Lawrence Ma and Tanner Walters at the 2019 DBAN Centennial Reunion
When Lawrence Ma and I created the initial framework for the Daily Bruin Alumni Network in 2016, we weren’t sure exactly how our lofty goals would play out. I’m proud to look back and see how far we’ve come in just three years.
Inspired by a common love for the Daily Bruin and student journalism, former staffers spanning eight (!!!) decades – from editorial and advertising – have embraced this fledgling group.
Involvement for some alumni means attending events like October’s centennial reunion in Westwood, which was our second alumni dinner and the network’s fourth major event. For others, it means financial commitments that have helped us complete fundraising drives of $10,000 in newsroom equipment upgrades and $10,000 in student scholarships. Others engage on our Facebook group, LinkedIn or Twitter pages, sharing their memories of Kerckhoff Hall and forging professional connections with other Bruins. A handful of alumni have been inspired to join our board of directors and committees for events, fundraising and mentoring.
In this newsletter, you’ll get a chance to read more about how the network was able to honor its first scholarship recipients at the alumni dinner last month. This momentous and inspiring event was something I couldn’t have imagined three years ago as editor-in-chief.
I am grateful for your support to make that happen, creating tangible impacts on the lives of young journalists at UCLA as we continue to build a professional community with one another.
Here’s to another 100 years of the Daily Bruin – now with the Daily Bruin Alumni Network by its side.
Tanner Walters ’18,
On behalf of the Daily Bruin Alumni Network Events Committee
Latest Events
Bruins descended on Westwood from around the world last month to celebrate the paper’s centennial at our annual reunion event. Alumni regaled the crowd during the day with sessions on how they cover local news in Southern California, the state of the entertainment industry and how their Bruin work still matters in careers as wide-ranging as museum curation and financial advising. Attendees also peppered current Bruin management with questions during a session on the current state of the paper and how they can support student journalists.
During our evening program, emceed by Eater.com video editor Francesca Manto ’16, National Geographic Partners CEO Gary Knell ’75 was honored as our network’s second Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Knell gave a riveting presentation about special projects National Geographic has completed and the importance of journalism today. He also pledged over $3,000 at our dinner to help us meet our Centennial Campaign goal of $20,000. The generosity of Knell, the UCLA Chancellor’s Society, and over 80 individual donors helped award four scholarships at our dinner to students Kristie-Valerie Hoang exp. ’20, Liz Ketcham exp. ’21, Coral Smith exp. ’21 and Olivia Fitzmorris exp.’21.
State of The Bruin from the Editor-in-Chief
Angie Forburger exp. ’20
Editor-in-Chief, Daily Bruin
Major: Communication Studies
The readership of the Daily Bruin grew exponentially over the last year, with 3.95 million readers visiting our site in the 2018-2019 school year. The Bruin has worked to revamp our social media platforms and online presence to greater prioritize the digital focus of the journalism industry today. We also continue to print daily, making us the only University of California publication that prints five days a week.
We certainly don't have the same revenue from print that we used to, but that has allowed us to utilize advertising in different ways, such as through sponsored social media posts, and work on developing content to adapt to our digital product.
The Bruin is in a very good place financially and I am glad to lead an organization that will continue to thrive throughout and beyond my tenure as Editor-in-Chief. Over the years, all of you have worked to develop the brand that is the Daily Bruin and I hope to continue to pave the way for future journalists that will be a part of our organization.
Daily Bruin Awards
2019 National Pacemaker Award Winner
The award-winning Daily Bruin continues to rack up honors; read more about the paper’s latest wins at the National Pacemaker Awards hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press.
Calling All Volunteers
Join the Board or Volunteer: The network is looking for more board members to keep our momentum strong going into 2020 and for volunteers to staff mentoring, fundraising and event committees. Contact board member Sara Randazzo at randazzo@ucla.edu for more details on how you can join. Just a few hours a month will help the next generation of Bruins and bring you closer to fellow alumni. Critique the Paper: Help our students and the Daily Bruin by volunteering to critique the paper. All you have to do is read one day’s worth of news from the Daily Bruin online and offer up tips to help the students improve. Sign up by clicking here.
Send Us Your News!
Have recent work or personal success to brag about? Email Sara Randazzo to be included in future newsletters.
