Stephanie Duarte
Assistant Editor
Students and teachers from 42 high schools gathered Friday for the University of La Verne’s Communications Day. Workshops were presented by ULV faculty and staff, aimed to introduce prospective students to the department.
George Keeler, chair of the Communications Department, began the morning by welcoming the students and showing them all the free goodies they received for coming and introducing his former student and keynote speaker, Luz Villarreal, associate producer for “Dateline NBC.”
After graduating from ULV, Villarreal’s dedication to journalism landed her many jobs in both the print and broadcast industry.
Her career has sent her chasing stories both nationally, from New York to Hawaii, and internationally to countries such as Guatemala.
Students listened attentively as the ULV alumna shared her experiences of working in journalism.
“I’m just a news junkie,” Villarreal said. “I went into this business because I wanted to tell stories and witness history.”
Using her purse as a prop, she explained to her audience that a journalist is always on call. Some of her valued tools included two cellular phones, a pager, pens, pencils and a reporter’s notepad. In her trunk, she always carries a packed suitcase with three days worth of clothing.
“The news controls us,” she said. “I never know what time I’m coming home, and I love it.”
She said she enjoys journalism because she learns something new everyday and her job is never a routine. Qualities of a good journalist include aggressiveness, confidence, curiosity and always being well prepared, she said.
“You also have to be able to sell yourself,” Villarreal said. “You may be going up against several other reporters for the same interview and you have to show them that you are the best person for the story.”
Growing up in El Monte, Villarreal noticed that there were not many people of “her shade” delivering the news. She knew that many people like her could cover issues in her own community in a more realistic way.
News staffs are looking for people of color to bring authenticity and diversity to their newscast, she said.
“Being a Latina was not an obstacle for me at all,” Villarreal said. “If anything, it opened up even more opportunities for me.”
Prospective students showed their interest in Villarreal’s lifestyle by asking her a variety of important questions regarding journalism. Many students seemed curious in the possibility of a major in communications.
Ashley McCurduy, a senior at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, found out about ULV’s Communications Day from working as a anchor on a local student station.
“I was curious, so I came to find out more about communications,” she said.
Another ULV alumna, Lynn Casella, is currently an advisor at Franklin High School, a year-round school in Los Angeles. She earned her master’s in communications from ULV in 1987 and has worked in a variety of media since then.
“Although my students are not in session right now, I’m excited to take back the information that I’ve learned today from Luz,” Casella said.
Villarreal closed her talk by encouraging students to really think about why they were there and why journalism interested them as a possible career.
“If you’re only interested in journalism to see your name on a by-line, then this business is not for you,” Villarreal said. “You should want to tell the news whether it be good or bad.”
Stephanie Duarte can be reached at duartes@ulv.edu.
Stephanie Duarte
