Join us in October!
Tickets are now available for the journalism department’s Festival of Journalism, which will take place October 26-27, 2023, at venues throughout in San Luis Obispo.
This two-day event will feature our fourth Jim Hayes Symposium, a gala induction of eight new members of the Mustang Media Hall of Fame and an exciting new partnership with the nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization Cal Matters.
You can register and find all the details on our Festival of Journalism website.
How can you get involved?
· Plan to attend the events. The festival promises to be a great opportunity to reconnect with friends, network with media professionals and meet current students and faculty.
· Become a sponsor. Sponsor a table at the Hall of Fame Gala or sponsor a student to attend. Ask your organization to become a Community Sponsor. We rely on the generosity of alumni and friends to keep these events accessible to all. More details about sponsorship opportunities are available on the Festival of Journalism website.
· Spread the word. Share the website with your fellow Mustangs. Join us in the Mustang Media/Journalism Alumni Facebook group, repost our social media and tag your friends.
CalMatters Live
The festival will off on Thursday evening, Oct. 26, with a screening of the documentary “Breaking the News” followed by a filmmaker reception at the Palm Theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo.
Then on Friday, Oct. 27, Journalists from CalMatters will sit down with local thought leaders to discuss homelessness and the cost of housing. The discussion will explore underlying causes and workable solutions.
Jim Hayes Symposium
Following the CalMatters programs, the journalism department will present its fourth Jim Hayes Symposium, this year focusing on trust in news -- how to establish it, contributing factors, how well media organizations are doing and the impacts on democracy. Cal Poly Journalism alumnus and former ABC News correspondent David Kerley will moderate.
Mustang Media Hall of Fame
Events conclude on Friday evening with a gala dinner where we’ll induct eight new members into the Mustang Media Hall of Fame. The honorees are:
· Melissa Figueroa Chechourka, chief of strategic communications, CA High-Speed Rail Authority
· Jim Hayes, former Cal Poly professor and symposium namesake
· David Kerley, owner Full Throttle newsletter, former ABC News correspondent
· David Kraft, vice president/news, ESPN
· Mark Looker, owner, Looker Communications Consulting
· Conan Nolan, chief political reporter, KNBC and host of “News Conference”
· Tracey Ozmina, global COO, SAGE Publishing
· Lauren Rabaino, chief of staff to the CEO, Vox Media
Admission to all CalMatters events and the Jim Hayes Symposium is free. Tickets for the Hall of Fame Gala and Dinner are $100.
Go to our Festival of Journalism website and RSVP to reserve your seats for all of the events. We will accept reservations through October 12.
We look forward to seeing you in October!