It doesn’t take much research to discover that the print newspaper is dying. It is, in fact, the reason I have become, first, a nontraditional student at Penn West Cal, and then the Editor-in-Chief of CalTimes.

I sold and delivered print newspapers locally for 18 years. I truly believed that I would retire from the business because people would always need news. It seemed a foregone conclusion that I had job security as “the neighborhood paper boy.” However, it became clear that digital editions were becoming increasingly more popular as technology took over. Sure, people still need news, but they do not need paper.

When my position became obsolete, I tried to move to the reporting staff. I submitted writing samples to the editor of the paper I had worked for for many years.

“Do you have newswriting experience?” she asked.

“No, but I’m a fast learner.” I was so confident in my reply. However, I never heard back.

I wondered how one could gain experience when no publication would give an inexperienced writer a try, then moved on and began my educational journey at Penn West California.

CalTimes. I realized that one of the many benefits of the college experience is that extracurricular activities provide students with opportunities to gain experience in so many fields.

I started as a staff writer and worked my way up, partly because I’ve always loved news, but also partly to prove that I do have what it takes to write good news stories.

I accepted that the newspaper was delivered to email inboxes, not doorsteps, until a group of students in the Natali Student Center told me that they never read CalTimes. They would, however, read it if they could pick up a copy on campus. The irony; this was a full-circle moment.

Our CalTimes team heard our readers, and potential readers, loud and clear. We are proud to announce that the Special 2025 Homecoming print edition of CalTimes is available now to be picked up on campus.

We appreciate our campus community’s support, and we hope you enjoy this special edition of Penn West Cal’s most trusted source of the news that matters to you.