Andrea Madison '25: Writing Studies Alumni Spotlight
Launching a Career in Journalism: From DVC to SMC to KCBS
by Lucy Bikahi ’25
Andrea Madison knows writing. Between being a staff writer at the Orinda news since 2021, starting as news writer at KCBS All News Radio in San Francisco in 2024, and completing her communications degree as well as a professional writing certificate at Saint Mary’s College, it’s safe to say crafting language is a huge part of her life.
Journalism Career at DVC
Andrea has taken on impressive and rewarding storytelling opportunities throughout her journalism career. One project she is particularly proud of is a series she took on early in her writing career at Diablo Valley College (DVC), when she investigated the repeated resignation/reinstatement of the DVC chancellor.
Since then, she has published a large variety of stories for the Orinda news, with one notable piece being a profile she did on a former rower who had medaled in the Olympics in the 1960s; for this piece she had the opportunity to interview him, read his book, and make sure his story was told. “That's what I really like about writing,” Andrea says when talking about these projects. “You gather all this info, you kind of let it stew, and then you kind of, you put it out there, and it's just exciting. And it sticks with you.”
Increased Confidence and Concision
In addition to her communication degree, Andrea also took on completing the Writing Studies Program’s Professional Writing Certificate, a three-class program that began in Fall of 2023. “It's one of the best decisions I've made in my educational journey,” says Andrea when discussing her experience in the program.
When asked about some of the skills gained throughout the program, concision and increased confidence in structuring her writing were two of the most prominent takeaways, skills that are incredibly important in both written communication and her job at KCBS. In classes such as WRIT 250 Social Justice through Professional and Technical Writing (formerly WRIT 300), there was a focus on writing memos and reports, as well as User Experience (UX) writing, all genres in which concision is essential.
At KCBS, much of her job is condensing stories into thirty second segments, meaning concision is an invaluable skill to have. When talking about this increased proficiency, Andrea says, “Where do you begin? Where do you start to unravel it? But just having more confidence in myself, I'm gonna know how to do this. I have the patience for it. I know where to start. I'm already kind of outlining it [the story] in my head.” Essentially, the program helped her build on existing knowledge and passion, adding an additional and welcome layer to the writing process.
Professional Writing Always Stays with Her
The Professional Writing Certificate is open to more than just those in the English and Communications sphere; students from any major on campus can complete it and from Andrea’s perspective, every student who can take it should. “Professional writing as a part of somebody’s professional life out in the job sphere is very important,” she says. “A business major is gonna use it, a stem major is gonna use it; it’s just something that’s very adaptable across pretty much every major.”
Ending our interview on a motivational note, acknowledging the ever changing world of writing and professional writing industries, Andrea spoke to the value of writing and of the professional writing program stating, “As things are in flux, I feel like professional writing is something that’s always going to stay with you. And you can change the world with it, you can make the world a better place with it, at the risk of sounding a little cliché. But I believe that and that’s what I’m going to take my certificate and go do and it’s all thanks to Saint Mary’s.”
Lucy Bikahi ’25 serves as a professional writing intern in the Writing Studies Program at Saint Mary’s College.