Media Entertainment Arts — College of the Canyons
From breaking campus news to broadcast journalism and multimedia reporting — Canyons Media trains working journalists with real deadlines, real audiences, and industry-standard tools.
Canyons Media journalism students work in every medium — text, video, audio, and social — from their first semester.
Learn to find, verify, and write stories that matter. Students cover public affairs beats — government, courts, campus — and develop a versatile writing style for print, web, and broadcast.
Produce stories across every platform. Students shoot, edit, and publish photo essays, video packages, podcasts, and data visualizations through the Canyons News digital newsroom.
Anchor, report, and produce for television. Students anchor live newscasts, go live in the field, and operate a fully-equipped broadcast studio — the same setup used at local stations.
About the Program
The Journalism program at College of the Canyons prepares students for careers in print, broadcast, and digital media — or to transfer to a four-year journalism school. The program’s Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) connects directly to CSU campuses.
Students learn by doing. From their first semester, journalists at Canyons Media are writing for Canyons News, shooting video packages, and appearing on-air — building the portfolio and the confidence that employers look for.
Program Learning Outcome
Demonstrate proficiency in the core skills and knowledge required for multimedia journalism, including reporting, writing, editing, and digital publication.
A suggested pathway through the Journalism Associate in Arts for Transfer — sourced from ProgramMapper. Make an appointment with an MEA advisor to build a plan tailored to your schedule and goals.
Total: 64.0–82.0 units (includes general education). Course sequence is one possible pathway from the 2025–2026 catalog. View the full plan on ProgramMapper →
Earn a transfer-ready AA-T, a production-intensive New Media Journalism AA, or a focused certificate in News Reporting & Anchoring.
Associate in Arts for Transfer
The Journalism AA-T is designed to transfer to CSU journalism and communications programs. Students develop core journalism skills in news writing, multimedia reporting, and news production while working in the Canyons News student newsroom.
View in College CatalogRequired Major Courses 18–20 units
Core (required)
Plus 3 units from:
Plus a minimum of 6 units from:
Associate in Arts Degree
A production-intensive degree focused on digital-first journalism across broadcast, online, and multimedia platforms. Students produce live content for CanyonsNews.com while mastering video, writing, and news media skills.
View in College CatalogRequired Courses 27 units
Core (required)
Plus 3 units from:
OR
Plus 2 units from:
Plus 1 unit from:
Plus a minimum of 3 units from (not already taken):
Certificate of Specialization
A focused credential that trains students in multimedia news reporting, writing, production, and on-air anchoring. A direct path to employment in digital and broadcast journalism.
View in College CatalogAll Required Courses 12 units
Core (required)
Canyons News alumni are reporting, anchoring, producing, and shooting for some of the biggest names in broadcast, digital, and entertainment media.
Anchors & Reporters
Matt Frieda
Reporter
“Learn how to find stories, not events — find emotional connections. B-roll, B-roll, B-roll.”
Jonathan Gonzalez
Anchor / Reporter · Golden Mic & Emmy Award Winner
“Understand that your education in the news industry will never stop, even if you’re done with school.”
Reyna Harvey
Anchor / Reporter
“Find a mentor and shadow them. Treat all people with kindness and respect — you will be OK.”
Briseida Holguin
Reporter
“ADAPT — to the city, to writing, to editing. Listen to your teachers; they are your best resources.”
Kyle Kawamoto
Reporter
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Do not give up on your dreams. If it’s the right path, follow it.”
Eli Kern
Reporter
“Focus on the craft. If you care about every step of the process, the final product will reflect that effort.”
Sophia Lesseos
Reporter
“Be open minded — don’t be married to one side. Let the story be organic and flexible.”
Marc Monroy
Reporter
“Put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Challenge yourself. Learn from your mistakes and move on.”
Sam Rabadi
Reporter
“Reps, reps, and more reps. Take risks. Be creative. Be yourself — you GOT THIS!”
Judith Retana
Reporter
“Take advantage of your time in school, ask questions, get advice, and make mistakes.”
Carlos Revelo
Anchor / Reporter
“Be persistent, don’t be scared of reaching out to people, and respect colleagues’ ideologies.”
Brianna Ruffalo
Anchor
“Take a risk. Trust the process and embrace being hands-on. Work hard — go above and beyond.”
Adam Schumes
Reporter / MMJ
“Network as much as you can. Find a mentor. As an MMJ, it’s your job to communicate to the viewer at home.”
Samie Solina
Multimedia Journalist
“Ask for advice. Watch people better than yourselves. Take risks. Don’t be lazy with any story.”
Austin Westfall
Reporter
“Be kind — a bad attitude isn’t welcome anywhere. Make connections. Find passion and share it.”
Producers
Claudine Sarmiento
Senior Producer
“Be the ‘yes’ person. People know hard work when they see it, and it’ll pay off.”
Nela Lichtscheidel
News Producer
“It’s perfectly okay to be nervous. Always ask for help. Set small goals and enjoy every moment.”
Kelly Nish
Producer
“Intern, volunteer, and build relationships based on your reliability — people never forget that.”
Photography, Broadcast & Beyond
Aldo Canepa
Associate Director
“Be curious — learn every job. Be patient — not everyone’s path is your path. Have fun. This is TV!”
Halie Cook
Entertainment Desk Editor
“Always have your ears open. Do the work. Listen to criticism. Don’t hurry your work.”
Nick Culotta
Photojournalist
“Be versatile. Don’t burn bridges. Be compassionate. Teamwork makes the dream work.”
Jason Galvin
Play by Play
“Follow the process. If you commit to the process, you’ll get where you want to be.”
Jesse Merrick
Sports Podcast
“Be humble. Be versatile — learn everything. Talk to your audience.”
Cory Rubin
Media Technology
“Commit to 110%. Grow thick skin — criticism is an integral part of the industry. Get comfortable out of your element and try different things, even ones you are afraid of.”
Public Information & Content
Savana Birchfield
PR & Marketing Specialist
“No timeline to find your passion. Dive into different interests. Network and be a sponge.”
Taylor Hillo
Content Strategy (Former MMJ)
“Internships are important. Get your hands on a camera. Don’t sweat mistakes — chill out and learn.”
Georgia Rios
Public Information Manager
“Challenge yourself. Try new things. Lean into being an MMJ. Network — talk to people.”
Whether you want to write breaking news, anchor a newscast, or shoot a documentary — there’s a place for you at Canyons Media.
Write for Canyons News, go on-air, or shoot a story. Open to all COC students — no experience required.
Join NowApply to College of the Canyons and register for MEA journalism courses. Financial aid and fee waivers available.
Visit canyons.eduWant to plan your path to transfer? MEA faculty advisors will help you map out the right courses from day one.
Contact MEA