Compendium Magazine

It wasn’t until a student stood up in class to discuss the Boston bombings that Jacklyn Kim decided to become a journalist. The student was from Syria and asked the class why everyone knows when two people die in the U.S., but no one knows about the thousands of people dying in her country. Kim always avoided the news but she was struck by her classmate’s sobs on the subject. At that moment, Kim Googled the crisis in Syria and couldn’t fathom what was going on there. It was t

Sometimes an argument can have unexpected consequences, especially when it involves social media, which is exactly what led to California State University Dominguez Hills alumni Darrel Wilson’s career in journalism. Wilson was always a sports fanatic but did not always aspire to be a sports journalist. Before transferring to CSUDH, Wilson attended El Camino College, where he was initially studying physical therapy and personal training. However, following an argument that Wil

Cal State University Dominguez Hills alumni Manuel Brizuela, 22, is currently seeking a master’s degree at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota but he credits the CSUDH Communications Department with giving him the foundation for achieving his educational and professional ambitions. Brizuela, who attended CSUDH from 2012 to 2016, has dreams of becoming an NHL sports writer for one of the 31 professional teams. As an undergraduate at CSUDH, Brizuela was a Communications maj

Excerpted from Prof. Chris Russo’s Memorial Speech at the 2017 COM Awards Banquet It’s important to take a moment to remember those whose hard work and dedication set the stage for our success today. In our case, as a community dedicated to students, it’s important to honor those who have committed themselves to helping students catalyze their talents, curiosity, and critical thinking. To honor those on whose shoulders we stood…and stand…to have the privileged vantage point o

The Society of Independent Student Journalists (SISJ) has had a memorable year at a time when the journalism industry is facing significant challenges to the First Amendment and a crisis in reputation. With all the talk of “fake news,” the CSUDH journalism club is earning a reputation that shows “real” journalism has never before been more important. Earlier this year, the SISJ had the pleasure of welcoming Los Angeles Times journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winner Ruben Vives, w

Hollywood by the Horns, a pilot program through the California State University, Dominguez Hills Communications Department, gives students the chance to find their voice, tell their stories, and connect with the entertainment industry. The program, now in its third year, is designed to raise the profile of CSUDH students by creating meaningful connections and mentorship opportunities with professionals in the Hollywood film and entertainment industries. The program was launch

The CSUDH Communications Department is currently making some significant changes to its programs, including pursuing accreditation, securing new facilities, and hiring more full-time faculty. This dynamic period of transition and expansion is to keep pace with growing enrollment, increasing student demand for classes, transformations throughout the media industries, and the effects of technological innovation spurred by the digital revolution. The first significant developmen

The Journalism and Advertising/Public Relations options of the CSUDH Communications Department are pursuing national accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), a nonprofit organization that measures standards in professional education in journalism and mass communications programs through rigorous, independent reviews once every six years. The ACEJMC accreditation team of peers and practitioners visited the CSUDH ca

The CSUDH chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) continued to expand the sphere of influence for its student members in AY 2016-2017 with a variety of professional speakers, agency tours, and regional conferences. One of the year’s highlights included the PRSSA members attending the 2017 regional PRSSA conference in San Diego, Calif. However, PRSSA also hosted guest speakers throughout the year from such agencies as Allison & Partners, Conil Advert

Greetings alumni! I want to welcome you back to your alma mater and the Communications Department with our first alumni publication. It is our goal to connect with you on a deeper level, to keep you informed about student successes, new programs and faculty accomplishments, and to celebrate your triumphs and activities post-graduation. Before we ask about you, let me share some news about the department. First, we have moved! Our former building, the South Academic Complex I

After visiting the CSUDH Career Center in 2013 to determine if becoming a Communication major in the journalism option was the right decision, their personality test indicated I would be better suited for getting a degree in business, not Communications. Despite their advice, I chose to give being a Communications major a try and focus on a possible future in journalism. It turns out I made the right call. Here I am now, 22, graduating from CSUDH with a bachelor’s degree in C

Jessica Pedraja (Class of 2016) Pedraja currently works at IDPR, a top entertainment agency representing some of Hollywood’s biggest names, movies, and brands, where she also completed her internship as a COM senior. Following graduation, she was hired as an Assistant Talent Publicist and plans to move up in the next year to a Junior Publicist position before becoming a Publicist herself. Her long-term goal is to start her own agency and considers one day returning to CSUDH t