Award winning journalist brings real-world expertise to the Pioneer, communication classroom

• August 3, 2011 4:00pm

Cristi Hegranes, an award-winning journalist and international journalism trainer, is advising staff at the Pioneer, the campus newspaper, and will teach a couple of journalism courses in the Communication Department this fall.

Five years ago she founded Global Press Institute, a not-for-profit organization that trains and employs women across the developing world to be ethical, investigative journalists. Recently, she received a Bay Area Jefferson Award for Public Service for this work.

She also was a recipient of the 2008 Ida B. Wells Award for Bravery in Journalism, and the 2010 Society of Professional Journalists Innovation Prize, among others honors.

At CSUEB, she hopes to create a real world, professional newsroom experience for student writers and editors working on the Pioneer. 

“As someone currently working in journalism I bring a strong understanding of modern journalism and what it takes to succeed in the field today. I hope to also lend my skills to other tasks including increasing readership at the Pioneer and creating high-value specialty sections and news features,” she said.

Hegranes holds a master's degree from New York University, served as a fellow-in-residence at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, and received a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. 

DD