National Engagement Editor
USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism
Teena Apeles is the national engagement editor at the Center for Health Journalism at the USC Annenberg School of Journalism. In this role, she works closely with journalists across the country to center community voices and experiences in their reporting. Apeles has guided journalists in reporting for and with communities in creative and transformative ways, including developing story callouts and community questionnaires, hosting panels and listening sessions that bring together elected representatives and community members, and canvassing and tabling in neighborhoods to hear directly from people affected by specific health issues. Apeles has spent two decades covering art, culture, activism, history, and beyond for print and online media, including the Los Angeles Times, KCET, PBS SoCal, National Geographic, LAist and Stacker. She is the author of two nonfiction books and has contributed to and edited books on a wide range of topics, from public parks and urban wildlife to pop culture and social justice. Apeles is also the founder of the creative collective Narrated Objects, which produces community-generated books and interactive, intergenerational experiences to showcase the diverse voices of the region.
Innovative Approaches to Community-Informed Reporting
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CT