Episode 36 -- John Sasaki

John Sasaki (Class of 1991) is Director of Communications for Oakland Unified School District, a job he took eight years ago, following 20 years as a reporter/anchor for KTVU-TV in the Bay Area.

A psychology major, John shares a fortuitous conversation on campus with a friend that inspired him to pursue Broadcast Journalism, the internships where he learned the industry, and some of his favorite moments through a decorated career covering live breaking news.

He also shares why it was time for a new challenge, the joy in advocating for students and telling their stories in different ways now. With experiences on both sides of an interview, John shares tips for being fearless in asking tough questions, and calmly answering questions in crisis situations.

"Where Ya At?" is a podcast focused on the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University. Each week, during the Fall and Spring semesters, host Josh Suchon (Class of 1996) interviews alumni to learn about their experiences as college students, entering the workforce, key steps in their professional development, advice they'd give to current students, and details about how they covered a specific story.