Xpress publications name new editors-in-chief

By Samantha Laurey

The Journalism Department's student publications have announced their new editors-in-chief for Spring 2021. Chris Ramirez will succeed David Sjostedt, who has been the editor-in-chief since Summer 2020. Maddison October will lead the team at Xpress Magazine, taking over from Malakai Wade.

Before he became copy chief and then managing editor at Golden Gate Xpress in Fall 2020, Ramirez worked as a communications intern for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. He traveled to different national parks around the Bay Area and communicated information about the parks to visitors.

Ramirez said he draws inspiration to pursue journalism from his mother, who is a kindergarten teacher, and his father, a police officer. His mom’s profession encourages him to want to learn more about events, people, and situations around him while his dad’s career inspires him to want to hold people accountable for their actions.

He felt that his motivation for journalism at San Francisco State took off when he took JOUR 221 Newswriting with Professor Venise Wagner. “I would not be in journalism if it was not for Venise,” said Ramirez. “The way she urged her students to go out and get the story really inspired us [the class] to do the best that we can.” Ramirez has been a copy editor and managing editor on the newspaper so he feels confident and ready to take on the top leadership role at the student newspaper.

"Being an editor is a lot of work without a doubt, but I think the payoff really helps build the communication and team skills necessary for the professional world,” he said. “I've made great connections with the staff and editors through being an editor – most with people I've never met in person! I think that if you are invested and passionate about journalism, you're in a great position to apply to be an editor."

October, a photojournalism major, hopes that she can bring more multimedia and social media content to Xpress Magazine to better promote the staff's work next semester.

"My main focus for the magazine is to do more with what we have," said October, "I want to showcase the work of the talented people we have on staff."

Her interest in photography started when she was gifted a Coolpix camera from her aunt, and then, a couple of years later, a DSLR from her parents. She said she has always considered herself a storyteller with her work and is passionate about pursuing photojournalism.

October was a photographer for her community college paper at Citrus College and then became the features editor the following semester. She was a photographer for Golden Gate Xpress. In addition, she is the president of the National Press Photographers Association club at San Francisco State University.