California Press Foundation

06/09/2026

⭐️ Meet Zamourad Iqbal, one of the students the California Press Foundation is supporting through its Internship Grant Program this year.

This spring, she is interning with The Southlander, a worker-led nonprofit investigative news cooperative serving Greater Los Angeles. In her role as a social media intern, she produces news content optimized for social media and supports investigative reporting focused on local government, education, public safety and community issues.

A student at Pierce College, Zamourad serves as an editor for The Roundup, the college's student-run newspaper. She is also a member of EdSource's Student Corps, a freelance reporter for the Southern California News Group and a contributor to the Colorado Boulevard Newspaper.

She is committed to uncovering important issues through investigative and visual journalism and is working toward a graduate degree in data journalism and political science.

🔗 Check out Zamourad’s reporting: https://www.cal-press.org/blog/zamourad-iqbal-2026

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Cal Press’ Internship Grant Program is made possible by donors and partners who believe in the future of local news. Together, we strengthen the pipeline from education to industry by investing in emerging journalists as they build professional newsroom experience.

05/22/2026

We’re proud to welcome Julie Patel Liss to our Board of Directors! 🎉

Julie is an associate professor of Journalism at California State University (CSU), Los Angeles, where she teaches courses in the major and advises independent student media, including the University Times newspaper and Golden Eagle Radio.

A national Emmy Award-winning reporter, Julie’s work has centered around helping students produce in-depth, community-centered stories while building stronger connections between classrooms and professional newsrooms.

“Cal Press’ statewide work supporting newsrooms and journalism education aligns perfectly with my own passion for ensuring a healthy news ecosystem and a strong pipeline of qualified, well-trained journalists,” said Liss. “I’m honored to join the board of this 140-year California institution.”

Welcome, Julie! We’re thrilled to have you on board as we work to build a stronger and more inclusive future for California journalism.

🔗 Read the full release: www.cal-press.org/blog/julie-patel-liss-2026

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Photo courtesy: Andrew Innerarity, Sun Sentinel

05/19/2026

⭐️ Meet Michael Molcsan, one of the students the California Press Foundation is supporting through its Internship Grant Program this year.

Michael is reporting for Embarcadero Media Foundation this spring. As a visual journalism intern, he photographs, writes and creates multimedia content for publications across the MidPeninsula and the East Bay’s Tri-Valley.

A photography student at Foothill College, he serves as lead student photographer for the college’s marketing department and as a tutor for the studio photography program.

A former first responder, Michael is committed to serving the community through ethical high-impact storytelling.

🔗 Check out Michael’s recent reporting: https://www.cal-press.org/blog/michael-molcsan-2026

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Cal Press’ Internship Grant Program is made possible by donors and partners who believe in the future of local news. Together, we strengthen the pipeline from education to industry by investing in emerging journalists as they build professional newsroom experience.

05/07/2026

⭐️ Meet Nikki Yunker, one of the students the California Press Foundation is supporting through its Internship Grant Program this year.

A journalism student at El Camino College, Nikki is interning with this spring, where she covers local businesses, community events and issues across the South Bay and Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Nikki is the spring 2026 editor in chief of Warrior Life, El Camino College’s student-run magazine, and previously served as editor in chief of the college’s student-run newspaper, The Union. Her work has earned awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Collegiate Press and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.

Cal Press is strengthening the pipeline from education to industry by investing in emerging journalists as they build professional newsroom experience.

🔗 Check out some of Nikki’s bylines: https://www.cal-press.org/blog/nikki-yunker-2026

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Cal Press’ Internship Grant Program is made possible by donors and partners committed to strengthening the future of local news.

04/29/2026

⭐️ Meet Paulina Castellanos Wade, one of the students supported by the California Press Foundation's Internship Grant Program this year.

A bilingual journalist at San Diego State University, Paulina is interning with NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 this spring, supported by Cal Press.

She serves as vice president of her university’s Investigative Reporters and Editors student chapter and, after graduating this May, will head to New York City for a summer production internship with ABC’s Good Morning America.

Cal Press is strengthening the pipeline from education to industry by investing in emerging journalists as they build professional newsroom experience.

🔗 Explore Paulina's recent reporting: www.cal-press.org/blog/paulina-castellanos-wade-2026

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Cal Press’ Internship Grant Program is made possible by donors and partners committed to strengthening the future of local news.

04/22/2026

Meet Desmond Meagley, one of the students the California Press Foundation is supporting through its Internship Grant Program this year.

A journalism and social sciences student at Laney College, Desmond is interning this spring, where they will pitch, report and produce stories for broadcast and digital platforms.

They previously served as editor in chief of The Citizen, the award-winning student publication of the Peralta Community College District. Their reporting has appeared in CalMatters, KALW, The San Francisco Chronicle and Teen Vogue.

Cal Press is strengthening the pipeline from education to industry by investing in emerging journalists as they build professional newsroom experience.

Cal Press' Internship Grant Program is made possible by donors and partners committed to strengthening the future of local journalism.

🔗 Check out some of Desmond's bylines at the link in our bio!

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04/09/2026

On Local News Day, we’re reminded that the future of local journalism depends on who we invest in today. Cal Press is proud to support the next generation of journalists!

⭐️ Six emerging journalists are headed into newsrooms across the state to report, produce and learn alongside local leaders. We’ll be introducing each of them and the newsrooms they’re working in over the coming weeks.

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03/11/2026

01/10/2026

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2026 California Press Foundation Internship Grants!

This year, we are proud to support six college journalists who have demonstrated an exceptional interest in pursuing careers in the news business in California. They will each receive a $3,000 educational grant upon beginning their internships.

Students are required to pursue and secure internships on their own at California news companies. Internships, which can occur in spring, summer or fall, must be full-time and last at least six weeks.

The 2026 internship grant recipients, colleges and hometowns are:

• Desmond Meagley, Laney College; Oakland
• Julia Torres, California State University, Northridge; Santa Barbara
• Michael Molcsan, Foothill Community College; Sunnyvale
• Nikki Yunker, El Camino College; Torrance
• Paulina Castellanos Wade, San Diego State University; San Diego
• Zamourad Iqbal, Pierce College; Winnetka

Since 1995, Cal Press has funded nearly 200 internship grants, placing student journalists in dozens of small, medium and large legacy newsrooms and non-profit community media outlets and start-ups across California—from San Diego to the far North Coast.

Read the full release here: https://www.cal-press.org/blog/calpress-2026-internship-grants

12/31/2025

Double your impact before 2025 ends! 🗞️

Thanks to a matching pledge from Cal Press Directors, Dean Eckenroth and John Burns, every gift is matched dollar for dollar up to $15,000.

Help strengthen journalism education and make a difference in student newsrooms across California.

🧡 Make your tax-deductible donation today: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ECRFJR3T227WY

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