Faculty Profiles

What do a rock climber and a Kentucky native have in common? Here’s a hint: they’re both journalism faculty members!

The Journalism Department welcomed two new adjunct instructors in fall 2017, Mike McPhate and Sandra Duerr. Get to know them!

 

Mike McPhate

Profession: Former editor of the California Today column for The New York Times and lecturer at Cal Poly; recently started a new column, The Golden Stater.

Alma Mater: UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley.

Biggest challenge in the classroom: Thinking about journalism academically “rather than doing it as muscle memory.”

Most interesting travel destination: Nepal, specifically in the rural villages of the Himalayas.

Would like to report on: Latin America, or Africa... to be a foreign correspondent in the places he hasn’t been before.

When McPhate isn’t reporting, he can be found: Chasing his kids, ages 3 and 6, or working on his new newsletter or class.

Favorite pastime: Playing guitar and rock-climbing.

Superpower of choice: Flight.

Favorite podcast: Reply All by Gimlet Media.

Favorite quote or mantra: “The purpose of life is to listen to yourself, to your neighbor, to your world and to God and, when the time comes, to respond in as helpful a way as you can find... from within and without.” – Mr. Rogers

Where he sees journalism heading in the future: “I don’t think anybody knows. I think it will be completely unrecognizable from what it is today. I think it’s going to be decentralized... I envision smaller shops, independent practitioners, in the same way that radio has with podcasting.”

 

Sandra Duerr

Born and raised: Born in Queens, New York; raised in Louisville, Kentucky.

Alma Mater: Northwestern University.

Prior occupations: Among other journalism jobs, Duerr worked as the assistant managing editor of the Courier in Louisville, Kentucky, before coming to San Luis Obispo in 1998 to become the editor of the SLO Tribune. She retired in November.

When she's not editing or teaching, Duerr can be found: At home with her dogs or out with friends.

Favorite place to eat in SLO: Big Sky Cafe.

Why she loves journalism: “Because of the difference it can make and the impact it can have on communities.”

Favorite thing about SLO: “The sense of community… and I love the fact that it doesn’t have much traffic.”

Least favorite thing about SLO: Duerr wishes the community were more diverse, as she feels it would benefit in so many ways.

Where she sees journalism heading in the future: “I believe that there certainly will always be a great need for journalism, and it is now as important as it has ever been to have independent journalists to inform communities and citizens about who to elect, or what causes to champion. We need to continue to act as a watchdog. The key goal is to be needed.”