Two local college students planning to pursue a career in journalism will be recognized with scholarships<\/a> at the event: Calla Jordan from the University of San Diego (USD) and AB Coles from San Diego City College.<\/p>\n Jordan, recipient of the $2,500 Frank Saldana Memorial Scholarship, is a senior at USD earning a degree in communications and political science. She has worked<\/a> for the student newspaper, the USD Vista, on top of her studies, and is currently its managing editor.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout my academic career, student journalism has been a constant source of motivation and inspiration for me,\u201d said Jordan. I began contributing to The USD Vista my junior year. I immediately found a community of energized and focused students.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel so lucky because now, not only can I work with USD communities to foster education and accountability, but I can help those interested in journalistic writing become strong and passionate writers.\u201d<\/p>\n Cole, recipient of the $1,500 SDPC Futures Circle Scholarship, is majoring in journalism and is currently a multimedia journalist for SDCC\u2019s City Times.<\/a> She began her journey in journalism while attending Coronado Middle School.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting this scholarship feels like a sign I am making things happen and, most importantly, helps me feel like I am on the right path,\u201d said Cole. \u201cI left my old university in New York to come home and continue my education locally. It did not feel right in New York despite the success I achieved. I was a main producer for the radio station and a package producer all in my first year, but it never felt right.<\/p>\n \u201cSince dropping out, I was in fear of the future. I got worried, wondering if I made the wrong decision to leave New York, but I have realized one thing this year. It is not about the place, but it is about what you can make of it. No matter where we are, if you have enough passion, you can make anything happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Along with their scholarships, SDPC said each recipient will receive a one-year, SDPC student membership.<\/p>\n *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *<\/p>\n Political ad spending tops $11 billion<\/p>\n The U.S. political advertising business is heading into its final week for the 2025-2026 political cycle and the overall amount of money scheduled to be spent is staggering.<\/p>\n AdImpact, a media tracking firm, continues<\/a> to project that $11.6 billion will be spent on midterm campaign ads. That compares to previous midterm expenditures of $9 billion for 2020 and $8.9 billion for 2022.<\/p>\n In a similar report, the ad tracking group Kinetiq Political Insights (KPI) said<\/a> $1.87 billion in broadcast and cable TV has aired or has been booked for October, with $1.01 billion scheduled for Oct. 15-31 alone.<\/p>\n KPI projects $11.96 billion will be spent in total media spending during the 2025-2026 election cycle, with races in Texas and Michigan attracting significant dollar amounts.<\/p>\n Democrats are racing to take advantage of a favorable political environment, while Republicans are committed to defend full control of Congress. Voting already has started in many states, thereby shrinking the pool of Americans left to convince.<\/p>\n Democratic candidates have dominated in fundraising, according to news reports. However, when you include Political Action Committees (PACs), Republicans have a huge financial advantage.<\/p>\n Axios reports<\/a> that Republicans are trouncing Democrats in political spending across the Senate map, and that advantage is now showing up in one of the metrics campaigns care about most: impressions.<\/p>\n \u201cMoney matters in a campaign\u2019s closing weeks, but what campaigns are ultimately buying is voters\u2019 attention,\u201d Axios said.<\/p>\n The New York Times reported<\/a> that the five largest Republican PACs raised roughly $732 million more than the five largest Democratic PACs between January 2025 and mid-October of this year.<\/p>\n The Times also reported the Republican National Committee has significantly outraised the Democratic National Committee, while transferring about $44 million to party committees.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SDPC-scholarship-win-foto-AB-Cole.webp\")
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\nCollege journalists (l-r) AB Coles of San Diego City College and Calla Jordan of the University of San Diego will be recognized by the San Diego Press Club on Oct. 27 (Photos courtesy San Diego Press Club)<\/p>\n