Students across Los Angeles gather for CSUN’s annual J-Day

Over 150 students attended the annual CSUN Journalism Day on October 28. Students attended workshops led by professional journalists, competed in media contests and heard from keynote speaker Eder Díaz Santillan, producer of “De Pueblo, Católico y Gay” and alum of CSUN.

CSUN’s Department of Journalism hosted the event in collaboration with the Southern California Journalism Education Association and L.A. Times High School Insider.

Thank you to the 20 journalists and presenters who volunteered to judge contests, speak at workshops and meet with the next generation of reporters.

Workshop speakers

Jireh Deng, L.A. Times Fellow

Eder Diaz Santillan, Podcast Producer

Andres Soto, Project Production Assistant at ESPN

Stephanie Bluestein, CSUN Journalism Department Tour

Contest presenters

Liz Blakey, CSUN Professor 

Ouanessa Nana, CSUN, XC Team

Terry Wilkerson, SAG-AFTRA member

Competition judges

Adriana Guzman

Lucy Argaez

Karen Cusolito

Mallika Seshadri

Anne Easton

Kate Sequeira

Tae Kim

Ken Kerbs

William Espinoza 

Michael Lozano

Adriana Chavira

Mallory Carra

Stephanie Dazio

Lyssandra Vera

Competition winners

Broadcast video

Fourth place: Kathleen Cheng, Foothill Technology High School

Third place: Jenna Ostrom, Foothill Technology High School

Second place: Michael Arredondo, Van Nuys High School

First place: Saanvi Joshi, Foothill Technology High School

Sports Photography
Third place:  Gianna Iovino, Van Nuys High School 

Second place: Christopher Monterossa, Van Nuys High School

First place: Lexi Wang, Temple City High School

Sports
Third place: Coleton Rice, El Camino Real Charter

Second place: Kasey Lee, El Camino Real Charter

First place: Isabel Valles, Van Nuys High School

Opinion
Fifth place: Charlie Tabor, Rancho Dominguez Prep

Fourth place: Eshmom Haque, Oxford Academy

Third place: Diego Perez, MACES

Second place: Jasmine Nguyen, Oxford Academy

First place: Katareena Roska, La Salle High School

Feature writing
Fourth place: Nathan Perera, Oxford Academy

Third place: Sydnee Cho, Oxford Academy

Second place: Allison Chow, Temple City High School

First place: Trisha Phan, Oxford Academy

News
Fifth place: Audrey Lee, Oxford Academy

Fourth place: Celine Park, Oxford Academy

Third place: Olamide Olumide, Van Nuys High School

Second place: Baron Kim, Van Nuys High School

First place: Nikki Piedad, University High School

Thanks to:

California State University, Northridge Department of Journalism

Stephanie Bluestein, Department Chair

Linda Bowen, Professor

Adriana Elegado, Administrative Support Coordinator 

Kyle Faber, Information Technology Consultant 

Liman Wang, Administrative Analyst

Southern California Journalism Education Association

Gaby Doyle, President
Adriana Chavira, Vice President

Greater Los Angeles professional chapter, Society of Professional Journalists

Alexi Chidbachian, President

Los Angeles Times

Rebecca Castillo, Special Projects Lead, Los Angeles Times High School Insider

Isabella Balandrán, Co-Producer, Los Angeles Times High School Insider

Shehreen Karim, Co-Producer, Los Angeles Times High School Insider 

Lucas Chen, Co-Producer, Los Angeles Times High School Insider

Thank you to all our presenters, judges and advisers who made J-Day possible!