Student journalists from across Southern California are preparing for a changing media landscape, one that demands both courage and clarity.
That reality was at the center of this year’s Journalism Association of Community Colleges JACC SoCal Conference on Oct. 11 at Cal State Northridge, where students gathered to learn how to strengthen their reporting skills, connect with universities and face the risks of telling difficult stories.
Organizers described the event as more than a competition. It was a day to practice real journalism.
“Talking to people is like a muscle,” said Sharyn Obsatz, journalism professor at Santa Monica College and the Southern California faculty representative on the JACC board of directors. “The more you exercise it, the easier it gets.”
The opening keynote, “Covering Protests: Rights, Risks & Responsibilities,” set the tone for the day by focusing on the legal and personal challenges reporters face in the field.
The panel featured Paloma Esquivel, press education specialist at the First Amendment Coalition; David Loy, legal director at FAC; and Ryanne Mena, reporter for Southern California News Group and a JACC alum.
Speakers discussed the dangers journalists can encounter while covering demonstrations and the legal protections designed to keep them safe. Loy explained how California’s SB 98 law gives journalists the right to cross police lines during protests and reinforced why understanding these rights is essential.
“Free press is the oxygen of civil society,” Loy said. “An attack on journalists is an attack on everyone’s freedom.”
For students in the audience, the message was clear: Protecting press freedom begins with knowing the law.
Omar Lopez, a student from Rio Hondo College, said the discussion made him feel more prepared.
“Hearing how much support there is for journalists who put themselves in harm’s way… it’s comforting and inspiring,” Lopez said. “Journalism isn’t a crime.”
Beyond the keynote, the conference gave students a chance to build skills and make connections. Recruiters from schools including USC, UC Berkeley, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State LA and CSUN spoke with attendees about transfer opportunities for communications and journalism majors.
“We have students from Citrus College who’ve come to Cal Poly and have succeeded,” said Hyungjin Gill, communications professor at Cal Poly Pomona. “This gives students a glimpse of what’s possible.”
Students from Mt. San Antonio College said the conference gave them a sense of how journalism feels outside the classroom.
“I wanted to know what it feels like to go to a journalism conference,” Jaselle Jimenez said. “The most exciting part for me is starting to write the story.”
For Caitlin Hanson, a senior reporter for SAC Media, the conference was an opportunity to strengthen her skills and reaffirm her passion for journalism.
“I came to build on the skills I’ve learned and prove to myself that I can keep going,” said Hanson. “Journalism keeps people accountable and I want to be part of that.”
The conference continues to expand since moving to Cal State Northridge, said Linda S. Bowen, journalism professor and college assessment lead at CSUN.
“The conference brings together teachers, students, advisers and people from regional community colleges,” Bowen said. “That’s what’s going to make the difference in getting internships.”
Throughout the day, students practiced interviewing, networked between sessions and connected with working journalists. The energy in the room reflected a shared commitment to telling stories that matter, even when those stories come with risks.
“It’s inspiring to see how much support there is for journalists who put themselves in harm’s way,” Lopez said. “It makes me want to keep going.”
Editor’s Note: Reporters Angela Hernandez and Frankie Ramos attended the JACC SoCal conference as participants while also covering the event for the Clarion.
