In George Whipple Jr.’s office at CBS News Los Angeles Bureau, an entire wall is lined with photos he has taken of legendary players in the NFL, NBA and NHL.
“I’ve always been a sports fan and played basketball most of my life. My dad had me watching the Lakers and UCLA basketball when I was 2 years old,” said the Cal State Fullerton alum. “Now, I get to go to games with my camera and capture historic moments.”
Whipple’s journey in storytelling began with a passion for creating compelling content, which he transformed into a career after graduating from Cal State Fullerton in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Today, Whipple is an Emmy Award-winning producer and editor for CBS News.
Reflecting on his education, Whipple credits CSUF for providing him with the “foundation for crafting good stories.”
As a student, Whipple gained hands-on broadcast experience, filming a newscast that captured the essence of street basketball players in Fountain Valley’s Mile Square Park and drafting a commercial for a class project.
“My first experience in television on campus gave me the bug to create more content and helped me determine how to piece together powerful and uplifting stories,” said Whipple.
In the College of Communications, Whipple said his professors underscored the importance of concise scriptwriting and trained students to develop a unique anchor voice.
“CSUF attracts a diverse student body whose lived experiences make a great teaching and learning environment,” said Jeff Rowe, former lecturer in communications and reporter for the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal. “George adopted my advice to build a fulfilling career, make friends, be a lifelong learner and always strive to be better today than yesterday. The career he carved for himself is a great testimony to CSUF.”
Capturing an Award-Winning Career
Supported by faculty experts like Rowe, Whipple landed his first internship at the Orange County Register. While networking at the OCR, Whipple met sports editors at the Orange County News Channel and the “rest became history.”
At the Orange County News Channel, Whipple climbed the ranks from a sports producer and news photographer to a news associate producer. Whipple filmed games for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Anaheim Ducks.
During his time at the Orange County News Channel, he also worked at CBS News2 as a sports and news editor.
For over 25 years, Whipple’s portfolio at CBS News Los Angeles includes such news packages as the end of California’s anti-cruising law, the popular television adaption of the video game “The Last of Us,” and a story about a mechanic who gifts repaired cars to people in South Carolina.
Because videography and news editing are in-demand skills in today’s newsroom, Whipple encourages students to learn as much as they can about evolving camera equipment and to pick the brains of content creators and CSUF professors.
“Your career is what you can make it. Work hard and good things will come to you,” he said. “Education helps you prepare before you put your foot in the door of your dream industry.”