By RICHARD CHANG

The AAJA-Los Angeles chapter partnered with California State University, Fullerton in April to present a professional panel and networking lunch for students interested in journalism and journalists’ organizations. The panel was a college/university outreach for the chapter, and it was also an official event of CSUF’s annual Comm Week.

Panelists included Suzie Suh of CBS 2/KCAL 9 and an AAJA-LA board member; Henry Mendoza, a Cal State Fullerton journalism professor and member of CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California; Julio Saenz, editor and general manager of Excelsior newspaper and a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists; and Sonya Smith, a reporter at The Orange County Register and regional representative for the Society of Professional Journalists.

Richard Chang, an arts and entertainment writer for The Orange County Register and AAJA-LA board member, served as moderator. Also assisting with moderation was Thomas Clanin, journalism professor at Cal State Fullerton and president of the SPJ-Orange County chapter.

It was quite a successful event. About 40 students were attendance, plus about seven faculty members from CSUF. Panelists discussed networking, getting started in journalism, and their career paths. Panelists also gave tips on the job search and surviving in media today, and discussed diversity issues in journalism and newsrooms.

AAJA-LA provided Lee’s Sandwiches for lunch, and Cal State Fullerton provided drinks, chips, napkins and clean up. The event was held in the Ontiveros Room of the Titan Student Union.

A few students wrote e-mails afterward, thanking the panelists and participants for organizing the event.

Richard Chang is an arts and entertainment writer for The Orange County Register and AAJA-LA board member.