Mustang Media Fest is the next evolution of the Cal Poly Journalism Department's signature event, the Jim Hayes Symposium and Hall of Fame Gala.

It is a four-day celebration of journalism’s role in shaping society, featuring workshops, keynote speakers, panels and community events to bring together students, alumni and media professionals. The event aims to inspire the next generation of storytellers in an industry that is constantly changing.

The Hall of Fame was created in 2016 to honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to the department and its student media organizations or those who have used their student media experience to launch successful careers. Inductees are celebrated at a gala dinner in conjunction with the symposium.

The Jim Hayes Symposium was established in 2013 when the journalism department’s advisory board envisioned an event to honor a beloved professor and inspire pride among students and alumni. To ensure lasting support for the symposium and the department, the Journalism Endowment was also created. Both the event and the endowment have continued to grow ever since.

To read more about who Jim was, visit our blog post exploring the history of this J-school legend. 

Mustang Media Fest was conceived by upper-division public relations students in 2025 to educate and connect generations of media professionals and provide an outlet for alumni and support for students. By taking inspiration from the past and combining it with the present, the event will have a lasting impact on the legacy of Jim Hayes, journalism students, staff, alumni and the Cal Poly community.

The vision is that the event will become an inclusive space where students have access to a diversity of alumni who have real-time experience in the media industry. At Mustang Media Fest, alumni are willing and available to support students and encourage them to become successful professionals.