The562 is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to our team, with Matt Fields and Spencer Frank both joining the organization in an internship role. Both Fields and Frank are seniors in the Long Beach State journalism department and will be assisting The562 in various ways over the next few months.
Founders and co-editors Mike Guardabascio and JJ Fiddler have a long history of mentoring aspiring journalists, and just this week were the guest speakers in a sports journalism class at Long Beach State. Providing real-world job experience and mentorship to Long Beach’s students and young journalists is a key component of The562’s mission statement, and the organization is thrilled to welcome aboard a pair of talented contributors.
Furthermore, both Fields and Frank join the list of a dozen current/former student-athletes who have appeared in The562’s coverage before contributing to the organization.
Fields has been acquainted with The562 for several years due to his success on the baseball diamond. Fields was an All-Moore League player at Lakewood High School and is a current member of the Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball program.
He will assist in The562’s efforts as a non-profit, sitting in on virtual board meetings while providing support for the organization’s fundraising efforts. He will also bring his unique perspective as a current Division I student-athlete to providing new and unique content in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, Frank is a graduate of nearby Los Alamitos High School who went on to attend Long Beach City College and Long Beach State. He was a member of the basketball program at Los Al and has returned to his alma mater as the JV head coach and a varsity assistant. Frank has established skills as a writer, photographer, and videographer, and has already provided coverage of cross country, basketball and football games in Long Beach.
The562 is proud to have a diverse and homegrown group of freelancers and contributors in the organization. The vast majority of our full-time and freelance staff are products of Long Beach schools, and we are committed to helping cultivate the next generation of journalists in our community.
Visit our support page to make a tax-deductible donation to The562, or if you’d like more information on how we engage with local students, please email Tyler@The562.org.
