser Robert Gluckson
Editor-in-Chief Mathew Hawk
Layout Nels Ferre Jennifer MacKaben
Photography Dwight Johnson
Copy Editing Anthony Barstow Octavio Rayzoga
Writers Ruby Johnson Eliza Douglas Deidra Bayer Kevin Bunch Jennifer MacKaben Ashleigh Nieman
Please address all correspondence to JournAlum Editor, Bret Harte House #52, HSU, Arcata, CA 95521
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Dept. Chair continued from page 1
Pioneering new media
majors on campus. We will face the present and coming challenges more effectively together. Please stay in touch with updates about your lives and news about internship opportunities and job openings – (707) 826-5925 or email at mal2@humboldt.edu. †
Paper closes continued from page 1
Osbourn ponders his future in journalism/ Dwight Johnson
petition with the Times-Standard made local journalism livelier as few cities and reporters have experience with competing dailies anymore, said Larson. But in the end the competition may have done the Reporter in. The day after the presidential election, the paper’s staff was informed that they were no longer in business. The final edition circulated only two days later. Former staff writer and HSU journalism alum Dominic Efferson was taken by surprise. “We were kept completely in the dark,” said Efferson. “[Possible layoffs] were never brought up in meetings. Not even the editors knew about it.” The sudden closing of the paper left many jour-
John Osborn began working at the Eureka Reporter in 2008. He never had to go through that “What do I do with my life?” period that most people experience directly out of college. He was immediately employed as a reporter covering the city of Eureka. After the closing of the paper, Osborn felt almost as though he had just graduated. He, along with three of his fellow co-workers at the paper, started the blog The Eureka Ruin (http://eurekaruin. wordpress.com) as a place for them to continue reporting the news to the online community. Osborn started the flash fiction site Indigo as way to keep one of his passions going: fiction writing. He has only heard of one other flash fiction Website. Flash fiiction stories are short stories of 250 words or less. Osbourn thought this was a great way to share his stories with the online community, and let anyone else with a story to tell to do the same. Osborn’s biggest goal right now is to publish a book. In January of this year his mom lost her battle with cancer. She left behind journals and recordings that document her struggle. He would like to put these memoirs together in a book that will describe from a firsthand point of view what it is like to battle cancer. His mom asked him to donate half of the proceeds to a cancer foundation, which Osborn will gladly do.
nalists, including HSU journalism alumnus John Osborn, searching for new opportunities. The Reporter hired Osbourn immediately after he graduated from HSU. A f t e r t h e p a p e r ’s closing, Osborn started the Eureka Ruin, a blog with former co-workers and HSU grads Karen Wilkinson, Mackin and current student Ashley Bailey. The Ruin is their way to report what they find interesting without the financial pressures of an actual newsroom. Osborn notes on the site, “Expect the unexpected from me and the many other wasteland wanderers displaced by the newspaper war storm.” Although opportunities for work in Humboldt County are shrinking, there are many other places to work. Although journalism Professor Marcy Burstiner said the Reporter was a good “in-between job for the in-between students,” she advised soon-to-be graduates not to stick around. “If you want to end up in New York, start in New York,” she said. “Have confidence in your future [career] and be willing to struggle for a while.” †
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JournAlum
A year in review through the “The Lumberjack" (May 2008 to February 2009) By Anthony Barstow
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tudents at The Lumberjack pride themselves on finding the important news when it happens and reporting it as it happens. The following stories exemplify this dedication to informing the student body, as well as the community at large, of those events, which affect everyone’s lives.
“CHAMPS!” May 7, 2008 by Matt Drange
For the second year in a row, the HSU women’s softball team won its This photo showed the conference, and The determination of HSU’s Lumberjack was there to bring softball team/ Torrey the action to readers. Matt Hartman Drange gave the audience a full sensory experience and took them inside the games. With writing that was both illustrative and informative, Drange helped readers connect with their National Championship Softball Team.
“Not so invisible” September 17, 2008 by Deunn Willis
At a predominantly white school, in a predominantly white community, the issue Representatives from various of race and racism is minority-based groups on campus/ Stephanie Haller too often forgotten or ignored. In the week’s cover story, Deunn Willis, an African American staff writer, tackled the topic with sensitivity and understanding by talking to those affected most: the students.
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“Suspicious object disrupts campus” September 24, 2008 by Matt Drange
A suspicious object, originally thought to be Emergency services responds to a bomb threat/ Matt Drange a pipe bomb, was found on campus on a Tuesday afternoon. And, despite going to press just hours later, Matt Drange was able to track down the story and ensure that it was reported to the student body just a day later. In addition to the solid reporting of the story, Drange had the forethought to take photographs of the incident that depicted the confusion and chaos of the situation.
“The Metro in Arcata closes its doors after 20 years” October 1, 2008 by Matt Drange
Foreshadowing the The Metro waves the white flag/ impending economic Stephanie Haller crisis, The Metro, an Arcata record store owned and operated by an HSU alumna, went out of business, meaning that students would have less choice for local music purchases. In the article, Matt Drange highlighted the bigger picture of failing local businesses, and by focusing on just one shop, he gave readers a chance to visualize the crisis on a human level.
“Editorial: Hope for our generation” October 22, 2008 by the Editorial Board
In the midst of a contentious election and heated political climate, the Editorial Board, led by Stephanie Haller, voted for a presidential candidate. Given the
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Top “Lumberjack" stories continued from page 4 gravity and historical implications of the election, the Board took a chance and endorsed Barack Obama.
“Student takes own life” October 29, 2008 by Karina Gonzalez
Working on a tight deadline, Karina Gonzalez cut through the rumors and misA memorial for the student information, found was held a week later/ the hard news, and Torrey Hartman reported the facts. Yet, in her reporting, Gonzalez brought out the sadness and loss that is intrinsic when anyone commits suicide, let alone a student on campus.
“America’s Choice: Obama wins in a landslide” November 11, 2008 by Stephanie Haller
Exemplified by the reporting of then Editor-inChief Stephanie Haller on Deun Willis reads the the presidential election, the Lumberjack’s “Election Issue”/ Stephanie Haller Lumberjack staff dedicated itself to full, wide-ranging coverage on election night. Holding the presses until early Wednesday morning, The Lumberjack reported on local stories that both the Times-Standard and Eureka Reporter missed. It was the mission on The Lumberjack to put a new president on the cover of the issue, which came out just hours after the election results were finalized. Through its dedication to the paper and willingness to get the story, the staff ensured that the next morning’s news racks were stacked with covers of President Barack Obama.
“The Endeavor’s special November” December 3, 2008 by Matt Hawk
Matt Hawk’s story about Thanksgiving at the Endeavor, a local John Shelter, executive director of shelter for less fortunate the Endeavor, tends to companion animals as clients dine on a precommunity members, Thanksgiving dinner/ showed the changing Courtesy of Shelter face of Arcata. There is always talk about shutting the Endeavor down, about its effect on local businesses, and about its overall place in the community. In his reporting of the Thanksgiving event, Hawk put a spotlight on the growing public support for the shelter, and showed a community that was finally getting the message: the shelter can not exist without the community, and the community would not be better off without it.
“State budget leaves CSU little room to breathe” February 25, 2009 by Elizabeth Sorrell
Few issues affect students more than funding and budget cuts, and Elizabeth Sorrell got to the heart of the problem with her story by focusing on the students. In the midst of an economic crisis, it is easy to ignore the difficult-to-fix problems, like higher education, but Sorrell’s story reminds readers that providing California students with an affordable college education is not an issue that can be ignored. †
Go to the new Website! The Lumberjack www.thejackonline.org pg. 5
JournAlum
John Diaz, Alumni of the Year by Matt Hawk
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fter 30 years, John Diaz (1979) still stays in touch with many of his peers when he was the managing editor and reporter for The Lumberjack. “It was so wonderful when I was there,” said Diaz. “There was a contingent of smart journalists. A lot of talent, and a lot of energy.” Diaz also remembers his teachers. “When I came out of HSU I emerged thinking like a journalist,” said Diaz. “The professors really are professionals.” Diaz will receive the HSU Alumni of the Year Award on April 17. Mark Larson, journalism department chair, said Diaz is writing to make a difference in peoples’ lives. “[Diaz] has a really good voice that stands out in a sea of bland and homogeneous opinions,” said Larson. “It’s really humbling to know that so many people from [HSU] do so many things in the world,” Diaz said. “It’s nice to know that the award is not just for me, but for the school as well.” Growing up in the Bay Area, Diaz always wanted to work for the San
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John Diaz will receive the Alumni of the Year Award at the HSU Annual Alumni Awards ceremony on April 17th/ Courtesy of Diaz
Francisco Chronicle. He spent many youthful days devouring its words and studying its strengths and weaknesses. After graduating from HSU in 1977, he got his professional start in journalism at the Red Bluff Daily News in Red Bluff, Calif. He then moved to the Associated Press offices in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. But Diaz did not like that the community he was a part of never read his work. When he got the chance to move to Denver in 1985 and work on the Denver Post, he
took it. Diaz worked at the Post in the height of what he calls a “newspaper war” between the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post. “It was
community he was a part of. He also met his future wife, Katherine Corcoran. In 1996, his home paper, the San Francisco Chronicle came calling. Diaz could not ignore
"I think Humboldt really set a good foundation for my career." 1977 graduate John Diaz hyper-competitive,” said Diaz. “It made you very aware of getting the story and getting it before the other paper.” Diaz loved working for the Post, covering events that mattered to the
it, so he packed up and moved back home to San Francisco. And that is where he has been for the past 13 years.
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2009
Alumnas stay local helping future grads suceed by Eliza Douglas and Octivio Rayzoga
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nn JohnsonStromberg (1997) and Marylyn Paik-Nicely (1993) came to Humboldt State University for education, and decided to call Humboldt County. Their current jobs at HSU have essentially the same concept; to prepare students for the real world. Before Ann JohnsonStromberg received her diploma for journalism, with a focus in news editorial, she contributed to The Lumberjack and also participated in the Osprey as a staff editor. During her final semester at HSU, Johnson-Stromberg worked at the TimesStandard as an intern. After graduation she worked with local newspapers the TimesStandard for two years until the birth of her son. After working for a local steel fabricator as a manager for a year, Johnson-Strombergdecided to open a business of her own the Scrapbook Getaway, inspired by her hobby of scrap booking. After its closure, she had to a close and returned to the Times-Standard as the business editor in 2005. P a i k- N i c e l y a l s o opened her own businesses after graduation, including a women’s
without her newsroom experience. Originally from Hilo, H a w a i i , P a i k- N i c e l y moved to Humboldt County when her husband got a job in the area. She graduated from HSU in 1993 with an emphasis in public relations. Moving to this small area was bittersweet for PaikNicely, because although it is a small area, with a tight community, she missed Hawaii. Marilyn Paik-Nicely takes time for a picture at HSU’s 2009 Social This homesickness for Justice Summit/ Dwight Johnson her island life opened the clothing store in Eureka, paring for the real world. door to another closeCalif., called the Looking Johnson-Stromberg said knit community of the Glass, and a restaurant she uses her journalism local Native-American for a while, but the same skills everyday. She helps t r i b e s o f H u m b o l d t faith waited across the bridge the gap between County, where she felt a corner. It was her second business affected by the "I love working with college local economy of the early ‘90s. students and find it very rewarding." To d a y , J o h n s o n Stromberg works 1993 graduate Marilyn Paik-Nicely full-time for HSU as a coordinator of internships and job development in graduation from HSU and feeling of acceptance and the career center. She the experience necessary interest. As a native Hawaiian, assists students in pre- for them to achieve success. She believes that in she had been extensively order to be a success in involved in the culture, the field, work experience mainly through the dance is everything. form of the Hula, which Johnson-Stromberg she studied since she was has high respect for her four years old. former newsroom colWhen a posileagues and said she tion for director of the couldn’t be as successful MultiCultural Center in the work she does for (MCC) opened up at HSU Ann Johnson-Stromberg/ courtesy HSU and the economic Continued on 18 of Johnson-stromberg development community
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JournAlum
From journalist to USDA Forrest Service Associate Chief by Ruby Johnstone
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umboldt State University’s journalism program was the starting point for many successful careers. Its alumni are employed in reporting, public relations, broadcast…and the U.S. Forest Service? Hank Kashdan took an unconventional road to the U.S.F.S. after graduating in 1973. “After meeting with Professors Mac McClary and Howard Seemann I was really impressed,” Kashdan said about his first encounter with the journalism program. “I found [ journalism] to be a fascinating field. Despite my love of natural resources I was more interested in the liberal arts.”
Hank Kashdan/ courtesy of the USDA Forest Service
Today Kashdan is the associate chief for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service based in Washington, D.C. After graduating 34 years ago, he attended a trade school for heavy equip-
ment and surveying. Kashdan started out in surveying crews for the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and quickly moved to management. His career kept him on the move, jumping from state to state including Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California, and for the past 14 years, Washington D.C. I n 2 0 0 5 D a l e Bosworth, USDA Forest Service chief, announced Hank Kashdan as deputy chief for business operations. “Hank is a public servant of the highest caliber with more than 32 years of service," he wrote in a USDA Forest Service news release.
He is a great fit for this position because of his in-depth experience in administering our budget for the past several years as well as from the many different positions he has held in the field throughout his career.” “The attribute that has served me most is the ability to write succinctly and with compassion for the audience and the public speaking skills from studying a communications field,” Kashdan said. “I work with a lot of engineers and scientists who write very dense stuff and often very linearly,” Kashdan said, “so communications skills have definitely helped me.” †
A life of travels
people and strange circumstances.” In 1966 he took a job for the Honolulu Advertiser and settled down. “I came for two years, and stayed for life,” Clark said. Since his recent retirement from the journalism profession, Clark has broadened his global horizons. by Ruby Johnstone “I think travel is second to a college education,” Clark said as we ran through the laundry list of places that Clark, and somerom the moment times his family, have traveled through Hugh Clark gradnorthern Europe and south east Asia. “I uated from Humboldt couldn’t afford to travel when I was a stuState University in the Hugh Clark (right), his daughter and wife at dent,” Clark said. “I wanted to go to Italy.” fall of 1964, he was on the Park Quell in Barcelona, Spain/ Courtesy of Clark Instead he remained engaged in school move. Clark took jobs in during his time at Humboldt, despite the various states, from Idaho Falls, which he recalled as insistence of his peers to join them on their days of vag“full of Mormons and potatoes,” to the Copper Country
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of Nevada, with its undeniable presence of “strange
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2009
China or bust by Octavio Raygoza
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hen Jessica that it was time to pursue Wang graduher own goals after a year ated with a journalism and a half of magazine major from Humboldt writing. Once she quit her State University in May job, she moved on to work 2007, she decided to move for an international public immediately across the relations firm as a senior Pacific Ocean to China. account executive. She had no job offers and As a side project, she no plan of action. She started her own public barely had the time to relations consulting firm pack, but she knew there in Beijing, helping clients were going to be many market their businesses opportunities with the to gain better market viscoming Olympics in 2008. ibility. In addition to time It was, without a dedicated to her firm, she doubt, an exciting but joined a TV production scary move that not many company in charge of would consider. Being producing Chinese news fluent in the local lansegments to be aired in guage helped ease the the U.S. Wang recently Wang outside of the Bird’s Nest Olympic building in China / transition for Wang. It took Courtesy of Wang applied to graduate school her only a month before where she would like to landing a job in the leading English language-life- study new or global media. style magazine, That’s Beijing, which is now called The Wang thinks it was a great decision to move to China, and she thanks HSU in part for that valuable experience. “I gained valuable relationships “I gained valuable relationships with professors and administrators who have helped me every step with professors and administrators of the way,” she said. “I had a lot of hands-on opportunities, and internships, all of which have helped me who have helped me every step land jobs today. I especially have to thank my profesof the way.” 2007 graduate Jessica Wang sors who encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and move abroad.” † Beijinger. She was hired as the dining editor for the magazine, in charge of reviewing restaurants, interviewing chefs, and writing gastronomic articles. “I got to know the city through food,” Wang said. “I developed an extensive contact list, better writing style, knowledge of Chinese media and how they operate, deeper knowledge of the food culture, and of course a more refined palate,” Wang said. With her newly acquired skills, Wang decided
Visit us online! www.humboldt.edu/~brethart
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JournAlum
A passion for a mission by Dwight Johnson
When Kristine Austin (1984) completed her undergraduate degree in the early 80s, the typewriter was still used to turn out a document for class. Austin never had the opportunity to use the backspace key when she was correcting her writing assignments in Prof. Pete Wilson’s editing class. New technology may have eased making corrections, but the editing Austin with her adopted son/ basics she learned are courtesy of Austin still used frequently in Austin's everyday. “Every day I refer back to that editing class,” said Austin. “I still have that AP Style book on my book shelf.”
Austin completed her journalism degree HSU with an emphasis in public relations. After 12 years of working in P.R. for high-tech companies in central California, she shifted toward the non-profit of Eastfield Ming Quong (EMQ). EMQ is a children’s crisis service helping families of all types of need ranging from mental health care to foster care with specializations in addiction, poverty, abuse and trauma. EMQ merged with FamilyFirst Inc. in the beginning of this year, creating EMQ FamilyFirst with headquarters in Campbell, Calif. Austin is director of communications for EMQ FamilyFirst and has an office in San Jose, Calif. The newly merged organization is the largest children’s service in the western United States, servicing families in crisis, and numbering about 18,000 people in 30 counties. “It’s a passion for a mission,” said Austin, “and my passion has always been kids.”
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Emeritus updates Wanda Rigby:
As many journalism professors do at Humboldt State, Wanda Rigby taught a little bit of everything. From beginning reporting to public affairs, she prepared students with the tools to succeed in journalism before retiring in 1994. After receiving her masters from the University of Texas Rigby came to HSU because she felt it had a better journalism program. Rigby still lives in Humboldt County and
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volunteers her time in a literacy program for kindergarten students in Fortuna, Calif. “I think there is a lot to do in Humboldt,” said Rigby. “I love being retired.”
ning. “Not as far or as fast as I use to,” he said. He runs in the Redwood Bowl with a faculty group every week. “It’s my social life.”
Jerry Reynolds:
Still taking care of his prized rhododendrons, Maclyn McClary: Jerry Reynolds currently Mac McClary still travels the world. This teaches part-time at past November, he comHSU. He takes spring pleted a cruise from San semester off to travel. He Diego to Ft. Lauderdale, recently spent two weeks Fl., passing through in Hawaii and went to the the Panama Canal. “I Bay Area to see his sons spent Thanksgiving in and grandsons. Costa Rica.” His next Yes, Mac is still run- trip – a river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam.
Sherilyn Bennion:
Following her husband, Sherilyn Bennion moved to Humboldt County in 1970 and began teaching in ’71. Bennion retired in 1998 and now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. She recently visited the old “haunts” in Humboldt County last May. “It hasn’t changed much,” she said. Bennion participates in the Annual SPJ Sunshine Week, and also sits on the executive committee board for the Journal of Mormon History.
2009
Faculty updates compiled by Matt Hawk / photos by Dwight Johnson
Marcy Burstiner This spring I am directing a group of eight students as part of a national FOIA audit being conducted by the Student Press Law Center, a non-profit organization that works to protect the rights of student journalists. Humboldt State is one of three universities participating in the project. Our group sent public records requests to 32 universities in the Western United States to compare levels of access granted. We will compare them with the results gathered by the other universities to see how much access schools grant to information about student disciplinary matters. I also have a textbook coming out in June called “Investigative Reporting: From Premise to Publication” (Holcomb Hathaway Publishers). It is based on the methodology I developed in my investigative reporting class here at HSU. Last year my investigative reporting class did a story for the North Coast Journal that examined a suicide in the county jail. The story was cited by Investigative Reporters & Editors, Inc. and SPJ’s Quill Magazine. And it was the feature of a podcast by the Student Press Law Center.
Cliff Berkowitz I do the morning show (6 to 10 a.m.) on KHUM 104.3 and 104.7 FM and teach Radio Production. I am a 30-plus-year veteran of radio with experience all over California. I also spent several years as a national radio consultant working with stations all over the nation. In late 1993, I came to the conclusion that big corporate major market radio was just not fun anymore and decided to give it all up. In January of 1994, my wife Amy, 2-year-old son Alexander, and I moved up to Humboldt County to start over. Two years later, after a series of miracles and lots of good luck, KHUM was born. I live in Eureka with my wife Amy, now 17- year-old son Alexander and 8-year-old son Michael.
Victoria Sama I am teaching Introduction to Video Production, Public Affairs Video Production, Introduction to Mass Communication, Beginning Reporting, Responsibility in Mass Communication, and Law of Mass Communication courses. This spring, my Public Affairs Video Production class is producing a program about the mysteries of Humboldt County. If any alumni have stories about unsolved or strange occurrences they’d like to share on the program, please email me at Victoria.sama@ humboldt.edu. Creatively, I produced a video package on the Aleutian Geese Fly Off, which is an annual event at the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Look at the story here http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/03/10/geese.fly.off. cnn?iref=videosearch Outside of the classroom, I am trying to rehabilitate my knees that were injured moving my office last summer. At least I’m off the crutches and hope to be able to ride my bike again soon.
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Updates Linda McMaster Recently I met with Emeritus Professor Val Phillips of the Music Department. He’s working on starting a newsletter and was gathering information. He told me that JournAlum is “the” campus newsletter that others model theirs after, and he acknowledged Mark Larson’s expertise in staying in contact with our grads. Our on-line alumni survey is close to being updated so that it will work properly again. Please don’t give up on it as a way of keeping in touch. It’s always good to hear from you.
Robert Gluckson I am enjoying teaching media literacy in two states, commuting between HSU and my home in Ashland, Oreg., where, as a consultant for Good Cause Marketing, I offer “Learn Newswriting to Get Free Publicity” workshops. It is nice to teach where I once took classes (B.A. JN/PR ‘85). I recently completed the final draft for my forthcoming book, “Teach Cartooning for Fun and Profit.” HSU report for those who haven’t been here for awhile: the Bret Harte house looks the same, and the campus looks the same except that students appear to walk around in a media fog listening to their ear buds and cell phones.
Sara Page I am still The Lumberjack’s business and advertising manager, 5 years running. This year has been difficult for ad sales because of our slow economy, but we’re making it through every week due the hard work and dedication of the student staff. While many newspapers are crumbling around us, I’m confident that The Lumberjack will be a relevant and engaging newspaper in Humboldt County for years to come. Personally, I graduate this May with my master’s degree in our English Department’s graduate program in teaching writing. This past year I got engaged to my long time partner Mark. We’ll be married in our home state of New Jersey this October.
Zoe Walrond This year has been a challenging one. I’m teaching more classes than ever: two sections of beginning reporting, the radio news workshop, and advising the student-managed radio station (KRFH.net). Watching students develop their talents and interests excites me most. The journalism department is attracting an exceptional group of majors, and it’s rewarding to teach young people who I believe someday soon will be contributing in a serious way to an improved planet. I’ve made two visits to the Anza-Borrego Desert in Southern California this past year and I’m going back soon. It turns out hiking through washes and palm groves with cacti and sweeping vistas is the perfect antidote to Humboldt’s damp, green woods. I’ve also been painting – abstract canvasses that only a mother could love. De kooning be damned.
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Updates
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Craig Klein Craig Klein is away on a one-year leave of absence. He is the Dean of Academic Affairs for Missouri State University-West Plains, not far from where he grew up in east-central Kansas. He reports that the job is both challenging and very rewarding, and says he enjoys the administrative life. If you wish to write to Dr. Klein, his e-mail address is CraigKlein@MissouriState. edu. You can also view him a little online under the heading of Academic Programs at the Missouri State University-West Plains website www.wp.missouristate.edu. He thinks of HSU often, and misses hiking in the redwoods, as well as the students, faculty and staff in the Journalism Department.
Sid Dominitz I work as an editorial consultant for the Northcoast Environmental Center’s monthly newsletter EcoNews, which I edited for more than 30 Years. I also edit three other local non-profits: Californians for Alternatives to Toxics (CATs), Humboldt Baykeeper, and the Mainstream Media Project. I am teaching editing for Prof. Estrada this Spring 2009.
Annie Reid I am sharing my enthusiasm for all things Adobe (InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator) with students of Intro to Desktop Publishing. A graphic designer with international print experience, I have taught the Adobe Certificate Courses for the Journalism Department through the HSU Office of Extended Education for over 15 years. In addition to teaching and maintaining my freelance design business, I am working in my studio on an oil painting series funded through a grant from the Ingrid Nickelsen Trust.
Kim Moon I am in my second year of the new transition being the ASC II/Department Coordinator for both Journalism and Communication Departments. I feel privileged to know the faculty and students of the JMC department. They are like a family to me. Humboldt is a great place to work and live and start a family. I am currently enjoying the love of my life, my son, Michael Sy who teaches me new things everyday and keeps me young and healthy by chasing him around everywhere we go. He is a year and four months going on 3! I hope to continue my education pursuing my Native American Studies degree with a minor in Psychology, while still working full time in the COMM/ JMC departments. In my spare time I like to continue learning my native Yurok language, traveling, watching movies, spending time with friends and family especially my three nephews. I would like to find out more about my heritage so that one day I can gather all that knowledge/info and start a book to remember it all by.
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JournAlum
Mark Larson
Updates
continued
This year was filled with joy and sadness, beginning with a drive up to Seattle in March for the memorial for my brother who died of cancer. My wife, Sydney, and I joined his daughter in South Dakota in June as she returned his ashes back to the family cemetery. Sydney and I also had other memorable trips this year, including an end-of-theschool-year trip to Yosemite and a long road trip to visit friends in New Mexico, stopping for hikes and photography in many national parks along the way. As usual, photography has been a big part of my life, including a photo workshop in the panhandle of Florida in late January. Our daughter turned 30 this fall and remains busy with her tattoo artist business. Our son turned 20 this September and we celebrated by “helping” him move out of the house into an apartment of his own here in Arcata.
George Estrada Prof. George Estrada is on medical leave for the spring semester. He hopes to return to the JMC faculty on a limited basis. He enjoys spending time with his wife Noreen, son George III, and one-year-old daughter Alessandra.
Finding a niche
Humboldt County’s North Coast Journal recently ran a photo essay on New Year’s Day 2009 by Taillon entitled, “New Year’s Eve: A 420 Photo Essay.” The article is based on Humboldt’s marijuana sub-culture, and featured portraits representing the nuances of by Ashleigh Neiman that lifestyle. In 2008, Taillon received the Timesaillon, 2006, is a Standard’s annual “Best of the North Coast” natural at phoaward. She found out about the award during tography. She found a the birth of her second son. “I do my best to niche there before graduinclude the community at large into my projating with her degree. ects, so it meant a lot to me to be recognized Originally from for it,” she said. W i s c o n s i n , Ta i l l o n With a small family to support, Taillon found decided to look for a money in her photography and expanded her small-town atmosphere horizons in that direction. with a university, Arcata After graduating, Taillon created a small seemed the perfect business based on her photography including choice. weddings, portraits, and various commercial Taillon already practiced Taillon displays her artwork at the 2008 and magazine spreads. North Country Fair/ Mark Larson free-lance photojournalism Taillon’s studio is located in Arcata. Portraits and portrait photography can be scheduled anytime through Taillon’s weboutside of school before graduation. Double majoring site (www.kyanataillon.com), or the business phone in Journalism and Studio Art, Taillon graduated in May at (707) 822-1567. She lives with her husband and two of 2006. sons and continues to create photographic art. †
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2009
The changing medium of the message by Matt Hawk
date a show will air. His shift ends at 1 a.m., but Ettinger said he is often at work much later. Although Ettinger works full time, he is not an actual employee of ABC Studios or its parent company Disney Inc. He calls his hiring arrangement “permalance,” short for “permanent freelancer.” “In terms of editing and post production,” said Ettinger, “the days (of finding a staff job) are Ettinger poses for a picture in front of his editing bay at ABC Studios in pretty much over. It’s rare 2008 / Courtesy of Ettinger to find to a staff job and even more rare to find a ith the advent of (1993) knows this sit- union job.” This is because of mobile video, it uation all too well. He is now possible for people currently works fulltime the cost and contractual to record live T.V. with a as a film editor for ABC obligations, explained Digital Video Recorder Entertainment in the Ettinger. It is hard for stu(DVR) and then trans- West Coast operations fer it through the air to and engineering branch. their phones using what “All of these changes,” is called a Slingbox. Many said Ettinger, “and the shows are even viewable ability for viewers to on the Internet entirely, fast-forward through skipping the need for commercials, have forced cable and the standard the industry to take a modes for advertising. look at how it reaches its This rapid change in audience.” technology is threatening Ettinger is currently to leave the entertain- responsible for putment industry, among ting the final touches on other types of communi- promos for T.V. shows, cation, without a way to such as “Lost” and finance itself. And with- “Desperate Housewives.” out funding the medium He spends most days at Ettinger working the boards at KRFH in the early 90s/ Courtsey could become obsolete. work adding rating codes, of Ettinger J e s s e E t t i n g e r logos, and the time and
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dios to pay for the medical benefits and vacation pay the unions require, so they hire freelancers who can negotiate their own wages and benefits. Ettinger knew nothing of the world of editing and production, let alone the finances that allow creative outlets to remain sustainable, when he transferred to HSU as an English major in 1990. Former professor Gary Melton and KRFH changed all of that. “[Melton] was my mentor,” Ettinger said. “He was the guy who saw in me that I was going to do good.” Ettinger said he loved journalism because it allowed him to transmit the message instead of writing it. As a senior, he took an internship with Channel 6 (KVIQ) in Humboldt that later evolved into a full-time job. In 1995, Ettinger moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles and joined the Editor’s Guild. Until that time he only worked in linear editing. Linear editing uses only fast forward, rewind and an analog signal to send the cut to a master record
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JournAlum
Current student earns HSU’s first “Rolling Stone” internship by Ruby Johnstone
photograph the annual Coachella music festival during the spring of 2007 for the Times-Standard. But when he applied for the proper press passes
“I almost felt like an employee.” Tuite
Tuite shooting the All Pointes West Festival in New Jersey for Rolling Stone/ Chris La Putt
I
n the summer of 2008, Chris Tuite, was given the opportunity to serve as a photography intern for Rolling Stone magazine in New York City. Tuite mingled with Hollywood regulars, including Kurt Cobain's daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, and Mary Kate Olsen. “I’m on the radar,” Tuite said with a grin, a smile that clearly expressed pride in his accomplishments at Humboldt State University. Approaching his final semester as a journalism major at HSU, Tuite has had the incredible opportunity to get
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a taste of the real world before his educational journey comes to a close. Tu i t e f o c u s e d h i s passions in music and concert photography early on. He spent time in the beginning simply contacting local bands through MySpace or by phone if possible, offering the band free photographs in exchange for proper accreditation, just to get his foot in the door. He also worked part-time for the TimesStandard in Eureka where he photographed many live concerts. His perseverance paid off when he earned the proper accreditations to
about the 40-hour workweeks spent in the Rolling St o n e o f f i c e s . Tu i t e was given four assignments by Rolling Stone, including smaller venues, mostly in the surrounding New York area. His last assignment, shooting the Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park overlapped with the first week of fall semester 2008. Coming back to rural Arcata after being immersed in a thriving outlet of contemporary pop culture was a challenge for Tuite. “It made me feel a lot more alive,” Tuite revealed. He spoke realistically of the challenges that occur when you leave a place of eternal opportunity only to return to a region where there is
necessary to photograph Coachella he was denied entry, on the basis that the Times-Standard was an unheard of and irrelevant news outlet, as far as Coachella was concerned. Taking an alternate approach, Tuite contacted the managers of various bands playing at Coachella, eventually building enough support that he was granted Continued on 23 a pass as a free-lance p h o t o g r a p h e r. The photos Tuiteduring the Coachella festival helped him land the internship at Rolling Stone. “I almost felt like an employee,” Tuite said, as he reminisced Tuite snaps a glimpse of the cover wall inside the Rolling Stone offices/ Tuite
2009
New journalism club represents HSU in D.C. by Eliza Douglas
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his past students on fall, stuthe trip, said dents from Prof. the feeling Victoria Sama’s class of optimism wanted to take a trip radiated from to our nation’s capieveryone at tol. The goal: attend NBC after the a weekend-long conObama election. ference for college “There was a journalists called positive attitude the Institute for evident in Political Journalism everyone at Conference schedNBC--you could uled for the see it in their eyes weekend after that change was President Obama’s coming” said election. Smith. Several students Smith said The Journalism Club on the steps of the Russell Caucus Building in Washington D.C./ organized to form a he also thought Courtesy of Vicky Sama journalism club and it was fascinattake a trip to the ing to tour the set conference and asked of Hardball, and to see “I felt like I was contributing to Prof. Sama to be the the office of the late Tim faculty advisor for the Russet from “Meet the something great.” Rory Smith club. The goal of the Press.” The huge white club was to take news- a lot of comprehensive internship in the summer. boards erected at the e d i t o r i a l , b r o a d c a s t , questions and traveled In addition to the Lincoln Center also made media studies and public the farthest” Said Sama. conference, Prof. Sama an impression on Smith. relations students to The director of the con- arranged for the students The boards were in see our Nation’s Capitol. ference was so impressed to tour the White House, honor of the new presi“Only a few students had by one student, Lauren Library of Congress, dent, and were there to ever been to Washington Perez, that he asked Capitol Building and the be signed by visitors. “In D.C. before, so the trip her to come back for an Newseum—a museum felt like I was contributing was educational as well as d e d i c a t e d t o to something great” said an interesting adventure” the news. Sama Smith. Said Sama. also organized “I enjoyed observShe then led 16 HSU a tour of NBC’s ing [the students] as students to see profesh e a d q u a r - they discovered all of the sional journalists inform ters personally exciting things that the future political journalism guided by Kevin nation’s capitol has to professionals about their Corke, a Political offer” Sama said. covering the Obama and White House The Journalism Club is McCain campaigns. Correspondent. working on trips for next Members from the Journalism Club leave “HSU students stood Rory Smith, year but has yet to finalmessages on a wall commemorating the out because they asked election of Barack Obama/ Stephanie Haller o n e o f t h e ize any plans. †
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JournAlum
Diaz
their needs. Although these two women are different, they are admirable, and truly love this area and community. from page 6 This is illustrated in their occupations at HSU, helping Diaz has received many awards in his 30-year students and helping their community. † career. His most cherished awards are from his current job as the opinion editor for the San Francisco Chronicle, for a series of editorials on foster care. The series helped push through legislation in the from page 8 state of California to increase funding and oversight for the foster care system. They also aided in adjusting abonding across Europe. Clark opted instead to take the rules of the foster system to make it easier for chil- the wisdom and advice of his mother to heart and finished his degree at Humboldt State some six years dren to navigate it. Diaz said the most gratifying part of the awards after arriving. “They almost had to throw me out to was the team aspect. The opinion team won first get rid of me,” he said with a laugh. Clark and his wife recently visited Estonia, one of place in 2007 for editorial writing from the Society six countries they saw on a recent cruise through the of Professional Journalists and the Scripps Howard Baltic in northern Europe. Their latest voyage around Foundation. The editorials also received a Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism from the University the Baltic passed through one of the world’s longest of Maryland’s Journalism Center. Diaz says the Alumni channels; taking them nearly 27 hours to pass. With a 17-year-old daughter on the verge of colof the Year Award will be just as special. lege, Clark shared his obvious pride in her interests in “I really have a strong attachment to the journalism program,” said Diaz. “I think Humboldt really cancer research and aspirations of studying medicine set a good foundation for my career. I can’t think at the University of California, Berkeley. Clark still has desires of his own to make a trip to of any other school where you can leave with a B.A. the Middle East, hopefully under more peaceful times. and a 100,000-mile warranty on your career, includHe summed up his travel philosophy with: “you don’t ing counseling from your professors.” † have to go far to see something amazing.” †
Clark
Local alumns from Page 7
11 years ago, Paik-Nicely got the job and has been working for the MCC ever since. The MCC is a student-initiated program that promotes understanding of diversity, celebrates differences and welcomes a multi-ethnic perspective. It provides a safe haven for unrepresented students, where they can explore, be empowered and find their voice, said Paik-Nicely. The MCC offer fun events for students and everyone else in the community such as: Humboldt Pride Festival and Parade, annual Soul Food Dinners and a Lunar New Year Celebration, to name a few. "I love working with college students and I find it very rewarding," said Paik-Nicely. As director of MCC, she helps students feel accepted and attain real-life skills to live Humboldt County and beyond. Paik-Nicely said that is the premise of the MultiCultural Center; they listen to the students, and try to create culturally diverse activities and festivals to suit
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Austin from page 10 Austin’s role in the organization includes dealing with the media to website management. Other roles include crisis communication and involvement in public policy, such as the campaigning for a bill to pass through the California legislature. Austin lives with her husband of 14 years and her 3-year-old son in San Jose. She can be found on Facebook.com or at linkedin.com under the name Kris Austin. †
Listen to HSU's student-run radio station @ www.KRFH.net
2009
A freelancer's life: history, criticism, and fiction by Ruby Johnstone
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ith a recent publication in The Mailer Review, and an upcoming collection of short stories under the provisional title, ”Mostly True Stories (of People You Probably Don’t Know),” Kenneth Norris is still active in the freelance journalism world. F i n d i n g a m a r ke t for “Exhuming Mailer’s America” was simply part of the process for Norris. “Writers have to be able to market themselves,” said Norris. Over the years as a writer he has learned that, “you have to ask yourself, ‘How can I make myself more marketable?’” Norris currently works part time at a local history museumHis recent publication in The Mailer Review entitled, “Exhuming Mailer’s America,” is an essay of comparison. Inspired by Norman Mailer’s “Armies of the Night” a book that was given to Norris by a journalism professor during his years spent at Oxnard College, along with an insightful declaration of, “Any good journalist needs to read this.” It wasn’t until years later that Norris revisited the book and examined Mailer’s observations of our nation’s revolt during
Norris’s wife T.J. with Norris and dog Rastus / Courtesy of Norris
the Vietnam War, and wrote a contemporary analysis of our current disposition amidst the Iraq war under an unpopular presidency. His essay was published in 2008 in the second edition of The Mailer Review, along with
of and about Mailer,” said Norris. Norris shared how throughout his years in the journalism profession he has become aware that it is not uncommon to wait, sometimes 18 months, until any financial gain surfaces from
“You have to ask yourself, ‘How can I make myself more marketable?’” Ken Norris other acclaimed writers such as Philip Roth, E.L. Doctorow, and William Kennedy. Co-sponsored by the University of Southern Florida and The Norman Mailer Society, The Mailer Review, which is a yearly publication, “is a hodge podge of things
the work one has produced‒a cycle Norris likes to refer to as “feeding the beast. But you have to have confidence in whatever you do,” Norris said. Norris’ completion of a Nonprofit Management Program, at Berkshire Community
College, allowed him the opportunity to hold his current position at the local history museum in Bennington, Vt., a place he found to be a valid outlet for his current project, “Mostly True Stories (of People You Probably Don’t Know).” Using the library museum as a resource, Norris spends his lunch hours grazing over books, sometimes finding inspiration for his latest work. With a projected total of eight to nine stories, “Mostly True Stories (of People You Probably Don’t Know)” will be a collection of creative works that takes a more intimate approach into the lives of obscure people in our history. The works are partially fictitious, “filling in a blank” for most readers. Some of the stories will focus on Charlie Christian, the Burghers of Calais, and Saint Maurice; all esoteric figures that Norris approaches with a unique inquisitive narrative. The stories will be followed by a researched background, giving a brief history of the roles these people played in our culture—“A glorified Wikipedia” if you will, said Norris.
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JournAlum
Alumni updates Compiled by Kevin Bunch
The ‘60s and ‘70s The semi-retired William Huffman (’67) spends his days with his wife, Sheila Roberts, traveling the North Coast in their recreational vehicle. When he is not enjoying the California and Oregon coasts, Huffman is the director of governmental affairs for Farmers’ Rice Cooperative. The Huffmans reside in Plumas County, Calif., at Lake Almanor. Named by San Francisco Magazine in 2008 as one of Northern California’s Top 5% “Super Lawyers,” Paul Brisso graduated in 1973 and resides in Eureka, Calif. He started out in the California 5th District Court of Appeals right after graduation. After working as the judicial staff attorney for the Times-Standard in Eureka, Brisso now works as an attorney for a partner firm. Brisso is married to Spanish teacher Melissa McCulloch, class of ‘79.
the director of marketing for Bear River Casino. Samuel Brewer (’74) now resides in Fernley, Nev., where he worked as a law enforcement officer beginning in 1978, only four years after graduating from Humboldt State University. He is now retired from the position of lead deputy commissioner for Public Works and is working on two books. Brewer is married to a retired California Deputy Labor Commissioner and is the father of 38-year-old Stephanie and 34-year-old Sam. After 19 years as a middle school librarian, Kathleen Alban (’70) has retired and now sells books at Gallery Bookshop in Comptche, Calif. A 33-year marriage to David Tahja has brought her the new name of Katy Tahja as well as a son of 30, Matti, and a daughter of 27, Fern; the latter graduated with a degree in Natural Resources from HSU in 2007. Alban has successfully published two books in one year: “Rails Across the Noyo” and “Early Mendocino Coast.” A Jill of all trades, Martha Webster (’79) is not only perusing her career in journalism but carries two other jobs on top of it all. The Middletown, Calif.resident is an editor for Middletown Times-Standard, an x-ray technician at Kaiser Permanente, and an instructor at Yuba Community College. To add a bit more on to her resume, Webster sits on boards of three separate community service organizations. She is married and recently went on a cruise to Nova Scotia.
Gayle Hall (’73) is still married to Tom Hall, class Chris Broderick has been getting alumni together of ‘74, and lives in Torrance, Calif. After working as a magazine writer and editor, Hall is now an ESL teacher for reunions. The 1977 graduate had a mini reunion at Torrance Adult School. Gayle and Tom have three last year and hopes that more people from ‘76/’77 children together. Tim is 21, Jeff is 31, and Bobby is 28. will join next time. Broderick works as the politics, government and education editor for The Oregonian. He lives in Portland, Rick Larson is a managing editor at the Ore., with his wife Mary and his three Tri-City Herald. The 1971 graduate lives children, Mackenzie, 14, Delaney, 12, in Richland, Wash., with his wife, Katie, and Tally, eight. who graduated from the HSU journalism program in 1977. They have two children together, Kyle, 27, and Jenna, 25.
The ‘80s
Mary Dickerson (’79) now goes by Mary Bullwinkel and lives in Fortuna, Calif. She is a part-time freelance reporter for the Humboldt Beacon and works as part of a core group working to establish the Humboldt-Del Norte Broadcaster’s Society. Bullwinkel now works as
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Heather Shelton graduated in 1982 and became the editor of the Humboldt Historian. She later took on the
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2009
Alumni updates
After graduating in 1981, Thomas Rooth went on to get his masters in psychology in 1987 and took Continued from previous page it one more step to get his teaching credentials in 1990. Rooth teaches AP English at San Benito High job of lifestyle editor at Times-Standard in Eureka. School where he helped start the Rock Guitar Club. His Shelton also works as a certified personal trainer at other job is working for the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology as a mentor in the Global Program. Rooth the Adorni Center in Eureka. lives in Hollister, Calif., with his wife. Shelly Butcher (’83) is married to HSU business grad Steve Finley and now goes by Michelle Finley. The ‘90s She lives in Aptos, Calif., and worked her way up in the Special Day Class in the Oak Grove School District Kevin Savetz publishes websites and eBooks from aide to teacher for students on the autism through his own employment. The 1993 graduate lives spectrum. Butcher won the Oak Grove School District in Blue Lake, Calif., and started a volunteer powered Vision Award for Innovative Spirit in 2008. reading service for the blind: www.readthistome.org. Starting out with her eye on the housing market, Savetz is married and has two children. Lori Schopp (’88) worked for real estate magazines as Entertainment connoisseur and 1996 a production manager. She is now Lori Hennessey graduate, Carrie Bell works regularly for and is vice president of Hennessey Construction, People magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Inc. Mother of 12-year-old Selena and 10-yearBlender magazine and T.V. Guide. She also old Shannon, Lori enjoys playing and coaching does freelance work on the entertainment, soccer. lifestyle, and fashion beats. In the past, Bell worked for US Weekly and Stephen Crome graduated in 1984 and published a book in collaboration with lives in Laguna Beach, Calif., where he owns Amy Helmes in August 2008 through Laguna Tattoo Studio. He carries on his hobbies of Cider Mill Press called "The Bathtub hiking and caving among other activities. Reader." She lives in Encino, Calif. with her husband. Leslie Lollich (’81) started her career as a radioMaking the exciting move to the East, Anne news director at stations such as KVIQ, KAEF and Rocha (’90) now goes by Anne Ellison. She has two KINS. She lives in Eureka and now works as a county public education and outreach officer. Lollich also daughters, Alexandra, six, and Phoebe, four. Ellison helped start the Humboldt-Del Norte Broadcasters’ lives with her family in Hickory, N.C., and spends her days checking off her list of places to travel. Society. Producer, writer and reporter Henry Mulak graduated in 1984. Residing in San Francisco, he has worked for NBC (KRON) and CBS-5 (KPIX TV). Mulak now works for ABC-7 (KGO Television/ KCBS Radio News). His newscast was the recipient of the Radio Television News Directors Association: Best Radio News Cast 2007.
Since graduating in 1995, Liz Neely has found work in journalism. She was a news editor and web editor at Electronic News and staff writer at the Ventura County Star. Neely is now a staff writer at the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Christine Sackey graduated in 1992 and lives in Fortuna, Calif. She does the page layout for the After 28 years of U.S. residency, Tony Forder (’86) Times-Standard. A previous editor of the Humboldt became a U.S. citizen in 2008. He works as an editor Beacon, Sackey is mother to John, 29, and Joel, 27, and publisher for Ale Street News and has done so for and grandmother to Corbin, four. 17 years. Forder is husband to Sue Babin, and father to Continued on next page Samantha, 18, and Caroline, 15.
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JournAlum
Alumni updates Continued from previous page
Taking the forestry rout, Eric Murphy (’02) is employed by the US Forest Service-Plumas National Forest. He lives in Chico, Calif., and spent five seasons working in Alaska doing forestry research.
Leslie Weiss (’91) teaches high school English in the Stockton Unified School District. She is married to Laura Koskinen graduated in 2003 and now resides a public defender, and the family includes Gabriel, six, in Pearland, Texas. She works as a fine art faculty adand Nicolas three. junct at the University of Houston and has won awards for her photography through the university where she Kim Schettig (’95) owns her own photography works. Koskinen is known as Laura Bennett now and business, Binfield photography. She is marher 18-year-old daughter, Mana, attended HSU this ried to Pete Binfield and goes by Kim Binacademic year. She has eight more children field. The two are parents to one-year-old making her a mother of nine, whose ages are Kate. Before diving into world of the self26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 17, 17, 16, and 15. employed, Kim worked at a publishing company in Holland for four years. Graduating at the turn of the century, Benjamin Hoffman (’00) is a staff editor at A public relations worker through and The New York Times. He lives in Brooklyn, through, Heather Sorensen (’99) used her N.Y., and finds time for fun in the busy day degree in journalism to start her own PR to day of New York living. Hoffman recently company. She first worked for Eastwick Communica- braved a 4,100-mile road trip through the beautiful tions before moving on to a publicist position at Sony south-east. Playstation. Sorensen now owns and runs Plugged In PR, a public relations agency in Portland, Ore. Starting Some alumni are in that just-graduated stage and in 2009, Sorensen will be doing work for Macworld. working toward kicking off their careers. Tiffany Rose Newton (’08) is now Tiffany Rose Mather-Bush and Shari Hambleton (’94) has used her acquired jour- working on a move to Sacramento. After graduation nalism skills along with her Lumberjack roots to start she went to New York and Canada in September to her own company. The president and CEO of North- work on her photography. The presidential scholar is west Timber Fallers lives in Grants Pass, Ore. and has currently working at Humboldt State University as a a husband and four children. budgetary clerk for the 08-09 school year. Jen Kinavey graduated in 1995 and works for Sy2005 graduate Melissa Tharp works for Clear Chanmantec Corporation as a staffing consultant. In the nel Radio in Los Angeles. The Burbaru resident has past, she worked for Lucasfilm Ltd. and Pixar Anima- also worked as a promotions manager since a year aftion Studios. Kinavey lives in Sonoma, Calif., with her ter graduation. husband and three children. Jarad Petroske (’06) stayed in Arcata and took it one step further by landing a job in marketing and 2000 and beyond... public relations right here at HSU. He was previously Recipient of the 2005 Burstiner Award, Rory Williams the entertainment editor at the Times-Standard. Petnow resides in San Francisco. Over the years, Williams roske is married to Angela Renzo, who also graduated has worked for the Times-Standard, Tracy Press, and from HSU and works as an administrative assistant. Daily News Group of Palo Alto. He is now employed by String Letter Publishing, and works as an associate Continued on next page editor for Strings magazine.
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2009
Alumni updates
Tuite
Continued from previous page
continued from page 16
essentially no industry for his photos. Tuite has found several outlets and means of progressing as a photographer while he remains in Humboldt County. You can view his photos at his account on Flickr.com (www.flickr.com/photos/christuite) and he is win the process of creating a website dedicated to his photography (www.christuitephoto. com). After graduating last summer, John Mayers (’08) After graduation, Tuite intends to follow his pashad a modest start, as many Humboldt students do, sions of concert photography, working on freelance in the dishwasher section of the Jolly Giant Commons and making ends meet by doing what he loves. † cafeteria. He quickly grabbed a position as sportswriter at The Eureka Reporter. Erin Parks graduated in 2003 and now works as an English teacher for freshmen and sophomores at Franklin High School, where she also coaches cheerleading. She lives in Lodi, Calif., and belongs to Eastern Star, a worldwide fraternity for both men and women.
Norris
Although some choose to stay at HSU, Tara Apperson (’08) ended up in West Warwick, R.I. She works as a reporter for an independent newspaper and a behavior specialist for autistic children for the Perspectives Corporation. Since graduating, Apperson has been nominated for the Associated Press of New England Award and traveled to Holland. Sarah Lewers (’05) graduated from HSU in 2005 and is now attending Empire College School of Law; she is a third-year law student. Lewers has worked as a reporter for Guymon Daily Herald in Guymon, Okla., and Sonoma West Times and News in Sebastopol, Calif. †
from Page 19 “I want to keep learning—I want to keep growing,” Norris admitted, as he spoke of his future aspirations of pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. With an upcoming event speaking at Williams College on his recent Norman Mailer publication, Norris is successfully finding a place in the competitive world of freelance journalism. “As a creative writer you have to be willing to put your work out there and have people like it or not,” said Norris. †
Ettinger from page 15 device. In the Editor’s Guild, he received his first introduction to AVID, the forerunner for nonlin ear, or digital editing. This difference between linear and non-linear, Ettinger explained, is the difference between tape and CD. Digital info can be accessed at any point, instead of having to fast forward or rewind to find it. Ettinger now sees the entertainment industry changing much like it did when he was first introduced to the digital age in the mid-90s. Yet, he doesn’t know how or what will make the industry sustainable and advance it to the next level. “Advertisers are going to have to figure out how to reach their audience,” he said. †
JournAlum (left to right) Jennifer MacKaben, Deidra Boyer, Kevin Bunch, Ruby Johnston, Dwight Johnston, Octavio Rayzoga, Matt Hawk, Eliza Douglas, Anthony Barstow, Nels Ferré staff/ Photo by Jordan Twiggs
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Annual Awards Event
Wednesday May 6, 2009 4 to 6:30 p.m. Kate Buchanan Room Humboldt State University
Contact Kjm7002@humboldt.edu or call Linda McMaster at (707) 826-3162
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 78 Arcata, CA 95521
Bret Harte House 52 Humboldt State University Arcata, CA 95521