MarketInk: Torrey Pines grad’s first day covering Pentagon was ‘Midnight Hammer’

As a freshman at Torrey Pines High School in Del Mar, Alexandra Ingersoll attended her English class when the teacher said something to her that Ingersoll has since remembered a thousand times.

“I was struggling with something, I don’t remember exactly what it was, but the teacher had the audacity to say to me, ‘You’ll never be good writer,’” Ingersoll told Times of San Diego. “Clearly, that statement only fueled a fire within me. From time to time, I still think of that comment and just chuckle.”

Ingersoll said she credits the formative rigors of Torrey Pines in part to why she has demonstrated a deep depth of grit and resilience in her career.

Today, Ingersoll is the chief correspondent covering the U.S. Department of Defense for One America News Network, a San Diego-based news network available on cable, streaming and satellite.

Her office at the Pentagon is located along what’s known as the Correspondents’ Corridor. Earlier this year, OAN was selected for the office space previously reserved for a mainstream news organization. OAN replaced NBC News, The New York Post replaced The New York Times, Brietbart News Network replaced NPR and The Huffington Post replaced Politico. Many of the mainstream outlets still have communal desk spaces along the corridor, said Ingersoll.

“D.C. is never more energized than during a Trump administration, watching him take-on ‘The Swamp’ and keeping everyone on their toes,” Ingersoll said. “It’s a thrilling time, and already feels much different than my first time.”

After graduating from Torrey Pines High School in 2005, Ingersoll attended Brigham Young University, participating in mission service and study-abroad programs.

After graduating from BYU with a journalism degree, she worked in New York City for two years at a magazine and public relations agency, which was followed by nearly five years in Los Angeles working for Larry King, hosting the news for his digital media network and producing and writing a TV pilot series featuring King.

“Even though I grew up in San Diego, I’ve spent a lot of time on the East Coast with extended family who live here,” said Ingersoll. “My dad grew up in D.C. as my grandfather was a longtime professor at Georgetown University. So, there’s always been a part of me that has solidly identified as an East Coaster.”

After working in L.A., Ingersoll relocated to Washington, D.C., during President Trump’s first administration, working for iHeartMedia’s NBC National News and local stations. She was promoted to create and co-host iHeart’s WONK-FM, a political news show.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and iHeart restructured the workforce, Ingersoll took unemployment as an opportunity to earn her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California. She then joined OAN in 2024 as a news writer, producer and anchor working at the San Diego studios. She was promoted in June to cover the Pentagon.

Ingersoll said she will never forget her first day on the Pentagon beat.

“Following a few frenetic days of packing in San Diego, I arrived in D.C. on Saturday evening, June 21st,” she said. “I was eager to get to D.C. as soon as I could, because it seemed like things were escalating and my news sense was telling me that life would soon become very interesting.

“I was just about to fall asleep when, all of a sudden, breaking news flashed across the hotel TV screen about the strikes in Iran.”

As she watched the President’s announcement about the strikes, Ingersoll said she learned that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth would be briefing the press at the Pentagon the next morning. “I said to myself, ‘Here we go, we’re off to the races,'” she said.

At 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, Ingersoll was in the room with Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, listening to their briefing on Operation Midnight Hammer.

Hegseth said Iran’s nuclear ambitions had been “obliterated” following strikes on three nuclear sites across the country. Caine said the mission with seven B-2 stealth bombers represented the largest B-2 strike in U.S. history, involving more than more than 125 aircraft, including decoy flights, and 75 precision guided weapons dropped on the sites.

For 25 minutes, from approximately 6:40 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. Eastern time, on Saturday, June 21, the B-2s dropped 14 bunker-buster bombs on multiple targets at the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. The planes did not come under fire before, during or after the attack. Caine indicated that the goal of the operation — destroying nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan — had been achieved. Hegseth said at the press briefing it was important to note that America does not “seek war” and the U.S. strikes did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.

“Grasping the magnitude of the efforts by our great military was incredibly impressive to witness,” Ingersoll said. “It was an unforgettable first day back in D.C., and it is a great honor every day to contribute at the Pentagon.”

Ingersoll said she stays busy filing multiple news reports daily from the Pentagon building in Arlington, VA. 

“I’m excited to be here,” she said. “I find information gathering and reporting a very fun process, although it’s certainly a different kind of fun than catching waves at the beach in San Diego. Admittedly, I’m still a terrible surfer. And, I’m proud to be part of OAN and the network’s growth trajectory.”

OAN, launched on July 4, 2013, produces 16 hours of live breaking news coverage on weekdays, featuring live coverage from the White House, Capitol Hill and the Pentagon, in addition to national and international news reports. The network also features four, one-hour, weekday, prime-time political talk shows providing analysis, discussion and debate. 

OAN has been adding viewers following several major announcements.

In May, Herring Networks, the parent company of OAN, announced a new multi-year content carriage agreement with Spectrum TV. The agreement provided OAN access to more than 12 million subscribers. Spectrum TV, operated by Stamford, CT-based Charter Communications, is one of the nation’s largest cable and streaming TV providers.

In January of this year, Dish Network and Sling added OAN to all programming packages.  Last year, OAN expanded its worldwide presence to 162 million homes across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa through Eutelsat’s flagship Hotbird satellite.

Intesa wins PRSA award for Tourism Authority campaign

Intesa Communications Group, a San Diego-based strategic communications and government relations firm, was recently honored by the Public Relations Society of America with a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence in the reputation and brand management category for its “Summer of Economic Power: Celebrating Tourism in San Diego” communications campaign for the San Diego Tourism Authority.

The Silver Anvil awards are among the most prestigious accolades in the public relations industry, Intesa said in a statement. This year’s competition drew 754 submissions, 158 finalists were selected and 62 Silver Anvil awards were presented.

“This campaign was a strategic, multilayered effort to tell the story of San Diego tourism and the value it brings to our community through jobs, economic impact, meaningful connection and, yes, a whole lot of fun,” said Kerri Kapich, the tourism authority’s chief operating officer. “We’re incredibly proud to receive this award alongside our partners at Intesa Communications Group and grateful to share another win with Team San Diego.”

Launched in 2023, the Summer of Economic Power campaign was anchored by two major research reports and brought to life through an integrated communications strategy that combined data-driven messaging with compelling storytelling, Intesa said.

According to Intesa, the campaign kicked off in summer 2023 with a high-visibility event at the San Diego Zoo, featuring a mascot parade with characters from local theme parks and sports teams. The creative launch event spotlighted key economic findings and set the tone for nine months of tactics, including sustained media outreach, stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships.

The campaign ultimately generated more than $10 million in earned-media coverage, increased recognition of the tourism industry’s essential contributions to the local region and provided a fresh narrative about the people and communities powered by San Diego’s visitor economy, Intesa said.

“This is what happens when smart strategy, great data and genuine love for a place come together,” said Margie Newman Tsay, founding partner of Intesa. “To be recognized on the national stage, alongside our incredible partners at the San Diego Tourism Authority, is a true honor.”

The PRSA Silver Anvil marked the 12th award earned by the Summer of Economic Power campaign, part of a broader body of award-winning work developed in partnership between SDTA and Intesa.

El Latino publisher launches health tourism marketing agency

Fanny Miller, publisher of El Latino San Diego, a Spanish-language, weekly newspaper, and healthcare strategist Esperanza Colin have co-founded MedSynergy Communications, a marketing communications agency specializing in health tourism marketing, branding, bilingual public relations and business formation services tailored for healthcare and wellness professionals.

The agency will help clinics, hospitals, medical spas and independent healthcare providers in Mexico promote their services and connect with patients in the U.S. through powerful storytelling, culturally-aligned branding and results-driven strategies, a statement said.

“We’re ready to elevate the conversation around cross-border healthcare and make a lasting impact,” said Miller. “Health tourism is a fast-growing industry, especially between the U.S. and Mexico, and providers need both visibility and structural guidance to compete effectively. MedSynergy is here to support every step, from branding to business setup.”

Colin, with experience in multicultural health advocacy and strategic development, said, “We don’t just market services, we help build the foundation. Our clients often need support forming an LLC or developing a compliant business structure, and we’re proud to offer that as part of our holistic approach.”

According to MedSynergy, the medical tourism market in Mexico was valued at $1.73 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $10.36 billion by 2033, growing at a 19.6 % rate. Tijuana alone attracts an estimated 2.5 million medical tourists annually and Americans who travel to Mexico can save 40%–to-60 % on comparable medical procedures and up to 75 % on cosmetic surgery.

El Latino San Diego, now in its 38th year of continuous publication, was founded by Miller on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 1988. With a weekly circulation of about 77,000, El Latino is considered the state’s largest Spanish-language newspaper owned by a Hispanic woman.

Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.