January 20, 2014
For journalism major Jasmin Dalton, recently winning a $1,500 scholarship, represents her commitment to a career in broadcast journalism — a devotion that started in her freshman year at CSUN.
Dalton was awarded the Larry McCormick Scholarship, named in honor of the late KTLA broadcaster, by the Black Journalists Association of Southern California on Dec. 15, 2013.
In addition to letters of recommendation and application form, Dalton had write a 500-word story about a black journalist and take part in an interview with the organization’s scholarship committee. During the interview, she explained her dedication to journalism, which includes three broadcast internships and long-time membership in the CSUN chapter of Radio Television Digital News Association, of which she is now the president.
“I believe I’m a strong person and I’m always taking on challenges,” said Dalton, who started CSUN as a journalism major-political science minor straight out of high school in Fall 2011. “I think I showed (my commitment) to the committee in the way I spoke and answered their questions. … It really meant a lot to me to promise to be a strong journalist.”
Dalton has interned at KCRA (an NBC affiliate) and KOVR (a CBS affiliate) in her hometown of Sacramento, in addition to interning at the CNBC unit in Los Angeles. Although she had applied for a few scholarships in the past, this was the first she received. She learned of the scholarship from a CSUN journalism classmate who won it last year.
For the story she wrote, she interviewed Ron Jones, a broadcaster for KOVR who previously was a sergeant and public information officer for the Oakland Police Department. Dalton met him briefly when she was interning at the TV station.
“His advice to young journalists was ‘Get your head right, know what you want to do and have self-confidence,’ ” Dalton said.
Dalton is saving her scholarship money for a move out of L.A., which she expects to make after landing her first full-time job following her anticipated December 2015 graduation.
“I’ll go wherever I can find a job. I don’t see a reason not to. It’s not like I’m married with kids. I’m young and I don’t have those responsibilities. I’m on the go and ready to move anywhere. It’s just the way it is in this industry,” she said.
Her advice to fellow CSUN journalism students: “It’s good to network. Don't just go to class and be quiet.”