Long Time Media Adviser Takes Early Retirement From CSULB

LONG BEACH, CA, December 17, 2012 (Press-News.org) John Patrick Trapper Adviser to well -known local College based Media such as The Long Beach Union Newspaper, Kbeach Global Radio, and College Beat Television is taking early retirement from his position. The position is set apart from most University Advisers in that it is Managed by Associated Students Incorporated rather than an Academic Department such as Journalism. His responsibilities have varied in focus during Trapper's tenure depending on the need during rapidly changing technology and the transition from Generation X to the millennials.

Much of Trapper's twelve -year stint has been spent advocating for free speech as the Adviser to the alternative Long Beach Union Newspaper following the guidelines set by College Media Advisers Inc. and the Student Press Law Center. The Union could sometimes be known to be an equal opportunity offender to various communities both on and off the University Campus. Trapper's style was always to appeal to student intellect encouraging them to be smart in the way they editorialized or satirized a given issue. "The students are involved in a learning process and sometimes they make a mistake or cross a line. We looked for creative ways to resolve differences when someone got upset with us and that was an opportunity for growth on both sides. The Union also was known for some of the best satire and literary works winning some National accolades".

In addition to the Newspaper, Trapper guided Kbeach, the student run Radio Station for twelve years where most recently he took the temporary position of General Manager while they transitioned to HD FM Radio. After Trapper negotiated with Radio Station KKJZ and the CSULB Foundation (who holds the license), he worked with engineers to set up the technical aspects of the process and purchase the equipment. The station has always been open to student and community members who had a flair (or wanted to) for bringing issues and entertainment to life over the audio airwaves. When he arrived at CSULB twelve years ago he came with a diverse background that included working at the CBS Flagship Station in Philadelphia (WCAU), various marketing positions, and the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.

Trapper says what he will miss the most is the students, "there's just something special about working on a campus with so many individuals holding such high ideals for our world. I think they inspired me and kept me younger in as much as I helped them. There would be days where I would dance home because I realized I had just made a difference in a lost students life".

In March, he became certified as Paralegal to get more involved in Civil Rights Issues, and he has a growing Theatre Company in Los Angeles as well as a sitcom in early stages of development for which he is the Writer/Co-Creator.