The Fresno State Institute for Media and Public Trust was founded in 2018 by Jim Boren. He has had an extensive career in California’s journalism industry and currently serves as an instructor of media writing at California State University, Fresno. The institute works to create and share informative and engaging content for new consumers.
The distrust of media, and most other major institutions, has many major negative consequences in society, including a lack of civic engagement in democracy. The institute works to hold conversations about and seek ways to resolve these problems. In doing so, the institute brings in all sides on these complex issues, and finds solutions by doing deep-dive research into what’s driving the divisiveness, and then make solid recommendations.
The institute’s work is guided by the First Amendment. It is undoubtable that a well-informed citizenry will improve civic engagement and participation in democracy.
We welcome everyone’s participation, and believe that the more partners we have, the stronger our work will be.
Now finishing its fifth cohort, the program equips underserved students with reporting skills, editorial experience, and a clear pathway into college and professional newsrooms. When I served as executive editor of The Fresno Bee, I believed journalism could never fully serve its communities unless newsrooms reflected the diversity, experiences, and voices of the people they covered.…
Journalism’s greatest challenge may be that its benefits are easiest to see after they’ve been lost. California just held a primary election. As I watched the returns come in, I found myself thinking less about who won and lost than about a deeper question: What makes an informed vote possible? Not campaigns, advertising, or political…
Despite concerns about the news industry, graduates are finding opportunities across digital, broadcast and in nonprofit media. As we move toward the end of the academic year at Fresno State and look ahead to the commencement ceremonies on May 15 and 16, I’ve been taking stock of my work this year as a college journalism…
The Journalists of Color program was created by the Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State in partnership with the Youth Leadership Institute, the journalism program at Fresno City College, and the Media, Communications and Journalism Department at Fresno State.
The program offers regular training workshops to prepare students for a media career and provides academic advising support to help them along the college path. Students write and create multimedia news projects for The kNOw, a program that has been helping train young journalists since 2006 to tell stories about their communities.
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Jim Boren has had an extensive career in journalism. He was the former executive editor of the Fresno Bee, is currently the Institute for Media and Public Trust executive director and teaches news reporting at Fresno State.
Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State 