Instructors

At CSPA, you learn from journalists who’ve been there.

All of our instructors have professional media experience, including many who have worked in newsrooms for decades. Their expertise spans every major topic area in journalism, including politics, sports, entertainment, business, local news, photography, podcasts, broadcast news and audience engagement.

You’ll also hear real-life examples of how our instructors have used lessons from the workshop in their careers.

All of our instructors are volunteers, and the majority are CSPA graduates. That means they remember what it’s like to be in your shoes.

Our current workshop instructors include:

Meghan Bobrowsky (2016) is a staff writer at the Wall Street Journal.

Kellen Browning (2015) is a staff writer at the New York Times.

Chris Carlson is a staff photographer for the Associated Press.

Mike Daughtery (1969) is a high school teacher and the founder of a public relations, marketing and advertising company in Uganda.

Jessica Davis (2003) is the senior director of data initiatives and news automation for USA Today.

Evann Gastaldo (1994) is the managing editor of Newser.

Saba Hamedy (2008) is an editor for NBC News Digital.

Rich Hammond (1994) is a senior editor at The Athletic.

Matt Hanlon (2008) is a cinematographer, editor and content producer.

Todd Harmonson (1985) is the senior editor of the Orange County Register and a lead editor for the Southern California News Group.

Scott Harris (1973) is a freelance journalist based in Hong Kong.

Cam Inman (1988) is the San Francisco 49ers beat reporter for the Bay Area News Group.

Josh Kaplan (1976) is the senior executive producer for “Good Day LA,” Fox 11’s morning news show in Los Angeles.

Olivia Olander (2016) is a reporter for Politico.

Michelle Madigan (1996) is a producer at Dateline NBC.

Laura J. Nelson (2007) is a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. She was part of a team awarded the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news reporting in 2016.

Fred Schoemehl is the retired editor of the Tombstone Epitaph and the former editor of the Costa Mesa Daily Pilot.

Ellie Smith (2013) is a digital producer for Gannett in Northern California.

Michael Sugerman (2012) is an associate producer with CBS News in New York.

Nicole Vargas (1995) is an associate professor of journalism at San Diego City College.

Larry Welborn (1965) is the chairman emeritus of the CSPA Board of Directors and the retired legal affairs reporter for the Orange County Register.

Gwen Wu (2013) is a reporter for BioPharmaDive in the Bay Area.