By Jessica Roberts, M.A., Print Journalism, 2007
and Shirley Shin, M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007

Online Journalism: Jessica Roberts produced a segment for News21 about a set of rings that people swing on for meditation, exercise and spirituality. "This is my Sunday activity," one ring enthusiast said. "This is my religion, pretty much."

Roberts also wrote a blog entry about her first experience on the rings, and Shirley Shin created a photo slideshow of the rings and some of the people who use them.

By Shirley Shin, M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007
Chantal Allan, M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007
and Allison Louie, M.A., Print Journalism, 2007

Online Journalism: People pay for therapy all the time, but would you pay money for a session with someone you never meet, never see and never hear? Michael Mohoric of Laguna Niguel, Calif. operates a Web site that offers distant energy healing for $99 a month. Clients are told to lie in bed or sit in a chair for an hour every Wednesday evening and receive the healing energy Mohoric says he sends throughout the world. Is this real or just a placebo? It depends on who you ask. Shin, Allan, and Louie produced a segment for News21.

Shin shared her thoughts on the story in a blog entry.

By Alex Delanian
B.A., Print Journalism, 2007

Print Journalism: As a member of the USC women's basketball practice squad, there's no glory. You show up, you get beat up, you go home - but at least you get some killer warm-ups, at the expense of some friendly teasing for playing against girls. But I'm a better man for it.

Continue reading "Boy Meets Girl's Basketball Team" »

By Haley Poland
M.A., Print Journalism, 2007

Print Journalism: In 2002, six blind individuals arrived in Los Angeles from all across the country to undergo a groundbreaking surgery. They hoped for — but dared not expect — a miraculous result. They wanted to see again.

Continue reading "A Doctor's Vision for Restoring Sight" »

By Shirley Shin, M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007
Lindsay Watts, M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007
and Rocio Zamora, M.A., Print Journalism, 2007

Online Journalism: Followers of the Indigo Children movement, which started in the 1970s, say a new generation of highly sensitive and spiritually gifted kids are here to save the world. They claim many of these kids are exceptionally smart, self-motivated and sometimes able to read minds. But some doctors say these so-called Indigo Children exhibit characteristics of bipolar and attention deficit disorders. Shin, Watts and Zamora have the story, complete with photos and video interviews.

Shin also produced a radio report profiling the Wertz family and supporters and detractors of the Indigo Children movement.

By Dan Abendschein
M.A., Print Journalism, 2007

Print Journalism: Jacob Rivera is having his fun while it lasts. As he drives his hefty Ford F-350 through stream crossings, pot holes and a steep pile of dirt, he knows that many off-roaders feel like the future of their sport is precarious.

Continue reading "Losing Terrain, Off-Roaders Hang On" »

By Rocio Zamora, M.A., Print Journalism, 2007
and Alison Brody, M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007

Online Journalism: Many Latinos still visit botanicas when looking to solve the problems of everyday life. In these modest storefronts, people find the candles, colognes, incense and soaps needed for spiritual rituals rooted in Folk Catholicism. But behind the humble storefronts lies a booming business.

Rocio Zamora wrote a feature for News21 and Alison Brody produced a radio report. Brody also produced two audio slideshows: one on a factory and one on a botanica shop.

By Syantani Chatterjee
M.A. Candidate, Print Journalism, 2008

Sunlight dances around the tiny bone fragments embedded in a diamond-shaped glass prism resting on a high wooden table in sculptor Maria Munroe’s home. The prism is made from the cremains—cremated remains--of musician Howard Wells, who composed the score for the 1962 film “Out of the Tiger’s Mouth.”

Continue reading "From Ashes To Art" »

By Lindsay Watts
M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007

Broadcast Journalism: The scene inside the club is familiar enough -- loud music, dry ice, wandering eyes. The men are fairly average looking, but the ladies are different. Many look like Amazon women and are tall, beautiful and expertly made-up. But none of these ladies were born female.

Listen
Read the transcript

By Eric Berkowitz
M.A., Print Journalism, 2006

Print Journalism: Judges are leaving the bench for $600-an-hour fees in private arbitration. As a result, a large number of cases are being decided out of public view. The exodus has also drained an overloaded court system of its most experienced jurists.

Continue reading "Justice, For a Price" »

By Nick Street
M.A., Print Journalism, 2007

Print Journalism: Combat veterans try meditation to soothe inner pain from the war in Iraq.

Continue reading "Full Metal Lotus: Breathing Away the Wounds of War" »

By Camille Garcia
M.A. Candidate, Broadcast Journalism, 2008

Online Journalism: In a guide to Mexican food in Los Angeles, "Today’s Special" highlights Mama’s Hot Tamales Café, located near MacArthur Park. Along with its acclaimed tamales, it's a place where street vendors can get the training they need to launch their own businesses.

By Debra Greene
M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007

Broadcast Journalism: In a corner of Skid Row, inner-city children from Los Angeles discover music, dance and drama through Inner-City Arts. The children don't just learn dance moves. They get a lesson in creativity.

By Adriana Padilla
M.A., Broadcast Journalism

Broadcast Journalism: The punching, the fractures, and the blood make boxing a male-dominated sport. Only 2200 amateur female boxers exist in the country. But two young ladies are determined to keep fighting their way into the big leagues.

By Laura Weber
M.A. Candidate, Print Journalism, 2008

Print Journalism: Now, it’s in my breadth of experience that men will say or do just about anything to impress a woman – splaying their colorful tail feathers with brains, brawn and the ever-important sense of humor. But never in my encounters have I come across a man who used sports as a tactic.

Continue reading "Must Love Sports" »

By Hanna Ingber Win
M.A. Candidate, Print Journalism, 2008

Online Journalism: They tried to erase Burma from the Internet last week. In an attempt to weaken the opposition and shield itself from international opprobrium, the military junta that runs the country tried to cut off access to the Web.

It did not succeed.

Related articles:
Oct. 4 The Huffington Post Off The Bus Blog
Oct. 9 NPR Morning Edition

By Amanda Price
M.A. Candidate, Print Journalism, 2008

Print Journalism: Had it not been for a Los Angeles judge’s decision nearly eight months ago, Mario Escobar realizes he would be back in El Salvador, not here fixing toys for his U.S.-born child. He realizes, lately even more, that he is one of the lucky ones.

Continue reading "Cry, Soul of Mine: The Search for Political Asylum" »

By Amy Tenowich
M.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2007

Broadcast Journalism: Bill Compton thought he was an archangel who needed to lead all the good people to salvation. It sounds crazy, of course. But maybe it's not so black and white.

By Haley Poland
M.A., Print Journalism, 2007

Print Journalism: Though more than 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, including 3 million in the United States, it remains one of the world’s most misunderstood neurological conditions. While some people have sporadic seizures and can live relatively normal lives, others may be burdened by several a day. Seizures come in as many as 40 different varieties, ranging from a momentary absence of awareness to severe and prolonged convulsions.

Continue reading "Epilepsy Patients Seek Answers, Understanding" »