You're Powering the Future of California Journalism
From helping early-career journalists find paid internships to expanding resources for journalism educators through our JOUR•Ed Collaborative initiative, it has been an impactful year for Cal Press so far, and your support is truly making a difference in creating opportunities for the next generation of journalists.
Thanks to early momentum and contributions to our Spring Campaign, which unlocked sustained support through ongoing monthly giving, we've raised $100,474 towards our $150,000 fundraising goal for 2025.
Here’s what your support has helped make possible so far this year:
📰 $18,000 in funding to support six full-time internships at newsrooms across California
💻 Nearly $20,000 in equipment grants awarded to 16 campus newsrooms
🤝 New pathways for statewide collaboration through our JOUR•Ed initiative
Victoria Mejicanos is a 2025 graduate of California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, with a Bachelor of Science in Communication, with an emphasis on multimedia journalism. Cal Press supported her during her time as a College Journalism Network Fellow with CalMatters, where she focused on higher education reporting.
Passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices, Victoria is already on a path to continue her journalism career.
Joseph Zuloaga is a sophomore at Columbia University, double-majoring in political science and American studies. He serves as University News Deputy Editor at the Columbia Daily Spectator. A Cal Press Internship Grant is supporting his summer internship at El Tecolote in San Francisco, where he reports on stories serving the Bay Area’s Latino community. Joseph credits student journalism with shaping his passion and skills, preparing him for a future career in broadcast journalism.
Autumn DeGrazia is a senior at San Francisco State University, majoring in photojournalism with a minor in Spanish. Her reporting focuses on culture and local politics. She also serves as the visuals editor for Xpress Magazine, SFSU's student-run newspaper. A Cal Press Internship Grant is supporting her internship this summer at Bay City News, where she will continue to build her portfolio, expand her visual storytelling skills and tell impactful community stories.
Zipporah Pruitt is a 2025 graduate of California State University, Northridge with a degree in journalism and a minor in popular culture studies. A Los Angeles–based journalist, she has a deep passion for storytelling through film and television, with a focus on analyzing and critiquing both contemporary and classic media. Zipporah is seeking a fall newsroom host. Contact Cal Press to explore hosting Zipporah as she builds her career in the field.
Vincent Medina is a 2024 graduate of California State University, Long Beach, with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He has experience with government and accountability reporting and is deeply committed to community-focused reporting. With support from a Cal Press Internship Grant, he is headed to the Central Valley this fall for a NEWSWELL internship at Stocktonia, where he will gain invaluable hands-on experience covering local issues.
Giselle Garza Lerma is a student at San Francisco State University studying journalism and photography, with an eye for capturing natural settings and telling stories both written and visually. With support from a Cal Press Internship Grant, she spent the summer as a photo intern with the Center for Investigative Reporting/Mother Jones Magazine, building her skills in visual storytelling that connect with the community.
Journalism Education Collaborative Update
JOUR•Ed is a statewide initiative led by Cal Press, in partnership with California State University, Northridge, to strengthen the pipeline from education into the industry.
On Aug. 9, JOUR•Ed led a panel of educators and California Press Foundation directors at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in San Francisco. The panel discussed the challenges educators face in a rapidly evolving media landscape, highlighted collaborative strategies and explored ways to prepare the next generation of journalists.
Join Us!
California Press Foundation's 148th Annual Winter Symposium
AI, Innovation & The Power of Collaboration
Thursday, December 4
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
We invite you to join us in Monterey Bay for the 148th Annual California Journalism Symposium as we explore AI, Innovation and The Power of Collaboration. It's a unique opportunity to engage with journalists, educators, and leaders as we delve into discussions around the rapidly evolving tools and ethical challenges facing our industry..
⭐️ Early bird tickets are available through September 30