Sophomore Julio Martinez never imagined — or expected — that he would be studying communication at USC Annenberg. Then, two years ago, in the summer before his senior year at Valley Christian High School, Martinez was invited to be one of 26 students for the inaugural Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement program, otherwise known as AYA.
Jake Wachtel returned to school mid-career, after working successfully in a variety of entertainment jobs. He chose USC Annenberg’s MS in digital social media program, which allowed him to take his prior experience and blend it with new knowledge. This created more professional opportunities for him moving forward.
Kyle Le was living in Saigon, teaching history and producing YouTube videos about food and travel, when he got an unusual request.
Her memoir explores the borders between Mexico and the United States, sanity and madness, science and mysticism, father and daughter.
Even as a four-year-old, Aliya Jasmine knew she wanted to be a broadcaster. Literally standing in her grandfather’s rock fireplace so that the echo would lend texture to her fake British accent, Jasmine would pretend she was a BBC reporter.
A single bare bulb illuminates clothes on hangers, shoes tucked into corners and small foam panels, artfully arranged to dull the sound of traffic passing outside her Los Angeles apartment. Paola Mardo stands inside, door closed, speaking into a mic clipped to a stand. A recorder perched atop a folded stack of shirts monitors sound levels. Mardo begins reading her script from the iPhone she holds
“The following is a true story about the building of an empire, and two visionary worldbuilders who made it possible.”
The co-creator of the social networking app Grindr constructs creative career choices for himself.
