Metzker knows his stuff. He was the page designer on the sports page of the LA Times for a very long time. Very knowledgeable and friendly, willing to help. Will tell you if your page is ugly without sugar coating, which is good cause he wants you to perfect the art. Highly recommended!

I love this guy; he is nice, funny, and very helpful. He worked at the LA Times for 25 years so he knows his stuff. You don't have to come to class everyday, but you need to come usually because he will do in-class assignments. However, they're really easy and help your grade. I reccomend him to anyone!

Take this class...get out of class early every lecture, only a midterm, a final, and three fun easy projects. This guy is awesome he is very understanding and nice. He knows his stuff and makes the class interesting. Fun to take even if you arent a journalism major

Gary is an extremely nice guy, but it was his first semester teaching. There were lots of miscommunications concerning what he wanted for the projects (5 typos/spelling and you get a 75) and questions on the exams that were NOT on the study guide plus questions from in-class assignments nobody remembers. The tests aren't curved either.

He was an okay professor. It was his first semester teaching...and as someone commented before, there were a lot of misunderstandings with the written assignments. Tons of in-class assignments mainly consisting of working with others and a laptop and 2 exams.

Professor Gary is awesome! He totally knows his stuff. He's super helpful and the friendliest guy you'll ever meet. The class was pretty easy and you learn the basics of InDesign. oohh, and he brought us the best bagels on earth when we had in class projects and tests! Take his class!

the class was pretty boring, hes a nice guy though. you should prob go to class it helps to have the notes, he gives you a study guide, 3 papers/projects, 3 tests, and he quizes you on current events which ad up so go to class.

cool teacher. nothing but youtube videos that completely relate to what his ppt notes are about. all ppt are on bb. very easy class, he always lets us out early too. just go to class and you should be able to pass. also read some news every class meeting because he has quizzes on current events.

Not a hard class to pass, but a hard one to get an A in. Make sure you do every single assignment and study for the current events quizzes because the whole class is only 100 points, so each point counts! Gary wasn't a bad teacher, though.

Gary is GREAT! His class is so easy. Its based on three papers (only 2 pages each), some quizzes on current events, and two exams that are super easy, and the questions are all based on his lectures. He starts off the class with youtube videos, and his lectures are pretty interesting. I didn't read the book at all, just pay attention in class!

Metzker is a real cool guy, He will help you out in any way that he can. His grading is okay, just make sure you come to class so that you know what your doing. You won't need the book at all. He gives a few pop quizzes and attendance does matter so make sure your there. The whole class is only out of 100 points so every point counts.

Didn't need textbook at all. Gary is very entertaining and motivated in teaching. You will learn a lot about the media and what not. Gives out study guides before tests, very helpful.

One of the best journalism prof! he is super friendly, super easy to talk to and get help from, is interested in all of his students and their success. His class is exciting and interesting and he comes from a lot of different media type backgrounds that give his lectures interesting depth. Loved him!!!

Really chill professor, his lectures are interesting and very organized. He shows SNL clips and a lot of Jon Stewart lol He gives random quizzes about the most random things ever, you will seriously never get 100% on them. But RELAX! his essays are a piece of cake. Overall great class! take him :)

Gary is awesome. Easily one of the coolest professors I've ever had at CSULB. He always gets the class going with funny comments. His class is easy if you go to class and put in as much effort as he does. Definitely taking more classes with him.

THE BEST! Loved Gary!! He's funny and knows his stuff. He's worked at the LA times. He makes you think he's a hard grader but he isn't. Or at least he wasn't for my class. Class consisted of random writing assignments and weekly quizzes of just current news and an open book quiz. This class made me feel like a real journalist. Going to miss him!

Gary is the absolute best! Ignore all those angry faces listed. If you're taking a first journalism class, as in the 101 commenters, of course it will be more difficult than you expect. Gary is extremely helpful, passionate and personable. Make sure you attend class and ask questions. He has an open door office policy and always willing to chat

Absolutely love Gary! Best journalism professor I've ever had. He likes to joke about being a chili pepper, so I'm writing this in class as you read this. Take him. You won't regret it.

He's chill

Absolutely love Gary!! He's a great person, very easy to get along with, and very knowledgeable with design. Learned a lot and didn't know a lick of indesign or design in general! He goes at a reasonable and comfortable pace and is always willing to help you. He's very upbeat for an 8 a.m. class (which I never was) but he made it okay :)

I absolutely LOVE this teacher. I had him for sports journalism and even though there were quite a few papers, he was great. He gives you feedback on how to correct your mistakes to make your writing better. Also, hes hilarious. Such a sweet man and he makes class enjoyable too. I'm definitely taking him for other classes.

This has been my favorite course at CSULB so far. Gary is charismatic, charming, and really makes you want to work harder. He's a very funny guy, and I will definitely be taking more of his classes.

Tough grader but I learned a lot in his class. He goes out of his way to connect with students and give us personalized feedback. This was probably the only journalism class I enjoyed and found useful during my entire time at Cal State.

attendance doesn't matter, lectures are on beach board. does give the occasional pop quiz based off of current events, mid term and final are pretty easy if you study, funny guy, doesn't care if you sleep or use your phone during the lecture.

One of my favorite professors in journalism. He is a tough grader, but don't be afraid to ask him for help. He can come off as intimidating at first but he's a funny guy. I learned a lot in this class and I wish I could take one of his classes again.

Gary is so nice and the class was a breeze. The grades are based on three really easy papers and the midterm and final. he is not a tough grader and he has such much experience and knowledge therefore very insightful. the class was basic knowledge and nothing too difficult. don't get the book, that is why it is optional

He lectures every class but we were usually let out of class 20 minutes (or more) early. Tests were super easy (midterm and final) if you use the study guide he provides. Three really easy papers are due throughout the semester. Highly recommend this class, love this guy. Hes so funny and has so much knowledge and cares A LOT

Gary is so awesome and funny. Lectures consist of book material (which you don't need to buy) and videos of current events which are fun to watch since it's people like Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, etc. Do the study guides because it'll help get an A on the two exams

This was my favorite class this semester. Easy A. Attendance was mandatory, but class was fun. Lots of videos and simple lectures. Gary was funny and made his class lighthearted. He ends class early most days. I would DEFINITELY suggest this class.

Amazing and well-decorated designer. Has tons of experience in the field and knows everything there is to know about news design. If you're not experienced with InDesign, don't worry! He takes everything really slowly to make sure everyone understands. Pay attention to his likes/dislikes in design and don't forget the white space!

This class was great! Gary truly cares about his students and helping them learn to become amazing designers. The class is made up of 3 projects, weekly quizzes, a midterm and a final. Attendance is mandatory but youll want to come to class! Take this class if you can, youll learn a lot about media design and Gary is one of the best professors!

Great Professor, took him online & he post 1 lecture videos every week about 15 min or less. Theres 1 midterm & 1 final. About 2 quizzes. All are open note. 2 Projects that are easy. 1 Discussion board every week (easy). I didn't use the textbook at all & got an A . Overall easy & interesting class, amazing professor would 100% take again.

Weekly: Short discussion post from content, 2 short replies to posts, short but AMAZING weekly lecture video (11 mins?), occasional 1-page Dropbox replies, and rare current events quizzes. Super easy 100 level course, but super informative. Learned SO much about media, very interesting, and Gary is one of the best LB professors; so funny & caring!

Loved Metzkers class! Assignments are organized and laid out according to week. Lectures are fun videos he made himself! Tests are straightforward and he gives helpful study guides before the test date. As long as you stay on top of the work youll be fine.

I LOVE GARY!!! i'm currently taking this class for my major requirement & it's super fun! he has the best personality & whenever we join class he calls on people and asks about their day, i absolutely love it. work load is very light, he posts the lectures & notes for the week & every once in awhile has a discussion post (really short too!).

TAKE THIS CLASS. It is a breeze and Gary is the BEST! Very few assignments and he gives you everything you need to know for the midterm/final. He loves his students and is always having conversations with us even though were online. Best professor Ive had so far!

Gary is the best. His lectures are fascinating and the two projects he assigns are actually pretty cool. The quizzes are also super easy.

Gary is a great and nice professor. This class had papers, quizzes, discussion posts, a midterm, and a final exam. Most, if all, of the answers to the final exam (as well as possibly the midterm) were on BeachBoard. Overall, this was an easy online class.

Gary is an amazing professor. Hes hilarious and I learned a lot from him. His JOURN20 class at LBCC is an easy A. As long as you show up to class ready to learn and you do the work youll pass.

One of the most caring professors I had. His lectures are great and he wants his students to be successful. Stay on top of the assignments and the class should be fairly easy.

Great Professor, Take him!

One of the best professors in the department. Funny, and gives solid feedback, lets you know when you can do better. Doesn't lecture if he doesn't need to.

gary is hilarious and has fun lessons. he is very media conscious!! weekly homework, very easy though (discussion posts or simple assignment). midterm is super easy, you can control f his lectures (he has docs of it typed out) and you'll find the answers, will definitely call on people randomly. love him!

Coolest prof. I was excited about this class and he's done a great job making sure no one gets left behind. He jokes around a lot. There were four projects but he gives us class time up until the deadline so you basically have no hw. His test are easy just make sure you write down what he tells you is important. No lectures really. W proffesor

He is so funny & kind. Only 2 two/three pg papers & they're so easy. Discussion posts every week are no more than 50 words. In class u talk abt current events and watch music videos. It's easy and actually fun to talk in class. 1 midterm and then final which are both open note. Lectures are literally 5 minutes. It's impossible to not to get an A.

Gary is hilarious and he really cares about his students. He records lectures for students to watch on their own time and spends the first part of class asking students about their day. Taking notes on his lectures is enough for the exams. Super easy work and a fun time in class. Gary's love for his work is apparent and makes class very enjoyable!

Midterm & final are open notes open book not much homework besides something due every Sunday night but that should be doable for a college student very caring and does offer extra credit wish I had more time to take him again :)

Gary is amazing. his class is fairly easy just do the work. discussion every week with less than 50-100 words, his midterm and final are open notes and 2 paper projects on which you need to write about 1-2 pages. he is funny and a great professor.

Gary is one of the funniest and most charismatic professors I've ever had! The class was online, but Gary had such great energy and I always looked forward to his class. He gave clear instructions and his assignments aren't too difficult as they seem. He provides the textbook for the class. You definitely won't regret having Gary as your professor!

Gary is one of the most easy-going teachers I've ever had. He teaches you topics within the context of pop culture, and while it doesn't feel like you are learning, you retain the lesson in some shape or form. The class is manageable with weekly discussion posts, a mid-term, two short papers, and a final. Please take this professor. He's the BEST.

Prof. Metzker was amazing! His lectures are concise and straight to the point. He also makes it easy to find all of the information needed for the course. No textbook required which is great!!!

This class was asynchronous, and when I tell you I WISH it wasn't, I truly mean it. I was actually sad I didn't get to go in person and participate in his lectures. He's hilarious, literally the funniest professor I've had. The assignments are SO easy and can be fun sometimes. If I could give one piece of advice, it'd be to take this professor.

I had Gary for COM 205 at Pepperdine. I adore Gary as a person and professor. So funny and relaxed but also very knowledgable. I learned so much and had a lot of creative freedom in the class. I adjusted my schedule for the upcoming semester just so I could take on of his classes again. If you ever see he is teaching a class YOU NEED to take it.

This is my favorite class I've ever taken! Gary is so funny and made the class very enjoyable, this class was only once a month but I wish it was every week because of how entertaining it was. I'm not a journalism major but this class made me so much more interested in learning more about journalism!

Gary is a really fun professor and great person! We only met once a month for JOUR 110, which was honestly sad. I ended up not learning that much since the assignments were all very simple and based on common knowledge. I wish we had learned a lot more from him through in-person classes and more helpful discussions/exams/papers.

By far my favorite professor of my first semester here. He is so funny and easy going. Lectures aren't mandatory but I just go because he was very fun and just played fun videos. I would for sure take this class again. Definitely recommend him!!!

He's so good! super easy work and only meet once a week (and you don't even have to go). He's so sweet and funny that you want to show up for the half hour once a week (he always lets class out early). Take him!!

TAKE THIS CLASS!! This is by far the easiest professor I've ever had. He has few assignment and they are all super easy and simple. Prof. Gary is also caring and funny, would definitely recommend this teacher!

Gary deserves all the 5-star reviews. He excels as a professor, as a journalist, and as a phenomenal human being. The JPR department at CSULB has some forgettable professors, Gary is not one of them. His enthusiasm and genuine love for the industry (despite its flaws) will remind you of what journalism should be about.

One of the lightest classes ever, quick and easy classes, usually class only lasts 20mins. Gary is the best. Minimal effort lowkey.

As a first year I thought this class was great. Gary is a great professor and the class was light. We only met once a week and the class lasted max 30-35 minutes. Class was always let out early. Midterm and final for this class was taken at home and he gave us about 2 weeks to get it done. Overall great professor and I recommend his Jour 110 class!

Class is 15-30 min. and lectures are brief videos and summaries on canvas. Simple assignments expand your knowledge of the course. Fun projects are modernized to relate to the students. Professor is reliable and sticks to syllabus criteria. Enjoyed his teaching style and personality so much that I'm actively searching for another class he instructs

Gary uses his professional background and approachable teaching style to make this class as easy as possible. You're able to leave this class on the back burner except for two major papers. All of the material is on canvas and exams including the final are open note. If you're looking for a simple and easy 3 credit GE this is it.

Gary is awesome he really cares about his students and I ALWAYS had fun in class. Great teacher and has great experience and knowledge. One down side is that his grading did not make much sense to me. He inputted a bunch of grades last minute and it dropped my grade significantly. Not the best grader but I still loved him. Would still take again.

Easiest class ever. Only one assignments each week and just a video. And two major paper. He's very energetic which I like. Downside his class is short which makes it optional to go since his videos are the same as in class lectures. He's cool.

Simply the easiest class ever. Such a cool professor. Super easy discussion posts every week, I would write 2 sentences and submit and get full credit. No need to attend lectures. We would only stay in lecture for 10-20 mins and than he would let us out super early. He's super awesome.

Gary is great. His lectures happen once a week and are rarely more than 30 minutes long. On the other instruction day, you are expected to watch his video lectures which aren't long either. He has a few easy, open-note quizzes and assignments that are literally so easy. Sometimes assignments are vague, but he gives class time to answer questions

Most goated prof at CSULB. If you have the chance to take any of his classes, do it. Made me love media design. In this class, you just build your design portfolio and have 4 portfolio assignments with 2-4 projects in each one. The last project was just a resume and your best work of the semester. Don't take this class for granted. Trust.

He was such a chill professor. Super quick class, usually only like 20 min max in class. Pretty fun class and is very easy.

Definitely one of my favorite professors! he is super funny and all his assignments are actually interesting/fun to complete! He's definitely nit a harsh grader! His in person lectures are super quick and his online videos are too, but are still very helpful and entertaining!

Professor Metzker is one of the best professors I've had here at LB! He is super funny and his lectures are no more than 30 minutes! There was 2 writing assignments, but they were 2 fun topics so no stress included! I highly recommend taking this course as an intro to journalism or pr!

Had a blast with Gary! He would keep us in class for less than 30 minutes, and was always ready to help. Assignments were pretty easy and just an overall breezy class. Would totally recommend this to knock out some units.

Such a great professor, class is super short and he uploads lecture vids that are at most 15 mins. Some discussion post super easy and 2 papers that are only 2 pages long

Take Gary!!! He is so funny! Theres assignments almost every week, but are easy to follow and understand. We met only once a week, and the other day was an online lecture video. Personally, we got out of class about 20-30 mins of it starting. Midterm/Final is easy as long as you watch the lecture videos, along with a helpful study guide!

Please take him. you will learn a lot from him.