Writing with a purpose
Los Angeles Times reporter, Frank del Olmo, spent his years as a journalist covering the issues that mattered most to him. During his career, the main focus of his articles were immigration issues and other social justice issues that directly impacted the Latino community. Growing up in the Pacoima housing projects of the San Fernando Valley, del Olmo felt a close connection to the Latino community, as well as the need for the people to have their voices heard. After transferring from UCLA to CSUN to pursue journalism, he became their voice.
Frank del Olmo attended CSUN from 1968–1970. During this time there was a lot of racial tension and social justice issues going on around campus so even before his career started, del Olmo was no stranger to conflict and bringing light to the tougher topics. Del Olmo also spent a lot of time covering the high school walkouts in which students across the Los Angeles area walked out of class to protest sub-standard facilities, faculty curriculum and overall poor conditions.
His reporting style is spot on considering he does not leave out any aspect of his story and remains completely bias while covering these issues. For example, when he covered the high school walkouts he talked about how the protest was a last resort for schools like Garfield High School. He brought up the events that lead up to the walkouts such as the meetings and negotiations about improving the conditions of the school.
His coverage of these issues was meaningful and earned him a reporting job with the LA Times. By the end of his career, del Olmo had worked his way up from being a reporter to the associated editor of the Times. Despite his success, he never changed the noble ways of his journalism and continued to talk about the issues plaguing the Latino community, and at the end of his career he donated all of his work to the CSUN Oviatt Library for helping him reach the heights as a journalist that he is known for today. Frank del Olmos multi angled and well rounded stories not only took him far in school and his career but also earned him the Pulitzer Prize. His body of work makes him a model journalist and an ideal example of honest reporting.
