Written by Esther Ouyang ’26
On Friday, November 14th, at 8a.m., a group of LMU students gathered on campus to begin the LA Career Trek, a Career and Professional Development (CPD) program that connects Lions with leading entertainment, media, and sports organizations across Los Angeles. Our group spent the day visiting Fox Entertainment, FOX Sports, and TMZ before returning to LMU for an Industry Insights Panel featuring LMU alumni and professionals within the media landscape.
Inside Fox Entertainment and FOX Sports
The first stop of the day brought students to the Fox Entertainment and FOX Sports headquarters in Century City. Hosted by LMU alumna, Nicole Alonzo alongside her colleagues Celeste Nguyen, and Danielle Parker, the group received an in-depth presentation from Scott Edwards, Executive Vice President and Head of Creative Advertising.
Edwards explained that creativity, accountability, and adaptability are the core values that shape both his team’s culture and the way Fox approaches their promotional work. Creativity, he noted, drives every campaign, but it must be paired with uniformity in tone, music, taglines, and overall vibe to create a coherent brand identity. Accountability means not striving for perfection but being responsible for your impact and work. Adaptability, he emphasized, is essential in an industry that changes constantly: “never let another driver make you the bad driver.” Staying steady under pressure and being quick, decisive, and solution-oriented is what allows creatives to thrive. Together, these three principles guide how his team operates, collaborates, and executes campaigns at a high level.
Edwards also shared insights into the details of market promotions. Using examples, he showed students what makes a strong trailer and how creatives should think inside the industry. Effective trailers, he said, should not reveal everything; instead, they spark curiosity and preserve the audience’s desire to see more. When evaluating ideas, he encouraged students to shift from asking “Do you like it?” to “Does it work?” because in a professional environment, every element already has a job, and the goal is to understand whether it fulfills its function. Edwards also quoted a showrunner’s note he once received: “You have to get a note on this. I don’t know what good it would do to our show.” The reminder: feedback isn’t always clear or immediately useful but navigating it with purpose and adaptability is part of the job. Altogether, his philosophy underscored a practical, disciplined approach to creative work, one that balances artistic instincts with strategic clarity.
After this inspiring presentation concluded, we toured the FOX Sports building and walked through the studio backlot, including its iconic New York Street, the historic outdoor set where Barbra Streisand filmed Hello, Dolly! in 1969. The Fox team explained how the lot has been used for decades of film and television production. Students also learned how various buildings on the Fox lot have been repurposed for classic productions, including elements of the 1960’s Batman series, demonstrating how much of Hollywood’s history is embedded on the studio lot.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at TMZ
Next, students traveled to the TMZ newsroom, where Leah Jack and her team led a guided tour of their busy, fast-paced workspace. The open-office environment operates on an early schedule, starting around 6 a.m., to keep pace with breaking news cycles and East Coast timing. Students observed the editorial workflow, production desks, and real-time coordination required for publishing entertainment news at speed.
Industry Insights Panel at LMU
To conclude the day, students returned to campus for an exclusive Industry Insights Panel featuring:
- Victoria Arévalo ’20, Disney Entertainment
- Anh Do, Live Nation Entertainment
- Kristin Juel, Juel Concepts
- Niko Klein ’18, LA Galaxy
Panelists shared candid advice on hiring, networking, and early-career expectations. Niko Klein ’18 emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong and accurate LinkedIn presence, noting that recruiters often compare a candidate’s profile with their resume to ensure consistency. Anh Do, mentioned that many roles are quietly filled before they are ever posted online, highlighting how crucial it is to build relationships early on. “Networking is very big,” she said. “Try to establish the relationship. Try to know who your employers are.”
Victoria Arévalo ’20 offered insight into sustaining those relationships over time: keep your network warm, stay engaged with people whose work you genuinely admire, and avoid reaching out only when you need something. Asking directly for favors, such as “Can you pass this to someone?”, might not be the best way to connect with people. Instead, she encouraged students to nurture the relationship itself rather than chasing a specific outcome. Kristin Juel closed the discussion by advising students to understand how their academic knowledge converts into real market value and to stay curious about how the industry operates beyond the classroom.
Finally, panelists discussed what interviews mean in the hiring process. More often than not, being invited to an interview already signals that the employer wants you. The interview becomes less about proving your qualifications and more about demonstrating how you communicate, collaborate, and fit within the team’s culture. Panelists encouraged students to approach interviews with confidence: once you’re in the room, the question is not “Are you good enough?” but “How do you work with others, and can we see you on our team?”
Looking Ahead
The 2025 LA Career Trek offered LMU students an exceptional firsthand look at the entertainment, sports, and media industries, while giving them practical advice into hiring practices, networking tips, and workplace culture. CPD extends its gratitude to the professionals and alumni who generously shared their time and expertise. LMU students can look forward to future career treks and upcoming events designed to support them on every step of their professional journeys through CPD.
