Journalism & Public Relations

2005 News Hall of Fame Inductees

Todd Bishop

Todd Bishop

A native of Orland, Todd was managing editor of The Orion in 1995-96. He began his journalism career as a reporter in The Philadelphia Inquirer’s two-year suburban correspondent program. He went on to specialize in business reporting, working at the Philadelphia Business Journal and Puget Sound Business Journal weekly newspapers. In 2002, he joined the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where he covers Microsoft and other technology-related subjects. Todd is the co-founder of the popular tech news site GeekWire(opens in new window).

John Ellis

John Ellis

John started his career in 1985 at Oroville Mercury-Register. In 1987, he began a stint at the Philadelphia Inquirer. In 1991, he moved to the Post-Tribune in Gary, Indiana, covering the Indiana Legislature. After a travel break, he went to Wichita, Kansas, spending three years covering education. Since early 2000, John has been at The Fresno Bee, covering politics – including four national political conventions and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's first term – and writing a weekly column.

Tom Gascoyne

Tom Gascoyne

Tom attended Chico State in the late ’80s, writing for The Orion in spring 1988. Beginning in 1993, he wrote for the Paradise Post and two years later was hired by the Chico News & Review, where he served as editor from 1999 to 2006. While at the CN&R, he received California Newspaper Publishers Association awards for a business story and for column writing. He serves as faculty adviser to the Butte College Roadrunner student newspaper.

Erin Kennedy

Erin Kennedy 

Erin’s career started in 1984 at the Paradise Post, followed by reporting jobs at Oroville Mercury-Register, Philadelphia Inquirer in 1987, and Post-Tribune in Gary, Ind., in 1991, covering mostly criminal justice, education and religion. After traveling the world, she worked three years in Wichita, Kansas, then six years at The Fresno Bee, covering education and writing a metro column. In January 2006, Erin took at job as Fresno Unified School District's chief information officer.

George Thurlow

George Thurlow

George was faculty adviser to The Orion from 1991 to 1994 and was particularly instrumental in helping to expand the paper’s advertising revenues. Prior to becoming adviser, George had a successful career in journalism, including a longtime editorship at the Chico News & Review.  He was publisher of the Santa Barbara Independent from 1994 to 2006 and is currently assistant vice chancellor for alumni affairs at his alma mater, the University of California, Santa Barbara.