Laurilie Jackson, Journalist & Educator | Exploring Career Journeys in Media and Education

Patrick Evans, Host: [: 00:00:00

Randy Florence, Host: You know, I don't want any responsibility anymore for being your spiritual guru.

Patrick Evans, Host: Oh no. It's all on you.

Randy Florence, Host: So nobody's noticed a change.

Patrick Evans, Host: I've absolved the Catholic church and I've turned to you. Hey, I got a question for you.

Randy Florence, Host: Okay,

Patrick Evans, Host: wait. Before you do that, we wanna give a big shout out to our principal primary wonderful sponsor, the McCallum Theater, and they're getting ready to launch their brand new season, and that's gonna be online.

You get tickets, McCallum theater.org. We so appreciate their support of our podcast. We love McCallum Theater, so we want you to support them. Okay, now you have a question.

Randy Florence, Host: I'm [: 00:01:00

So what does. Is that like the average of the last 20 years?

Patrick Evans, Host: Uh, the aggregate, what we call normal. Mm-hmm. The normal high for the date is 102, and that's an aggregate of actually the last 30 or 40 years. Okay. So it is a lengthy period of time where we aggregate that, aggregate that number, uh. But my weather said

Randy Florence, Host: it was 12 degrees over normal.

Patrick Evans, Host: What app were you using? weather.com. Okay. Don't trust weather.com. They're located in Atlanta and I guarantee you that nobody who's putting any information into that app has ever even been to Palm Springs, California. So they don't know shit. And I'm gonna tell you, I keep waiting for it to drop. And our listeners, if you are relying on that app.

You are getting very bad information that is uninformed. So

an alternative that we could [: 00:02:00

Patrick Evans, Host: Yes. The first alert weather app from KESQ, uh, which is available both in Google and also the Android store, wherever they do that, uh, and, and Apple. So down, that's really what this is all about.

And get real information from people who actually live here. I've lived here for 23 years. I've lived here longer than any. I've lived here longer, by the way, than all of the other meteorologists in this market combined. So,

Randy Florence, Host: okay.

Patrick Evans, Host: They should all quit. Um, but that's the, I'm just kidding. You sound a little bitter about that.

Not bitter at all. I'm just saying. You sound bitter about not being bitter. I'm bitter about that app that you're listening to. That's nonsense. It was free. You gotta stop doing that. Um, yeah, don't, don't look at apps. They're bad. Okay. And like, uh, if you do have an iPhone, I do. Alright. That, like the Apple weather thing, their own builtin app.

Okay. I'm not touchy at all. [: 00:03:00

Yeah. Weather information, you know what I'm saying? I do now and I didn't before. Uh, let's see. Um, so far we are, and this is here, here's here. Case in point, I'm looking at the actual data. The average high for the data is 1 0 2. So far we've clocked 106 degrees, so we are not 12 degrees above average. Two damn hot.

But far you think it's too hot because you're using the wrong app. If you were looking at real data, you'd be like, oh, this isn't bad at all.

Randy Florence, Host: Oh, yeah. Oh, it feels a lot cooler because I'm looking at real data.

Patrick Evans, Host: 106 is fine. Everything's fine. Look, let's get to our guest because she's delightful and she too would recommend to KS game.

Uh, right off the bat when I [: 00:04:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: That's right. Thank you so much. Welcome. I'm honored to be sitting here with Randy Florence and Patrick Evans today.

Great to be here. And I will say the weather apps, honestly, you, if I can't watch you, Patrick, I do refer to the weather apps sometimes, but they're not accurate. And when you sit on the news anchor desk with you and hear all of his detailed weather. Um, you really do appreciate the meteorology and all of the work you put into that, so I agree with that.

Oh,

Patrick Evans, Host: I forgot. You've, you've earned the, so don't

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: listen to the apps.

Patrick Evans, Host: You've earned the 20 bucks. I promised you if you'd do that. Thank you. Thank you.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Patrick, I know you told me to say that before we get into, and I

Patrick Evans, Host: mean, you've had a really fun and interesting career here and, and it continues to grow and expand and we wanna talk about that, but you are.

Uh, Canadian.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I am Canadian. I grew up in Vancouver, Canada, so let's, and I'm very proud of that. Let's just talk

Patrick Evans, Host: about how pissed off you are about the tariffs. Let's just go right into it. Like, you know, damnit.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. Yeah. Did you almost

Patrick Evans, Host: leave?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. I mean, I had the option of leaving. That is one good thing, right?

People [: 00:05:00

Patrick Evans, Host: spend up in in Vancouver? You know, I

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: go every summer usually. Um, sometimes in between my family, close family is. Living here now in Palm Springs. Yeah. So I have relatives And you raised your kids here, Palm.

We did raise our kids here. Yeah. So I do get back once a year, um, at least because I love to visit my relatives and Vancouver's beautiful. Especially in November. I've never been here. It's an amazing place. Oh, it's probably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I

Randy Florence, Host: don't leave this. The weather's so great.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: He loves the one twelves in the one. Oh, I love

Randy Florence, Host: the heat.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: You're so full of He's so full of bullshit. Randy, you need come

Patrick Evans, Host: out to Vancouver with me. Lived. He lived. I'd be happy to Oceanside. He, he couldn't. He didn't like it in the winter here. He left. Yeah. When the weather's good. Yeah. Just saying.

Randy Florence, Host: I did, I don't deserve

Patrick Evans, Host: it.

he CBS affiliate, right. CBS [: 00:06:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: two Local Jim and Jackie

Patrick Evans, Host: Lee Houston launched CBS Local two. Bill Evans Yes. Was the gm. He had been the GM at KESQ.

Mm-hmm. And they brought a lot. They poached a lot of talent from KESD. They did. That's why there was bad, bad blood for a long time between the two stations. Really? Was there, oh, I didn't know this story. Oh God. Yeah. Back

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: then. What was that? 20, 20 plus years ago. Three was 23 years ago.

Patrick Evans, Host: Never get

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: physical.

Patrick Evans, Host: Yes, yes. Actually, who'd you have to beat up? I think Chris Long and Jeff Stall got into a shoving match at one point. It's probably still going on. Um, no, no, no. Jeff's a very calm guy, but it it, you know, punch a button. You

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: gotta be careful. Katie

Patrick Evans, Host: borrowed the door. Um, so you, you, but you started Yeah. At KESQ.

So I did before we launched the CBS affiliate. Yeah, you were, that was your first on air gig, right? It

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: was. I was back in Virginia actually. I just finished my master's program, but I was also working. Where did you do that for, uh, Regent University. Yeah. I got my master's in journalism. While I was doing that, I was in.

, the Christian Broadcasting [: 00:07:00

So the gravy, wavy gravy. I would go to these diners and, you know, I'd be in the kitchen with the chefs and the cooks and, you know, they're making their biscuits and gravy and their pancakes. And I would come home smelling so bad, like, I'd have to wash my clothes. I I And did you ever see

Randy Florence, Host: anything that, that I'm not eating here?

Well,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: sometimes, yeah. But you know, a Waffle House was one of my favorites. Gosh, that was a fun place. 'cause you kind of really learned the process of how they make their food. And I love southern food scattered,

Patrick Evans, Host: covered in smothered Waffle House. It is covered. It

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: wasn't the healthiest. Wow. Like, you don't wanna think about what you're, sounds good, doesn't it?

You're eating, but waffle houses

Patrick Evans, Host: have the best food.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: They do

l, my wife had never been to [: 00:08:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: waffle.

And it

Patrick Evans, Host: was, you know, it was in February, it was dead of winter. And we ate at the Waffle House. And then when we got back to the hotel, our. Clothing smelled so much of waffle as we had to put it out on the balcony of the hotel just to air out. And she stuck with you. She totally did. Yeah. Yeah. You smell

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: good.

You smell like food. If you're hungry, you, she figured that this is the worst

Patrick Evans, Host: it gets. Things are gonna be okay. We've been dating, I mean, maybe a couple of months, and then my mother passed and you can, you can tell a lot of things about somebody, but in that moment where you know you're at kind of your lowest, and I called her and I said, you know, mom.

Passed and we knew it was, it was, and she said, well, what are the flight arrangements? And, and let's. Just make the trip and where's the nearest Waffle House and where's the nearest? So, you know, she's a quality gal. Yeah, she is. So,

ah. But no, that was a great [: 00:09:00

It was a really good chance for me to get to know people in Virginia and, and what was important to them. So that was a lot of fun.

Patrick Evans, Host: That's, uh, that's station's based in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Virginia. Norfolk. Yeah. There's a lot of, a lot of Navy.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yep. Yep. A lot of Navy, uh, military folks there. But yeah, that was my first time actually live on the air and I was.

So nervous. I remember my first live shot. I was just shaking, you know, you know, you probably remember those days, or maybe not Patrick, you were always so like, right. Oh no, just called it, well, the first episode of this podcast,

Randy Florence, Host: he freaked out. But it was such a

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: good experience and you know, I, I'd go home and I'd watch my air check.

And you know, it's like I didn't look that nervous. You know, you feel it, that it's worse than it actually is, but you know, I loved it. I loved it. And I uh, you know, did my anchoring there. Learned a lot. And then when I finished my graduate program, I came out here and started working for KESQ. So I did the morning show.

Randy Florence, Host: You interned at some pretty cool spots.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I did, yeah. I saw,

Randy Florence, Host: uh, Larry King Live Yes. Entertainment tonight. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Tell us about Larry King Live. Give us a Larry King story.

interning with the show Biz [: 00:10:00

He had more than a few dates. He had seven wives. Yeah, well it was funny, it was funny because the, those aren't dates, those

Patrick Evans, Host: aren't dates. The day

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: before I was scheduled to intern with him, I think hard copy and some of the, you know, the more the tabloid magazine type shows had broke the story about, you know, Larry King being this womanizer and I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm gonna be interning with him tomorrow.

But, you know, it was such a fabulous experience. To see him work and actually I didn't see him work as much as his staff and how they prepared the show, how they communicated with him during the day. Letting him know the topics and the guests that he was having, and he'd walk in and it'd just be like, Hey, I'm lurking.

And he'd just walk up to the set and did his thing and it was like, wow, this guy is really good. You know?

Randy Florence, Host: What was the Entertainment Tonight thing like?

famous people and file them [: 00:11:00

You have to have an obit ready, right? Immediately. So we would file all of those clippings from back then it was newspapers. Now it's all digital, right? So I was cutting the paste. You called it the morgue. They called that. They called it the morgue. Yes. Where? So they had the obits ready to go. We

Patrick Evans, Host: have obits for Right.

We have yours ready to go. I mean. Well, Randy, at least you haven't killed me yet. No, we're not gonna kill you, but we're kill. We can. Well,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: the nice thing is I've learned how to do it, so now I can kind of prepare my own, you know? But no, it was really interesting when people, people would say to me like, where do you, where did you work in entertainment tonight?

You, were you on in the. Studio with John Tesh and Mary Hart. Sometimes I was, I got to do that. But mainly it was in the morgue. But So you

Patrick Evans, Host: interned when Mary Hart was there as the host? Yes, she was the host. And now you guys live right here in town, know you probably hang out. I

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: know. And John Tesh has a place here.

nd John Tesh was there and I [: 00:12:00

I don't think he did. I was always in the morgue. So, um, but no, he actually was great and helped our radio station get started at the college and donated some equipment and really kind of gave us a pep talk and said, this is what you need to do and put us in contact with the right people. So he was very supportive.

He had a pretty crazy career,

Randy Florence, Host: didn't he? He

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: did. Yeah, he did. And, and you know what, I did have him on my podcast. Uh, during COVI, I did a Media Quest podcast just interviewing people that are of the media background to give my students a chance to learn about their journey. And John Tes was one of my guests.

Wow. I didn't know he was homeless. His story is fascinating. Yeah, he's right now, or no, Connie. Connie

Patrick Evans, Host: kicked him out. It's sad. Thankfully

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: he's not. But yeah, he has had quite the journey and the road to success. I have a lot of respect for him. Yeah. Well, um, and he's just kind and gracious and was lovely to give me the time.

In the podcast? Yeah. I've

Patrick Evans, Host: met him a couple times. He's a very gracious guy. The first time I met him was the opening of Disney, California Adventure.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: [: 00:13:00

Patrick Evans, Host: But the second time was here at the, uh, food bank in Desert Hot Springs, and the name escapes me. Um, find No, no, uh, food Now. Food Now.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Okay.

Patrick Evans, Host: Food Now in Desert Hot Springs.

Uh, and I was helping to give away turkeys prior to Christmas. And, and he and Connie were there doing the same thing they were. And so I think he. He remembers those days where it was tough for him and he, he gives back in really, really nice ways. That's, that's a great story. It is a

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: great story for sharing that.

And I get the sense of that he was, he seems very giving and not just giving of money, but giving of time and what can I help you with? Yeah. You know?

Randy Florence, Host: Yeah.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Um, I mean, yeah, I was an intern with him how many years ago, 25, 30 years ago.

Randy Florence, Host: And a couple of amazing careers he's had. Right. I called

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: him up and he like, of course I'll do that for you.

And I'm like, wow, this is huge. So, you know, in my house. Kicking my kids out. Hey, quiet guys. I've got John Tesh. Um, it all worked out, so he was great. That's great. Fond memories of him. Definitely. Yeah.

Patrick Evans, Host: He's a, no, he's a terrific guy.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah.

st: We should try to get him [: 00:14:00

I don't know him that Laura Lee knows. Laura Lee know. Well, you

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: know what, I think he still does have a place here. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I knew when I had seen him at this conference, he was saying he did have a place and him and Connie would come out here frequently. So yeah, definitely he would be definitely worth the people you have rub

Randy Florence, Host: shoulders with, I know's.

Kind of exciting if you think back on it. It's pretty cool.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: It is cool. Yeah. You know what I always, I, you know, they always say when you get into media, you know, don't be starstruck, but of course you are to a certain degree. Right. But, you know, these people, I couldn't

Randy Florence, Host: talk to Patrick for like a month and a half.

I was struck, I met Patrick, be

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: podcast look Me in the Eye. But, you know, these people, it's kind of weird, are real, um, they're real people. They have real lives. They're kind, you know, some of them are not so kind. Some of them are kind. But, you know, it was just really great experience. I, I always like to learn from people's.

amily. A lot of these people [: 00:15:00

Yeah. And they made themselves out of nothing. Yeah. So, you know, I think a lot of their stories are so encouraging and we need to hear them because I think everyone can succeed. At some level of, of whatever their desire of success is, you know? So

Randy Florence, Host: you, you got your undergraduate degree in sociology? I did.

Did I read that?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I did, yes. Sociology and communication. How did

Randy Florence, Host: to television? Well in communication was that I

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: had no idea what I wanted to do when I went to college. I just wanted get outta house. There was, there

Patrick Evans, Host: wasn't television in Canada when you were growing up? I didn't have that. Well,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: we did.

Patrick Evans, Host: Oh, you do, you do you have it up there?

I did. And I

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: was fascinated by the news. I had parents that were very up on current events, watch the news every night. So my dinner table was not so much a conversation among the family. It was watching the news. Right. But it was, it was great. But it was, it

Patrick Evans, Host: was Canadian news. It was like, it was Canadian news, mainly mullings of polar bears.

It was,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: it was good news.

Randy Florence, Host: Just

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: a little bit different than down here, but usually

Randy Florence, Host: wait a lot longer to insult our guests for this show. That's okay. I'm not insulting Marley, just Canadians in general. You're

re, so, yeah, yeah, yeah. I, [: 00:16:00

We're

Randy Florence, Host: not even original. Well, that's true.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: When I go back, I live in my igloo, you know, and I have my, my Eskimo gear and my little dog sled out in the back and yeah. No, but, um, but so I went to college. I actually was. Somewhat musical thinking, I maybe a music major would work. And then I thought, well, lemme just take some communication classes.

They sounded easy, you know? Um, what

Patrick Evans, Host: was your, what was your instrument or choice? Did you play piano? I play

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: the piano. I wrote music and I sang, I sang in my church growing up. Not very good. But do you still play? I do a little bit. I am not as musically inclined, I think as I was. I was very passionate about it when I was growing up.

And I, I love music. I just feel that. You know, I've, I don't know, maybe my voice is getting older. It doesn't sound as good. I like talking better than singing. Um, but yeah, so then I did study sociology. I had taken a sociology class and I fell in love with it. And I had the greatest professor, Dr. Nida was his name, and he just believed in me.

y, was I loved understanding [: 00:17:00

And then I did an internship at KNBC in Los Angeles. Worked with David Garcia, who we worked with at CCB S too

Patrick Evans, Host: lovely, lovely human being. Yes. Environmental

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: reporter. Yes. Earth man. And I fell in love with broadcasting. Yeah, I fell in love. I mean, Patrick, you know, you go to work every day, you meet new people.

It was exciting. I was just fabulous. You know, just overwhelmed at how much I enjoyed it. So that's when I thought, I'm gonna pursue this.

Patrick Evans, Host: If you were not in love with media before meeting David Garcia, you would be after he had so many, right? He was at one point he was the White House correspondent for ABC News.

Yes. Really? Oh yeah. No, David had a huge career. Um, he has a lot

S too, to sit next to him in [: 00:18:00

He bigger he,

Patrick Evans, Host: because he left network and then he went to LA and he worked at, uh, I think the A, B, C and the NBC affiliate. I think he worked

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: for KABC, but then when I interned it was with KNBC. Yeah. Yeah.

Patrick Evans, Host: He, he, and then he retired and came out here, and when CVS launched. Basically, the news director just kinda called and said, maybe you'd be interested, maybe not.

We don't know, but we're doing this and, and we'll give you a show. And, and he said, yeah, I'd love to. And you know,

Randy Florence, Host: I'm amazed at all the podcast episodes that we've done and some of the people that we've had from the, the media and broadcasting in here. I'm amazed at how small that world is and how many people.

That you know, that other people know from other parts of the country. Oh yeah. And such.

big Hilton in Dallas and Sam [: 00:19:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah.

Patrick Evans, Host: And David's a sound asleep, but he was rooming with Sam Donaldson, the hotel called him and said, Mr. Garcia, would you please come down to the lobby? We're having a problem with Mr. Donaldson. So David gets dressed and he goes down in the lobby and the head, the Dallas Hilton apparently has like this big lobby with trees and Sam Donaldson was drunk as a skunk and he drunk climbed one of the trees and he was hooting like an owl at people walking by.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: That never happens with broadcasters, Patrick. It only happened three times on this podcast. Those are the stories you don't hear in the news.

Patrick Evans, Host: My other favorite David Garcia stories, you know, he is very proud of his 13 Emmys.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yes.

Patrick Evans, Host: They moved and he called me one day and he said. By the way, I was wrong. I found an Emmy that had fallen behind the cabinet.

We have 14.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Thank you.

Patrick Evans, Host: Thank you for sharing.

h, they should be. So, yeah. [: 00:20:00

You intern, you work on your tapes, and you get better by working at all these little places and get experience. And, uh, yeah. And then I opened doors open for me in Virginia and then at KESQ. So it's been a fun journey.

Patrick Evans, Host: So when you came back and started working at KESQ, uh, you, you had a, a great resume. I mean, they were, they were very lucky to get someone with that kind of experience.

'cause a lot of times. Yeah. First timers don't have that.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Right, right. You know, so yeah, I did have a lot of experience, but I also didn't have a lot of experience. So I, I really learned a lot at KESQ and I felt like I really, um, you know, honed my skills and got better at what I did. So, yeah, it was great. I, I was thrown into, you know, back in the day, we didn't have a producer in the morning, so we were anchoring and producing Right.

ing how many hats. You know. [: 00:21:00

Patrick Evans, Host: and we're a small market, and so, so Emily, you had interned in all of these big places and then, then, you know, we, and you get

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: spoiled watching all the big guys do, do their thing, you know,

Patrick Evans, Host: market.

Probably at that time we were a market 1 46 or something like that, and I think we're still similar. 1 43 maybe. Uh, but you know, you're down in the trenches and you are, you're writing your own copy, you're producing your own show, you're timing your own show. Yeah. I mean, it was, uh,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: running your own teleprompter.

Yeah. And doing everything, you know, communicating with the director and everything like that. But you know what, it's. I always say, don't, that's the way to start. 'cause then you learn everything. Right? Right. And then you understand everyone else's positions in the newsroom and you respect them a bit better.

I think if you walk in saying I'm only going to do one thing, it's not realistic and you're not a lot of value either. You know, if you can jump in and help out wherever, then you sometimes get taken advantage of, right, Patrick? Well you do. You and you

Patrick Evans, Host: always will, but it's okay because you're still learning stuff.

do this and I'm not gonna do [: 00:22:00

And if you only do one thing, we don't really need you.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Right.

Patrick Evans, Host: And

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: make yourself valuable. Yeah, absolutely.

Randy Florence, Host: You know, the, so did you come to the desert for the job?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I did. I was finishing up my graduate program and uh, KESQ called me. So my family being from Vancouver, always vacation to Palm Spring. I wondered

Randy Florence, Host: how much you knew about the area.

So,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: as a little girl, you know, every year my. Parents would get in the RV and we'd come down to Cathedral City and stay in. Really Come down the rv. RV Park. Yes. My family was big RV people. I loved it. It was a great way to travel, but we just had the most, it's

Patrick Evans, Host: a long RV ride. It

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: is two days from Vancouver to Palm Springs.

nce. But I always loved Palm [: 00:23:00

I would rather go to Palm Springs than somewhere in the Midwest. Not to put down the Midwest, but I was familiar with it. It was like coming to a place that I felt somewhat at home in. Sure. And I knew my parents would be down visiting and it would be an easy trip for them. So it really was a blessing in disguise.

And you know, I worked with a great team of people. I learned a lot. We were on Cook Street, that old building Day. SU Yeah. I did the morning show. Um, and yeah.

Patrick Evans, Host: And now it's a defunct pot dispensary.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I know. Yep.

Patrick Evans, Host: It used to be det. No. Um, so question for you though, because when I met you, you had already.

Transition. I was one of the last people that got hired before CBS went on the air.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Mm-hmm.

Patrick Evans, Host: And you guys had already, but what made you come over?

with my first daughter and in: 2000

That was the best decision I ever made. Oh,

Patrick Evans, Host: so you were coming back into the end? I was coming

lie Jackson, Guest: back in. [: 00:24:00

So whatever that looks like. And they were gracious enough to work with me and said, okay, would you be interested in doing the morning show? I said, sure, I'd love it. Tom Tucker was my coan Tom Tucker. That's right. Um, we were the first, the guy from family guy to launch.

Patrick Evans, Host: The guy, the family guy Anchorman, was named after our Tom Tucker.

Oh really?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I think so. I think

Patrick Evans, Host: that's, yeah, a hundred percent. But he does have a mustache.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah.

Patrick Evans, Host: Our Tom Tucker. Uh, so yeah.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: So it was a good experience. So you jumped back in and that

Patrick Evans, Host: was a great gig because you did the morning show. We didn't have a noon.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: No, we didn't. So there was no

Patrick Evans, Host: noon broadcast. Right.

And so, and you started. Uh, it was you, Tom and Richfield.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: That's right. Richfield was doing the morning show with us. Yes. It was a fun group and what I liked about it, the morning show in itself is a lot lighter of a newscast, right. I mean you Yes. Watching Patrick and Jeff and Angela. It's so great. You guys have a lot of fun.

Well, Angela's

Patrick Evans, Host: great. [: 00:25:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: he's difficult. Well, I've worked with Jeff, so I know Jeff. I can tell you stories, but, oh, here we go. On

Randy Florence, Host: episode two. That's right. We're keeping you around now. Keeping me around

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: for the next episode. I'll give you the dirt. No. Um, but yeah, I mean it was, the mornings are fun and you know, Richfield is in some ways a comedian, you know, in his own mind because, you know, least did the whole price is right.

He was a funny guy. Tom was funny. So we had a lot of healthy banter, I think on that show

Patrick Evans, Host: That's So Rich was doing weather for, for CBS Local two. Uh, but he'd had a history with um. Game shows.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Right.

Patrick Evans, Host: Uh, like regional game shows, but they were produced by the same people who produced the prices. Right. So all of a sudden then he was taking some time off because he was filling in, they were running through people to be the announcer on the prices.

nd finished the run with Bob [: 00:26:00

Randy Florence, Host: pretty cool story. Yeah. Rich Went,

Patrick Evans, Host: rich went from Little Palm Springs. CBS Local two to the price is Right.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Right.

Randy Florence, Host: I wanna go back a little further though. Okay. 'cause I want to figure out how you got here growing up.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yes.

Randy Florence, Host: What was life like? I drove here

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: in Vancouver

Randy Florence, Host: in a, in an rv. Growing up. Yeah. What did your parents do?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: My dad was actually a builder, carpenter. He was, um, my dad grew up in Holland, so he had a lot of really great woodworking Holland skills.

So when he came over to Canada, he's making, making wooden shoes. A lot of them. You know what, my grandfather did have a wooden food. A, a shoe factory and he did make wooden shoes as absolutely, so, you know, he was a very talented man with his hands. He created all kinds of stuff, but when he came to Canada, he didn't have an opportunity to get an education, so he just dove into the job.

ned some skills in carpentry [: 00:27:00

Randy Florence, Host: Were they supportive of the direction that you moved? They

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: were. I think my mom was like, why don't you stay in Canada close to home? You know, I think it's hard for a mother to let their daughter go, but you know, they also saw the passion I had to do something that I wanted to, even though I wasn't a hundred percent sure what that.

Plan was, but you know, they were very supportive of me going. And of course they have a place to come visit, so it made them, you know, travel to Palm Springs more. And just take that two hour trip to LA to go visit Laura Lees,

Patrick Evans, Host: before we go on, we're gonna take a quick break. We want to acknowledge our presenting sponsor the McCallum Theater, get ready for the next great season at the McCallum Theater.

Tickets are on sale now. Let's hear a

ckson, Guest: word from them.[: 00:28:00

Uh, once again, our thanks

Patrick Evans, Host: to the McCallum Theater. Gary Keith, the chairman of the board, and Yvonne Bell has just been named the, the president and CEO. Yes. And we're looking forward to having her on the program. She's, uh, um, she's been there, uh, in the development department for a long time, but she is a.

Uh, uh, I think a terrific addition. So anything

Randy Florence, Host: we can do with McCallum?

Patrick Evans, Host: Absolutely. We are here with Laura Lee Jackson, uh, a young lady who has been, uh, off and on, someone I've had the pleasure of anchoring with over the years. And you were talking about your family history and

eah. Yeah. So, you know, my, [: 00:29:00

So I, I really had great parents that were supportive in, in all I did. And I, you know, I look at my upbringing and I'm just so grateful. I was raised in a beautiful country with great people. I think Canadians are probably the nicest Yes. Group of people you'll ever meet. And I'm very thankful for that.

I'm also thankful I have options to move back if I want. One great thing too, all my girls are Canadian. I was able to get them their Canadian citizenship and they can have some options. And you have three girls? I have three daughters, yes. My oldest is 25 and my youngest is gonna be 20 on Thursday, so Oh boy.

Yeah, they're growing up way, way too fast, but they're turning out to be great girls and I'm very proud of them. But, um, yeah, so I'm very thankful that I had that upbringing. I'm very thankful to be here in the United States as well. I love this country and I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to come here, but, um, yeah.

Canada's great. So you and I love my Canadian friends and family.

Patrick Evans, Host: You, you were now, uh. I mean, you still dabble a bit in anger. You, you were filling in. I do. Patrick. So Patrick, this

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: is [: 00:30:00

I got tenured. I'm faculty there loving my job. I get a call from the news director at KSQ and I'm like, this is weird. She left a message and I thought. Why is she trying to reach out to me? Maybe they need some interns at the station. So I called her back and she was talking to me about, Hey, we have, you know, someone going on maternity leave.

We were trying to juggle around some schedules. Would you be interested in coming back and helping us anchor? I was like, wow, can I still do it? It's been 20 years, you know, I gave it up and I'm teaching now. So I gave it some hard. Long thought and I thought, you know, why not? It's like riding a bike, right?

Kind of. Hopefully, I think it is. I mean, you know, you age more, but

Patrick Evans, Host: you didn't miss a step. I mean, I don't think at all.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. You know what? It's really interesting. I didn't, I, I felt like there were some things I needed to brush up on and things had changed in the newsroom from when I was doing it 20 years ago.

So I think technology [: 00:31:00

Randy Florence, Host: students must have thought that was pretty cool.

They did,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: and they're like, professor Jackson, we saw you on the news last night. You know, and they, we talk about the news and, well, what did you guys think? How was it written? How do you think I did? And, and we had open conversations and I thought it was the best thing ever.

Patrick Evans, Host: Yeah. You've been teaching for a long time, as you mentioned in your, in your, yeah.

But you do both radio and television, your radio station. Right. Has won a number of awards. Yeah. Tell us a little bit about that.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Well, and going back to that John test donation, I mean, that really, that really kicked things off for us. But we did start that program, it was our first broadcasting outlet for students and um, we had started submitting to the intercollegiate broadcasting system.

n the entire country. That's [: 00:32:00

So, yeah. So,

Randy Florence, Host: so talk about that experience. How did you find out you had won and, and what happened after that?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Well, we took a group of students that were also nominated for some of their projects that they did for the radio station at the college, COD Roadrunner Radio. And, um, we took them back and. We all went to the award ceremony.

We knew we were nominated, but we didn't know we were winners. So when they called our name, of course we just went crazy. So it was a great, great experience, a great conference. And you know what else was really good about that conference is Al Roker was one of our keynote speakers and he was involved in radio back in the day and he told his stories about getting.

You know, involved in broadcasting and uh, getting his foot in the door and radio. So it was a really interesting experience. I think we all learned the students though. It was funny. Al Roker, who's Al Roker? Oh, the Macy's Day parade guy. That's all they knew him. They knew him from watching on Thanksgiving Day, you know, so it was, it was a great experience.

But yeah, I'm very [: 00:33:00

Patrick Evans, Host: it's free, right?

I mean, yeah.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. So for students graduating from a local high school, I mean, they have to maintain a certain grade point. Oh, average. They have to be involved. There's certain criteria that they have to reach, but it's a really great deal.

Patrick Evans, Host: Well, I think it's a I I, I. We kind of encouraged our kids that they could go that route.

Yeah. And then because after two years you can transfer and it's almost an automatic Right. Into virtually any college you want to go to, and it's a great way to do that. But there was another place

Randy Florence, Host: where they could spend your money,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: right? Yes.

Randy Florence, Host: And they much preferred to do that. Yeah. Yeah.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Smart kids, kids sometimes have a different idea of how things should operate.

No, we're not doing that. We're

Randy Florence, Host: gonna What, what did you always have an interest in teaching?

college and he had to leave [: 00:34:00

And he said, Laura Lee, why don't you teach? You have your master's degree. And I'm like, never thought about it. But I did a class, a night class, um, a. A couple years and I really enjoyed it. And then when I had my daughter, I started teaching more 'cause I was able to be flexible with my schedule and I didn't work at the station anymore.

So I did love it. I love giving back. I love helping these students get into the industry. 'cause it's a lot of work. It's, you know. Not always easy to get into. So I think it's,

Patrick Evans, Host: it's a hard industry to break into, and once you do, the financial rewards are almost none.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Right?

Patrick Evans, Host: I mean, it's a really low paying entry level.

I mean, it's, it's, and you know

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: what, no one ever told me that Patrick.

Patrick Evans, Host: No one ever. Oh yeah. No. At least I knew why, guys,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I didn't that first paycheck, gosh, you know, I think my first year my parents had to help support me that first job out of college. My first job

Patrick Evans, Host: was in my. Full-time job and I worked part-time at the TC.

My first full-time job paid $13,600.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. Yeah. Not much. Not much.

deep into this now. We could [: 00:35:00

Randy Florence, Host: That's

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: awesome. So you got a good raise there? Yeah, no, we're pretty

Randy Florence, Host: far into this and, and we haven't mentioned yet that, that, um, Laura Lee is a recipient.

Uh, and was recently entered into the Coachella Valley Valley Journalist Journalism. Yeah. Hall of Fame.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. Thank you. Congratulations. That's a big deal. It wa it was a huge honor. And you know, I, I got the notification in the fall that I was, um, you know, nominated for this and I was just like, wow. You know, and I think you too, when you're, when I always think journalists that are in the trenches.

Telling the stories on TV or writing stories for newspapers. They're the ones who get recognized. But they really recognized me for my educational part of it, and I love that. And I was very thankful because, you know, we have produced so many great students and put them in the industry. I mean, a lot of my students are working at KSQ, desert Sun.

NBC Palm Springs. So we're getting 'em there. We're getting 'em prepared. But that was a huge honor. I really was,

only one I knew before that [: 00:36:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Well, you know, the

Randy Florence, Host: Bruce know Bruce listens to every one of these.

Oh, yes, I know. Oh, and you know what? When just

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: hearing the folks that got it the year before me, I was just like, wow. Did you guys make a mistake on this? Like really? I, I mean, you know, it. Um, it was an honor. It really was. There's someone to recognize the work you do and you love and feel passionately about it.

It's, it's, well, I think your, your work

Patrick Evans, Host: at the college has been so important and, you know, you really continue to impact the face of journalism in the Coachella Valley. Even you still work, you feel filled in, again, very recently when Angela Chim was at 'em, but your students carry on your legacy.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah.

Patrick Evans, Host: You know, and that's, that's a really important thing.

And you're doing, also working with Peace Swift, you're on the board of Palm Springs Women in Film and Television.

n a great organization to be [: 00:37:00

It's nice to connect with other media folks here too. A lot of them coming in from Los Angeles, moving to the Coachella Valley. Um, it's, you know, we're all like-minded. We have things to talk about of similar interests and it's really great.

Patrick Evans, Host: You just directed a movie.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I did a short

Patrick Evans, Host: called Perfect.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Perfect.

Yes, it

Patrick Evans, Host: starred Randy

Randy Florence, Host: Florence. Yes. You look familiar. I

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: know. Seen before. I was gonna say, thought you acted in my scene. I remember you yelling

Randy Florence, Host: at me on the set a couple of times. Was I that bad, Randy? No, you were not bad. I thought I

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: was the nicest director. You were the nicest director I'd ever worked with.

Well, that was my first film. Yeah. It was a great opportunity. So the Phil, uh, Kim Walt Filmmakers lab as part of psif and uh, we, it's a learning environment. So you know, you're working with professionals, um, who are mentoring the amateurs. People that have never done this before, can't this their, a picture of brand image that a lot better than sending

Randy Florence, Host: a 14 foot nostril up on the

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yes.

d a fabulous job by the way. [: 00:38:00

Randy, I'm still

Randy Florence, Host: waiting for my SAG card. When did that come in

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: soon? Oh, I think that takes a little while, but We'll, we'll work on getting you one. Definitely. Definitely. I'm, yeah. Okay. But yeah, so that was a great experience, you know, like. Why is a journalist doing that? Was doing co-directing, but it was storytelling, you know?

And I, I think that having a good sense of what works and what doesn't it, it was great. I learned a lot. I brought some skill in that I had, but I also learned a lot from that experience as well.

Patrick Evans, Host: So what are you gonna direct next?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I don't know. I don't know. Do,

Patrick Evans, Host: and I mean, do you have the bug now to do it?

s about multiple people. The [: 00:39:00

Patrick Evans, Host: about Randy. Right.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Well, for we started out for those three lines, we

Randy Florence, Host: started, I didn't realize there was another story.

I thought I just walked and it's over.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: It started all about Randy, but we had to like knock him down a little bit. Say hey, okay. Very well you're not the star here. No three lines, everyone's star, six nos

Randy Florence, Host: hair, six moss hairs. I don't ever want to see my head that big on a screen again.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah, yeah. But wait,

Randy Florence, Host: do I remember right?

Was was one of your daughters on the set? Yes,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: yes. My daughter worked, um, on sound, so she was a member of the filmmakers lab and loves movie making as well. So she came on. So it was really nice to have her on the set and work with her. And um, like I said, you know, filmmaking, it's, it's. Not work. It's fun, but you're working hard, right?

And I, you probably feel it's days and it, yeah, I mean we did work some long days, but it, I, I

Randy Florence, Host: felt like I got the true movie experience. Yeah. I think I was on set for 17 hours and I, I was. Live for 10 minutes.

for me too, and then you go [: 00:40:00

Yeah. This is, now I know why people wanna be in that creative industry. Yeah. I mean, filmmaking is fabulous. It's,

Patrick Evans, Host: it's exhilarating being the, it's, it's a lot

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: of work, but you have a lot of fun too. And we had a great team of people to work with our, it was so much fun. Our people were fabulous. Um, the food was good.

The, you know, the hair and makeup people were good. The photographer, everyone was great.

Randy Florence, Host: Did. Do you think this is something your daughter will pursue?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: She is. Yes, she loves filmmaking, but in the practical world, she is working, um, for a, uh, research company doing some marketing and social media work. So she loves that as well.

So she's keeping her options open, which I think is good. But she definitely had a great experience. So yeah, she's looking at a few other projects she wants to work on and, uh, who knows. Are any of

Randy Florence, Host: the dollar daughters following Mom's path?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: No, just Madeline and my only media. My, uh, younger wants to be an attorney.

She's actually interning with the district attorney's office this summer, so she wants to be that lawyer.

Patrick Evans, Host: That's a good choice lawyer.

a good choice. So she'll be [: 00:41:00

You'll probably meet her later, the prosecution later. You'll be interviewing her in a couple years, Patrick. That's not what I meant, but yeah, no,

Randy Florence, Host: remember I married an attorney. Oh, that's true. You did. But a family law attorney, which of course is still a major mistake on your part.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Oh, Patrick. Yeah. Wow. That's the

Patrick Evans, Host: hardest way to pay a retainer.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: So let's go back to

Patrick Evans, Host: cd. I can say that 'cause she

Randy Florence, Host: hasn't list.

Patrick Evans, Host: She doesn't even know a,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: she never listened to it. Oh, okay. Well that's good. She has no idea.

Randy Florence, Host: Back to COD, any success stories of, of students that you've taught there that have gone on to She flunks all of, yeah, I'm sorry.

You're never gonna make it in this.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Well, you know, I had one student that actually, um, she wasn't a journalism student, but she came through my program, took some classes. She actually performed at Coachella, uh, Giselle Wu in the Night Owl. Oh, she was? Oh yeah. I loved Giselle. She's a wonderful person. She, she's

Eye in the desert a bunch of [: 00:42:00

We've had her perform that. She's great.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: She's wonderful. She worked for the radio station, really immersed herself in that as a music director and a station manager. And she was lovely to work with. Um. You know, all the folks that went over to KESQ, a lot of them have been there for years now and are doing fabulous things.

Um, who

Patrick Evans, Host: are some of your students that are working? I should know this,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Jesus, the digital media. Oh

Patrick Evans, Host: yeah. I didn't realize he was one of your students. He's one

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: of my students. Um, almost

Patrick Evans, Host: everything you see if you download our app. And you read our website,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: right? Uh,

Patrick Evans, Host: almost all of the stuff Jesus puts out.

Yeah. So these, uh,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Bruno and Isaiah, the two producers over there were Oh yeah. Two of my students. What? Um, this

Patrick Evans, Host: is crazy. I know all these kids.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah, I know Holly Hinman has interned over there. Uh, she's fabulous. Graduated from Graduat, from Loyola, Maryland. She, yeah, she's, she's,

Patrick Evans, Host: she's a dynamo.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: One of the hardest working students.

I think I've had, I was the editor of the newspaper. Just fabulous. Good attitude. Um, she'll go places.

Patrick Evans, Host: She's, yeah. There's a bright future.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Right, right. So yeah, we should

Patrick Evans, Host: get her on the podcast before she gets too big. That's true. She might not come back.

Host: Have you been a guest? [: 00:43:00

No. COD? No. She's trying to educate these kids. Well, you know, you gotta show 'em both sides. You know, Randy, here's what success looks like.

Patrick Evans, Host: Here's, here's the guy who's been here for 23 years 'cause he can't get another job.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Oh, you know, I was thinking about that. Patrick, you have been here a long time, but you have had.

Such an amazing career. I tell people this all the time, like all of the things you have done in the Coachella Valley and for the people here. I love those stories because, you know, people can come and go, but you've stayed here. You embrace this community and you've made it home. And I, I applaud you for that.

And I'll love the recognition you get. You deserve it. I tell this story

Randy Florence, Host: all the time. You do not wanna walk into Acrisure Arena. With Patrick Evans because it'll be 45 minutes before you come close to getting to your seat.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: You get stopped a lot by people, right? Yes. People love Patrick,

Patrick Evans, Host: but that's, you know, and you've been on TV off and on for the same length of time.

ry lucky and I've been on TV [: 00:44:00

Um, it was a little humbling because. I'm sitting there doing exactly the same job that I was 23 years ago. We went and Laura Lee has gone on Laura Lee, a journalism Hall of Fame in Dutchy, and she's a professor and she's got tenure and she's like, and so how are you? And I'm like, still doing the same old shit.

So

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: you know what though? And I love my job teaching. I love the media though. Coming back and filling in is was probably the best experience for me ever. You guys have such a great time. You work hard, but you have such a great time in that studio and Instagram. It's, it's really a great career. I

e, but it is, I mean, you're [: 00:45:00

It's a fun environment. Do you still get that? Thrill walking into the studio. I do. I do.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I do. Yeah, I do. And I, you know, I think a lot of people that I talk to that have been in the industry and have left, it never really leaves them. They always think, what if I would've stayed, and what if I would've done it this way?

You know? And people have moved on for various reasons. You know, better schedules for family, better jobs, those types of things. But

Randy Florence, Host: needed to make a living.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah, yeah, yeah. That has something to do with it. It, that's one, one. I think that's a big one. That's a big one. But, you know, there's, there's something special about that industry, and it's hard to, unless you've been there.

And worked it and done it. It's hard to explain it to people. Right. Patrick? I mean, you would agree.

Patrick Evans, Host: I, I a hundred percent agree. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's such an electrifying atmosphere and I mean, I started working at a television station when I was 17 years old. Mm-hmm. And I could not imagine being in any other environment, being in a newsroom environment.

hen the worst things happen, [: 00:46:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. No, it's absolutely right and it's hard. To, um, you know, coming back to it, it really opened my eyes again and how much I love this industry, but I'm also helping students get into it as well. Well,

Patrick Evans, Host: that, that's what I love about what you're doing is that you are, and I didn't realize how many of those kids in our newsroom Yeah.

Uh, came through your program. That's, and

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: there's more too. I, I know Sarah Snow was with you guys. I think we had some audio folks. Um, directors that have come through our program, so, yeah.

Randy Florence, Host: Well, you've been here 28 years or so now. What are some of the biggest changes that you've seen since you first got here to the Valley?

Right, as a whole, and then within the media?

be. Couple years outta here, [: 00:47:00

But you know, then you have kids and you raise them here and you realize, wow, this is a great community of supportive people. You know, everyone's looking out for your kids. It's like a small town feel, but it has a lot going on. Right? Yeah. So I think the development here has been fascinating to see more people and more industry moved out here.

It's been great, um, in the news business. You know, gosh, there's so many changes in news. It's hard to pinpoint just one. I think, you know, the frustrating thing for me, and I support local news 100% because that's where I think you get the real stories.

Randy Florence, Host: Absolutely.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Um, national news, we need more local news.

We need more local news and you know, I, I always say turn off the national watch 'em, but. Watch more local and support local. 'cause that's where you're really getting the stories that should matter to you about what's happening in local government, what's going on with our local politicians. That's where people can make a difference.

to be embracing it as much. [: 00:48:00

Patrick Evans, Host: amazing to me, and I think you probably are dealing with this in your classroom.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah.

Patrick Evans, Host: Kids get their news. Predominantly now from social media stuff. Yep. And it's funny to me because the, you know, they're the same kind of kids who'll say, oh, you can't trust what you see on TV yet, they'll trust a hundred percent something on TikTok. I

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: know. Which

Patrick Evans, Host: is total bs. Right? It's total garbage. Yeah.

There's no basis, and none of these people have understand what journalistic, you know, journalistic ethics are. And but to eat it up.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah.

Patrick Evans, Host: Because it's it's consumable on your phone.

Randy Florence, Host: It's easy to get.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yep.

Randy Florence, Host: And you can simply scroll and you can learn everything about everything in 30 seconds. Right?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Absolutely. And it's entertaining. And you're, they do have a short attention span, so, hey, I know, I know the answers in 30 seconds to what's going on in our world, all the problems. That's,

Randy Florence, Host: do you see any of this in your daughters?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Um, a little bit, yeah. You know, I, I try to set 'em straight, but I think they do have that mindset and that's.

to study journalism, take a [: 00:49:00

They don't know how to sift through it and have those critical thinking skills. Where do you think

Randy Florence, Host: there's a future balancing it for local news?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Oh, absolutely. I, I, I think journalism. I believe, and I'm optimistic, but I It has to stay. Yeah, it has to stay. Yeah. How we get it may vary. The platforms, the technology, obviously, you know, if, if kids are getting their news on TikTok, we gotta get out there on TikTok and show them the real news, right?

I mean, I do think we need to. To reach out and go where they're getting their information. But, you know, I, I can't imagine a world without journalism then. Then we're just being fed a bunch of propaganda and a bunch of, you know, well that never happens. Flies. No, it never happens. But you know, that's where it could lead.

And [: 00:50:00

Patrick Evans, Host: Well, I think we're extremely lucky to have someone like you who's teaching these kids, because I think you are showing that's where it's. Starts. Yeah.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. And it's not just journalism students. I mean, I, I get a lot of students in that are other majors, you know, math, science, but they're required to take a, a media literacy course.

So they do. And you know, I, I, my goal is to open their eyes, you know, put on that critical thinking cap and really listen and, um, think about what you're consuming and why you think the way you do, and how this message is impacting you and, and so forth. So. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. I love my job. I am very grateful to be at the college.

We have some exciting things happening in our media department, um, and our development. You have a

Patrick Evans, Host: new campus opening up? We

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: do. And we have a fabulous film studio, television studio, new radio, podcast studios coming there and new newsroom and journalism. Will we be

Patrick Evans, Host: moving over to that campus? We'll,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: yeah.

but we're really excited to [: 00:51:00

So teaching those skills, you guys aren't still

Patrick Evans, Host: teaching newspaper, are you? 'cause there's no place for this? No, we don't.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: We are teaching, we do have a new, they're making one. We do have a news, uh, publication, but no printed anymore. We stopped that during COVID. But you know, who picks up a paper anymore? I love the physical paper, but that just kind of dates me

Randy Florence, Host: personally.

How did the pandemic impact you?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Um, I, but besides

Randy Florence, Host: having three kids sitting along and pulling out each other's

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: hair, you know, I, I think it, it made me think differently about, uh, trying new things. Starting new things. Um, you know, rethinking the way I teach. Even to this day, I'm still teaching half online and half in person, but I find that.

ow, they're working, they're [: 00:52:00

Uh, you know, aspects. So, you know, I, I've done a lot of, you know, distance education training. Um, now I'm going through some AI training to figure that all out, which is exciting, but also scary.

Randy Florence, Host: Really scary. Um, so yeah, so

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: continual learning process. But

Randy Florence, Host: COD has a kind of a history of media and entertainment people coming out of there.

Over the years, don't they? Yeah, we do. Jimmy Kimmel and, yep. Carson Daley. Carson

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Daley. I mean, I think a lot of those folks would just, I mean, what was Carson? Daley a golf. He took some golf classes. Uh, he was not a media student, but you know, like I said, we have a great program. It

Patrick Evans, Host: worked out well for him in the end.

I mean, I think it did. Yeah. He, he was doing okay. Yeah, he's doing okay. I hear. And Kimel I think is okay. I

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: think he's okay. I

Randy Florence, Host: think he's, you know,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: he's got a ways to go. He, he's thinking he's gonna

Randy Florence, Host: hit it big someday. He's making a living. He just sticks with him and he's making a living. He's doing all right.

[: 00:53:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: think he's doing all right. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, COD didn't hurt them. I think it gave him a little boost.

Randy Florence, Host: So did I also hear you say that you were tenured?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I am. Yes. Wow. So you've got a job

Randy Florence, Host: for life.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: I do. Congratulations. Well, well, I have to do a good job, Brandy. I mean, that's part of it. You know, I have to keep doing

Randy Florence, Host: this podcast.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: You know, you, you go through the tenure process, ate 200 more episodes

Randy Florence, Host: and you'll be tenured. Oh, thank God. That's,

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: but, you know, people don't realize that you, you are continually evaluated. So just because I'm tenure doesn't mean that I'm. Free. I still have a student evaluations and, you know, faculty evaluation.

So they make sure we're doing our job. And, and I appreciate that because it keeps me on my toes. And

Randy Florence, Host: when you, when you leave at the end of the day, as, as a professor, how do you know you've had a good day?

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Oh, if, if students are not afraid to ask questions, I can see a little bit more confidence in the way they present themselves and, um.

eel like that's where it is. [: 00:54:00

So, and maybe it's. Our student population. I, I just find that a lot of them coming in just broken, you know, they don't know, they don't know what direction they wanna go into. Um, they don't know, they don't think they have what it takes to be an announcer or a journalist. And just getting 'em thinking that, hey, I can, they don't have a lot of support from home either.

Right. Um, so they don't have a lot of parents say, why are you studying media? That seems like a waste of time. Right. So they, a lot of it, they have to get over that and believe that, hey, there's something here for me if they wanna pursue it. So, yeah.

Randy Florence, Host: Where would you like to see your. Uh, professorship in five years.

start teaching going forward [: 00:55:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Yeah. Well, AI is one of them. I am attending a seminar this summer. Um, learning all the artificial intelligence stuff. I don't even know what I'm gonna be learning, but I think that's important for us to really embrace and not just.

I think, you know, that it, everyone thinks it's bad, you know, there's so much negative around artificial intelligence, but there's a lot of good that can be done too. And I think being educated on how to use it properly and how to educate our students, um, can be very valuable. And I'm just really excited to get over to Palm Springs.

I know the. Coachella Valley has been waiting for that campus. Yes, for a long time. It's, it's been a long time,

Patrick Evans, Host: Kevin. So I think everybody's gonna be excited about that. And I will

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: tell you that I think this Coachella Valley should be very proud of all the folks that have been working so hard to make this happen.

And, um, we're gonna do it right. We've got some great people on board, we've got some great ideas and I'm super excited.

achella Valley and now guest [: 00:56:00

Little and maybe personally, personally responsible for my next career. That's nice when I hit a

Randy Florence, Host: big

Patrick Evans, Host: in the movies, uh, you'll, when you make that Academy Award speech. Laura Lee Jackson is gonna have to be one of the people you thank UN

Randy Florence, Host: until they yanked me off for not supposed to be on the stage.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: That's right.

I was your first film, right? You were. You worked on my first director. Yes. I love it. I love it. Thank you. It was a pleasure working with you.

Patrick Evans, Host: Laura. Lori, thank you so much. Terrific to have you. Thank you. This is really cool. Thank you.

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: And it was so nice seeing you, Patrick. I like seeing you at this time of the day better than 4:00 AM Yeah.

In the morning. None of nobody's, no. Always likes seeing you. You know,

Patrick Evans, Host: the morning show's always fun. It's, but no one's super happy to be there at four, four o'clock in the morning, so

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: it's hard to be fully awake, you know, it's just, you're getting there. You get your

Patrick Evans, Host: coffee and you're like, working, is like, man, are we really up this?

ow. And working with you and [: 00:57:00

Laurilie Jackson, Guest: Right. And sometimes, you know, people, the audience is half asleep, which is sometimes a good thing.

It's a better thing. True. It's a better thing.

Patrick Evans, Host: Our thanks to Laura Lee. Our thanks to Mr. Randy. Florence. Thank you. You did a great job. This was a good one. Yeah, I knew it would be. John McMullen. Thank you very much. Thank you to the McCallum Theater, our presenting sponsor. Thank you to Skip Page and his team here at Little Bar, uh, who are always very gracious hosts for big conversations Little Bar.

Please subscribe so you never missed an episode. We're available on all of your favorite podcast platforms. I'm Patrick Evans. Thanks for listening.