EPISODE PLAYER
Education Insight: Reviving Local Journalism in the Inland Empire: A Community Effort
About This Episode
Season 4. Episode 5.
As local newspapers and radio news reports continue to disappear across the U.S., many communities are finding themselves without access to crucial local information. This has led to what experts call “news deserts,” where citizens lack reliable access to local news. Some point to the Inland Empire as one of these growing news deserts.
In our latest episode of Education Insight, we explore what it means to live in a news desert and why it matters for communities. Without local news, residents can become disconnected from their own communities, unaware of local propositions or the actions of elected officials. But there is hope on the horizon.
We sat down with Dr. Thomas Corrigan, a professor of communication at Cal State San Bernardino and coordinator of the university’s Local Journalism Partnerships Initiative, to discuss the growing effort to bring back local journalism in the region and why it’s crucial for the future of community engagement. Tune in to hear Dr. Corrigan’s thoughts on the future of local news and the steps being taken to address the growing news desert in the Inland Empire.
Featured Guest
Dr. Thomas Corrigan
Professor of Communication and Media Studies, California State University, San Bernardino
Dr. Thomas F. Corrigan (or T.C.) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). He teaches courses in Digital Media and Society, the Political Economy of Communication, and the Inland Empire News Ecosystem. His scholarship, which is published in academic and popular outlets, focuses on the nature and problems associated with commercial media systems. His recent research and writing examine what he calls the Inland Empire “news mirage” – a dynamic wherein I.E. communities seem to have more substantive, local news sources than they actually do. He also leads a CSUSB team that is working to build a local media coalition to support civic and community journalism in the region.
Interview Highlights
3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.
7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.
8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.
9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE.
13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.
20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.
21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.
23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.
25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues.
32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond.
36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.
View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/
Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.
