The Neighborhood News Bureau at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg is not just a newsroom…
We’re a vibrant community of passionate students, dedicated faculty and engaged community members, committed to producing high-quality, impactful journalism that highlights important local issues. Here’s a look at the people who make it all happen:
Angeline Taylor, NNB Director
Fall 2024 – present
Taylor has been an award-winning journalist, executive editor, and educator with nearly three decades of experience shaping the media landscape. In addition to her leadership at USF, she is pursuing a doctorate at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
She has played pivotal roles in newsroom innovation, editorial strategy, and newsroom management. She was awarded a grant from the University of Vermont’s Center for Community News for USF’s NNB. She is a Maynard Institute Fellow, having completed both the Multimedia Program and Management Training Center, and a Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center Fellow through the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). She is also an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), where she has served as an adviser at ASU.
Beyond her work at USF, she has taught at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and ASU. At FAMU, she played a critical role in revitalizing The FAMUAN, the university’s student newspaper, which was republished after a five-year hiatus.
April Borjon, NNB Graduate Assistant
Fall 2024 – present
As a USF Digital Journalism and Design graduate student and a Hispanic female journalist, Borjon focuses on news coverage from across the borderland region and more. She received her B.A. in Journalism and Media Studies from New Mexico State University in 2024. She has served as the editor-in-chief and managing editor of multiple award-winning publications, and her passion for journalism continues to grow through her position as the graduate assistant for the student-produced online news outlet, NNB.
Faculty Advisors
The NNB program is guided by experienced faculty members from the department of Journalism and Digital Communication at USF St. Petersburg. They provide mentorship and editorial oversight to students, ensuring that each story adheres to ethical journalism standards while fostering a supportive learning environment.
Mark Walters, Department Chair
Dr. Walters is a professional journalist, veterinarian, and professor of Journalism and Digital Communication. He teaches narrative journalism and reporting, with a focus on science and medicine. He is the author of six books. His writing has been praised by the New York Times, The New York Review of Books, Nature, and numerous other scholarly and popular publications. Dr. Walters’ work has taken him to Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, and all fifty states. He received a B.A. in English literature from McGill University, a master’s degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism, and his veterinary degree from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, with a focus on international medicine.
Casey Peterson, Office Manager
Peterson is a staff member in the Department of Journalism and Digital Communication at USF St. Petersburg, where he assists with administrative duties for both the physical and online degree programs. He is an adjunct professor, teaching MMC 3602: Mass Communications and Society and MMC 2100: Writing for the Mass Media. He also helps develop courses for the Digital Journalism and Design master’s degree program.
Peterson previously worked as office manager for the Florida Scholastic Press Association, a nonprofit organization of student journalists from middle and high schools from across the state.
Peterson received an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Florida and a Master of Arts degree from the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at USF St. Petersburg.
Students
At the heart of the NNB are the talented graduate and undergraduate students who work as reporters, editors, and content creators. These students gain hands-on experience by producing stories on topics that matter most to the St. Petersburg community. Our students come from diverse backgrounds and bring a wide range of perspectives, skills, and enthusiasm to the newsroom. They are the future of journalism, and through the NNB, they are making a difference in the community.
