Delilah Brumer - LAPC Student Spotlight of the Week

Delilah Brumer: A Pierce College Journalist's Journey to The New York Times

When Delilah Brumer walks through Pierce College's campus today, she does so as a member of the prestigious New York Times Corps journalism program and a reporting fellow at CalMatters. Her confidence and accomplishments reveal nothing of the obstacles she once faced, including one that once made the simple act of approaching a classmate feel impossible.

"For most of my life, the idea that I could be a journalist was unfathomable," Delilah shares, reflecting on her struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The condition was so severe that she missed most of middle school and dropped out of school multiple times. In high school, her OCD made even basic social interactions challenging, let alone the prospect of conducting lengthy interviews.

Delilah’s turning point came unexpectedly when she found herself placed in a journalism elective class. She quickly discovered that journalism combined her natural curiosity with writing skills. But it also presented a challenge, she would need to overcome her fear of talking to people. Rather than backing away, she decided to confront her OCD head-on.

At Pierce, Delilah found an environment where her talents could develop and her confidence could grow. She describes her time as transformative, indicating that the approachable environment and knowledgeable professors were key factors in her development.

Under the guidance of media arts professors Jill Connelly and Jeff Favre, she honed not only her writing skills but also developed proficiency in photography, video, and design. She even strengthened her Spanish language abilities, which have proven valuable when interviewing Spanish-speaking community members.

The Pierce student publications became her proving ground. Working her way up to become editor-in-chief of both the Roundup News and Bull Magazine, Delilah blossomed from someone who once struggled with basic social interactions into a leader guiding fellow student journalists. She found a sense of belonging among her peers at these publications that helped her continue growing both personally and professionally.

Delilah's dedication and growing skills caught the attention of one of journalism's most prestigious institutions when she was selected for the New York Times Corps program. She describes the experience as fantastic, highlighting the value of learning from accomplished professionals and fellow student journalists.

"I've learned a tremendous amount from my mentor, investigative reporter Jo Becker, as well as the other student journalists in the program," she shares.

These mentorship opportunities led to a remarkable chance to put her skills to work during a crisis. When wildfires devastated Los Angeles communities, her mentor helped arrange for her to work as a stringer for the New York Times. Delilah assisted with coverage of false evacuation alerts and a Mass held for fire victims, an experience that allowed her to provide crucial information to her community in a time of need.

"I'm most passionate about covering education and amplifying student voices," she explains. "I've seen how education intersects with so many other topics—technology, politics, immigration, activism—and it has been immensely rewarding to cover as a beat."

Her work has allowed her to report on important but often overlooked issues, including student voters, undocumented students, and advocacy on college campuses. By double majoring in journalism and political science, she's building expertise that informs her education reporting.

As June graduation approaches, Delilah is preparing for the next chapter of her journey, hoping to transfer to either CSUN or UCLA in Fall 2025. Looking beyond her university degree, she aspires to work as a full-time staff reporter at a newspaper or nonprofit news outlet. Her dream assignment would be covering federal education policy in Washington, D.C.—a goal that once seemed unattainable but now appears within reach.

From a student who once found social interaction nearly impossible to a rising journalist with bylines in significant publications, Delilah's journey illustrates the transformative power of a supportive college environment. As she prepares to leave Pierce College, Delilah carries with her not just academic credits and professional experience, but the confidence that comes from rewriting her own story—one article at a time.