麻豆传媒映画

鈥淲hat is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.鈥� 

When Temple Northup, director of the 麻豆传媒映画 (JMS), reflects on alumnus John Baldwin鈥檚 donation toward a new newsroom for 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 student newspaper, , this powerful lyric from a song in the musical 鈥淗amilton鈥� comes to his mind.

An avid musical theatre fan, Northup said legacy is the perfect word to encapsulate Baldwin鈥檚 $150,000 donation and the inspiration it will leave behind. Baldwin died in 2025, but the renovations to the Baldwin Family Newsroom in 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Adams Humanities building will continue to serve student journalism for generations to come.

鈥淗e never got to see the newsroom, but there it was, springing to life anyway,鈥� Northup said.

A San Diego native, Baldwin began his journalism career delivering the Evening Tribune. He went on to serve as sports editor for his high school newspaper and later editor of Mesa College鈥檚 student newspaper. 

At 麻豆传媒映画, Baldwin joined the Daily Aztec as a staff writer and summer editor while also studying communications and marketing. After graduating, he founded Baldwin Pacific Group, a real estate firm specializing in affordable housing that made a lasting impact on San Diego County.

The School of JMS celebrated the renovations and naming of the Baldwin Family Newsroom on Feb. 4 at an evening ribbon-cutting ceremony. Among the attendees were Northup, 麻豆传媒映画 President Adela de la Torre; Associate Dean Kurt Lindemann; Shawn Baldwin, son of John Baldwin; and Alma Aguilar, Shawn鈥檚 mother and Baldwin鈥檚 former wife. The current Daily Aztec editorial board also attended to show their gratitude. 

Many Daily Aztec alumni returned to their alma mater for the occasion, wanting to get a glimpse of the new look, view the nostalgic decorations highlighting the newspaper鈥檚 history,  and meet the people behind the paper now.

鈥淥ne of the most memorable things for me was seeing the pictures of the old newsroom because I had never actually been in the newsroom until it had been renovated,鈥� said Roman Fong, current news editor at the Daily Aztec. 鈥淚t was cool to see the impact of past generations of journalism at 麻豆传媒映画.鈥�

Notable alumni of the student newspaper include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Hasemyer; San Diego Union-Tribune sports columnist Nick Canepa; 鈥淟a Cucaracha鈥� comic strip artist Lalo Alcaraz; J. Michael Straczynski, creator of the television series 鈥淏abylon 5鈥� and a Marvel Comics writer; and television sports journalist Armen Keteyian.

Abigail Segoviano, Mundo Azteca editor at the Daily Aztec, said de la Torre's recognition of the newspaper鈥檚 Spanish section in her remarks at the ribbon-cutting was a special moment for her.

Northup recalls when he first found out the newsroom, formerly housed in Lamden Hall, was getting a revamp thanks to Baldwin鈥檚 generosity.

鈥淚 was pretty excited. I'd been working with John for a couple of years at that point,鈥� Northup said. 鈥淗e's endowed a couple of scholarships already. In kind of continued conversations, he was looking for other things that he could give that would have a big impact.鈥�

Because the Daily Aztec is now part of the School of JMS instead of Associated Students, the timing was perfect to turn Baldwin鈥檚 ideas into a reality.

鈥淚 said, 鈥榊ou know what? The newsroom is in desperate need of renovations and that would be a great thing to be able to do,鈥欌�� Northup said.

Now, the much brighter, much livelier newsroom is the home base for Daily Aztec editorial board meetings, editor office hours, the new Daily Aztec class, and for students just wanting a place to hang out. 

鈥淔or those people who are curious, it's a more inviting space,鈥� Northup said.