If you're going to be a journalist, you ought to have a name like Johnny Media.
Media grew up in a housing project in Reno, Nevada with three siblings and blue-collar parents. Passionate about sports—especially sand volleyball—he never believed he would be a writer. In fact, much of his adolescence was spent being too scared to apply himself to math or writing because of his dyslexia. But in June 2024, the husband and father graduated with a degree in journalism, proving nontraditional students are just as capable of following their dreams.
“As I got older, I realized it's [about] me being proud of myself and pushing myself to do stuff for me and my immediate family, rather than what the world around me views me as,” Media says.
Media transferred from Oregon State University after almost three years in a different program. His leap into the world of freelance writing got him noticed by the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) in 2021, who invited him to apply for their journalism program. Media was excited about the shift, but not without his reservations. Advising, especially through TRIO Student Support Services—a program that helps first-generation, low-income students thrive—convinced him that coming to the UO was the right decision. TRIO helped Media find scholarships, internships, job opportunities, and more.
“They helped ease any worries I had,” Media says. “One thing I love about the entire university is I've never come across someone that just treats me like a university ID number. You’re [treated like] a human being.”
At the UO, Media has done things his high school self would have never dreamed of and built an “amazing resume” chalk-full of experiences. He’s covered Oregon athletics and intramural games and written about people who, like him, changed careers or entered higher education later in life. Most prominently, he had the opportunity to be the Editor-in-Chief of Flux Magazine.
“[Becoming Editor-in-Chief] was a surreal moment,” Media says. “As someone who struggled with writing in K-12, to be told you're going to be in charge of this award-winning publication was huge for me. I think that's probably the proudest I've been in my educational journey.”
Media doesn’t know what the future holds for his career, but one thing is certain—he wants to give back to others and reassure those like him that it’s never too late to change course.
“You don’t have to have it all figured out. There's time in life to adjust, to change stuff, to find what makes you happy,” he says.
Oregon150 is all about uplifting students at every stage of life, making sure that their academic pursuits lead to fruitful careers and supportive networks. Not every student in journalism can have a last name like “Media,” but anyone can learn from Johnny’s story and forge their own path at the UO.