College journalism education and student media are facing some of the biggest challenges in their history — shrinking budgets, administrative pressure, rapid technological change and an uncertain future for local news.

Barbara “Bob” Allen is a Los Angeles-based journalist, trainer and consultant with more than 20 years of experience in journalism, student media and higher ed. Her clients trust her expertise in student media management and her command of changing technology. They also appreciate her ability to quickly and authentically connect with college journalists.

Bob began as a local reporter and editor, then moved into higher ed as a professor, adviser and director of student media. In 2018 she joined the Poynter Institute, first as managing editor and later as director of college programming.

She founded CollegeJournalism.org in 2025 as an independent hub for the field — publishing the Student Press Report, a national news desk covering student media, and the College Journalism Newsletter, a weekly resource trusted by advisers and educators at colleges and universities nationwide.

Her training and consulting work has taken her to some of the country's leading journalism programs, including Penn State, BYU, Duke, the University of Texas, and the University of Central Oklahoma.

If you're looking for affordable training and/or consulting that makes a genuine and immediate impact, you're in the right place.

Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to learn more about working together →