October 17, 2013
Scott Diener, vice president and news director for CBS 2 and KCAL 9 TV stations in Los Angeles, toured the CSUN Journalism broadcast studio and talked to students about the broadcast industry last Thursday before speaking to the campus community.
Diener was on campus for CSUN’s annual Commerce of Creativity Distinguished Speaker Series, hosted by the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. Before the event, he spoke to students about overcoming the challenges and embracing the nature of the ever-changing industry.
“Part of the job is to always accept and embrace the changes in technology and in your everyday tasks at work,” Diener said. “Journalism is a great profession, have fun and always seek the truth.”
Diener attended Professor Sally Turner’s Journalism 335 course (Writing, Producing & Editing TV News), as the students wrapped up the weekly newscast.
“It was really exciting to have a head-honcho come into our classroom and enjoy our newscast,” said Simone Braithwaite, also a senior studying broadcast journalism. “He encouraged us to seek internship positions, always ask questions and always ask for work, because that will get you noticed as an intern.”
Diener encouraged students to gain experience and internships while still in school. He said many times those internships turn into jobs.
“I learned about the importance of internships throughout your college career in order to attain work experience,” said senior and journalism broadcast student Derek Lumpkin of Diener’s visit. “He also advised us to always maintain a positive attitude and to ‘pay your dues,’ everybody has to start from somewhere.”
Diener joined CBS 2 and KCAL 9 in Los Angeles in January 2010. He is responsible for overseeing the largest local television news operation in Southern California – an organization that produces more than 70 hours of local newscasts each week. Previously, he served as news director at KTVT-TV and KTXA-TV, the CBS-owned stations in Dallas-Fort Worth since August 2007.