Gary Metzker

Gary Metzker has been a full-time lecturer at Cal State Long Beach since 2008 and serves as design adviser for the Daily 49er and DIG Magazine.

Metzker has worked at newspapers in Delaware, Missouri, Florida and California. For almost 25 years, he worked at the Los Angeles Times as sports news editor, metro news editor, A1 editor and senior editor. During that time, Metzker was a part of four Pulitzer Prize-winning staff awards for breaking news and spot news.

Metzker has also been awarded seven Los Angeles Press Club awards and two Medals of Excellence from the Society for News Design. In addition, he has presented seminars and workshops for the Journalism Association of Community Colleges, College Media Association, Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. The California Journalism Education Coalition named him 2013 Journalism Educator of the Year. In 2019, he was awarded the Jolene Combs Spirit Award by the California Journalism and Media Affiliates; only the third time the award has been given. He is a board member of the California College Media Association, the Southern California Journalism Education Association and the College Media Association.

Metzker received his bachelor’s degree in journalism degree from the University of Missouri and his master’s degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton.

Office Location: LA4-201B
Phone: 562-985-7985
Email: gary.metzker@csulb.edu