Summer Mixer in Old Town a Hit

Journalists supped on spicy Mexican food and quaffed margaritas while getting to know one another

Summer mixer draws crowd In Old Town

The salsa was hot, the margaritas were ice cold, and the conversation was buzzing at the annual Journalism Summer Mixer Aug. 23, as approximately 75 members of San Diego’s journalism groups mingled on the patio at the Alamo in Old Town.

SPJ co-sponsored the event with the San Diego Association of Black Journalists, the California Chicano News Media Association, the Asian American Journalists Association and the Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.

Attendees enjoyed a spread of steak and chicken tacos, rice, beans, chips and salsa, and took advantage of happy hour prices.

“I had a fabulous time,” said Jerry McCormick, a San Diego Union-Tribune copy editor and member of SDABJ. “It was great to mix and mingle with the other groups, and it’s nice to get together beyond the annual Christmas party.”

SPJ chapter president Jodi Cleesattle said she hopes to increase the interaction between San Diego’s journalism groups.

“We already have overlap among our groups, and I’d like to see us get to know each other even better,” Cleesattle said. “Co-sponsoring events is a lot of fun, and helping promote each other’s events is good for all of us.”

SPJ, SDABJ, CCNMA, AAJA and LGJA will co-sponsor a holiday party in December.