Facts Matter
Two reporters and SCU grads return to campus to discuss the vital work of journalists on and off campus.
Journalists and Bronco alums Guy Marzorati ’13 from KQED public media and Kurt Wagner ’12 from Recode were back on campus in early April to share their insights on today's media. Perla Luna, the current editor of The Santa Clara student newspaper, discussed the important role of student media in covering the campus with the two journalists.
Marzorati majored in history and reports on state and local politics on KQED's radio, TV, and digital platforms.
"At every point in the reporting process, I'm using skills that I learned by getting a history degree at Santa Clara," he said. "We're often tasked with digesting large amounts of information: court rulings, background research, campaign filings, or our own interviews, and finding the one or two pieces of information that make the news or provide the crucial context in the final story. Just as important is figuring out what's not there — that's what still needs to be asked and what shapes our future questions. In addition to the research and analytical skills, there's, of course, the writing — a lot of it on tight deadlines — that a history degree is invaluable in developing."
Wagner double majored in Communication and Political Science. He served two years as the editor-in-chief of The Santa Clara and now covers social media, including companies like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and LinkedIn at Recode.
"My most memorable story was one I wrote as a Santa Clara junior in my Journalism Capstone class with Senior Lecturer Barbara Kelley," Wagner remembered. "The story was called 'Dreamers' and documented a little-known scholarship program that Santa Clara's Jesuits offer to undocumented immigrants looking for a college education. The story was tough to report — not many people talked openly about the scholarships — but it was incredibly rewarding. Looking back now, I think what makes the story so special to me is that I was writing about something that truly mattered to people. Students who were part of the program trusted me with their personal stories. It was a chance to talk openly about something that few people even knew existed."