For Sydney Brammer (26), most days at her job look like keeping tabs on traffic hazards, calling cops and spending hours at the San Diego Union-Tribune (UT) typing away at her computer. But not too long ago, she spent her days sitting around a table, pitching story ideas alongside her classmates at Point Loma Nazarene University.
From the moment she stepped foot on campus, Brammer knew that PLNU’s Department of Literature, Journalism, Writing & Languages would soon become a place she could call home.
Walking around campus during a preview day, Brammer felt drawn to PLNU because of its Christian community, and because “the presence of Jesus was apparent” everywhere she went. She was also struck by the hospitality and kindness shown to her by all of the professors, especially Dean Nelson, Ph.D., professor of multimedia journalism and founder of the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea.
“Dean was very intentional,” she recalled. “Talking with the literal director of the journalism program — who cared to know my name — caught my attention. I wanted to be part of that.”
Brammer said she could sense PLNU’s commitment to treat her as a person and not just a number. After meeting Nelson and other faculty members in her department, she saw herself thriving in the newsroom. She decided to major in journalism, and served as editor-in-chief of The Point, the university’s student-run newspaper.
She had no idea that four years later, her commitment to PLNU’s journalism program would lead to an internship with San Diego’s biggest newspaper.
Hired by Abby Hamblin (14), a fellow PLNU alum, Brammer now works as an intern at the UT, focusing on crime and public safety. While it’s proving to be a big change from reporting on campus news, Brammer said that many of the skills she learned at PLNU she finds herself applying today.
“[I learned how to] interview with empathy,” she said. “Dean taught us to build your sources and build a relationship [before an interview] if you can, and to approach difficult conversations in a kind way. That’s super important in journalism today, and in crime and public safety, because you’re dealing with such hard topics. Remembering you are a human and to be kind goes a long way.”
Brammer called Nelson her “forever mentor,” and someone she was able to lean on for support during her time as an undergraduate.
“I’m so grateful for him and everything he’s taught me.”
“I’m so grateful for him and everything he’s taught me,” she said. “He would sit with me and just listen if I ever needed to rant — not even about journalism, but about religion, faith, life and navigating post-grad. He’s an amazing person.”
Brammer said she felt individually supported as she met often 1-on-1 with Nelson and Guimel Sibingo, assistant professor of multimedia journalism. The smaller class sizes helped her feel more connected to her peers as well.
“We didn’t have a big staff on The Point,” Brammer explained. “It really allowed us to have a lot of creative freedom — we really made it what we wanted it to be. Being in charge of more things really puts the fire under you. There’s such a small staff that you have to do your job. … So in that sense, [Point Loma] really prepared me for [the UT]. I can take on multiple things. I have confidence to do stuff.”
Despite her busy schedule as editor-in-chief of The Point, Brammer still found ways to make the most of her time at PLNU. Thanks to a LoveWorks trip to New Zealand during her sophomore year, Brammer was able to make lifelong friends — many of whom are invited to her wedding later this year.
“That’s where I found my community, and my Point Loma experience got so much better after that,” she said. “After LoveWorks, I felt at home.”
Not only did Brammer find community through LoveWorks, but the trip also helped cement the calling into journalism she felt God had placed on her life.
“LoveWorks gave me a new perspective on how I can use journalism,” she said. “During LoveWorks, I saw how I could use my writing and interviewing for the Lord. The mission statement of Point Loma is [centered on] how God is calling you to use your major. That was my experience. I think LoveWorks really did help me see that. My faith has grown in that aspect, [using] my career for His glory.”
“During LoveWorks, I saw how I could use my writing and interviewing for the Lord. The mission statement of Point Loma is [centered on] how God is calling you to use your major. That was my experience.”
But Brammer’s calling hasn’t been without challenges. During her senior year at PLNU, The Point had to navigate both world and campus-wide issues, from the federal government shutdown to ASB decisions regarding student clubs. With rumors and misinformation being spread around campus, Brammer and her team worked around the clock to provide accurate and balanced coverage.
Despite the challenges, the payoff was immense. Not only did The Point help inform students — the defining duty of independent, student-run journalism — but they also received five awards for their work at this year’s Society of Professional Journalists awards ceremony in San Diego.
“That was really rewarding because it was such a tough year,” Brammer said. “And we made a lot of changes with our online presence, so it was really rewarding to have been recognized for that.”
As Brammer continues to find success in journalism now at the UT, she hopes to continue to pursue investigative journalism even after her internship.
“I’m really passionate about cultural reporting and telling the stories of all the different diverse communities here,” Brammer said. “There’s so many ethnic groups San Diego is home to. Getting to know different groups of people is my ultimate goal.”
