MIAMI DADE COLLEGE STUDENTS SERVE AS REPORTERS FOR
NEW MAGAZINE-STYLE TV SHOW THAT FOCUSES ON STUDENTS INTERESTS
MIAMI, July 20, 2007 – MDC journalism student Eli Vera had an epiphany while working as a teleprompter operator at Spanish-language television giant, Univision. A local reporter was at the station auditioning for the news program, Primer Impacto. As Vera handed a script to the talent, her intense green eyes began to water and she had trouble breathing.
“I was like, she has my script,” said Vera, 26, who still gets emotional retelling the story. “If she’s standing here, I can stand here. Those lights can shine for me.”
Today, Vera is living her dream. She’s one of five enthusiastic MDC students who serve as the on-air talent of a revamped and fledgling cable TV show, MDC In Focus, which spotlights MDC events and programs. The student-driven show is produced under the auspices of the college’s media relations department.
Television veteran Cindy Irizarry, who has worked at Access Hollywood, HBO, WSVN Channel 7 and in 2003 along with her husband, Arnaldo Irizarry, launched video production company Goodshot Productions, was brought in as a television producer in 2006 to produce and retool the program.
Incorporating experiences she gained over the years from working on various entertainment shows, Irizarry has crafted a show that is video-heavy and image-driven. The show is now shot on location rather than inside a studio. Irizarry also researches story ideas and writes the show’s scripts.
“I’m the chef but I need the ingredients to make the dish,” said the effervescent Irizarry.
The college’s media services staff is a large contributor to the show, shooting most of the video. The show is then edited by Eric Walker, 20, a part-time editor for the media relations department. Walker, a MDC North Campus student, also serves as one of the show’s reporters.
Other reporters for the show are: 19-year-old West Campus student Lilly Madrigal; North Campus student Ionna Hernandez, 21 and Kendall Campus student Corey Campbell, 27, who is also editor-in-chief of his campus newspaper, the Catalyst.
“There’s a certain magic when there’s a connection between you and the camera,” Vera said. “You are the person everyone is listening to.”
Unlike many college TV shows, MDC In Focus is aired by cable providers throughout Miami-Dade County through Cable-TAP, which is administered and housed at MDC’s North Campus. In addition, the show is unique because it can be viewed online at WPBT Channel 2’s website through an innovative feature called uVu (You View), which is touted as “the next generation of community based news, commentary and culture on demand.” The show can be viewed under the exclusives section at: http://uvu.channel2.org/PublicSite/Default.aspx
“Though MDC In Focus has been on the air for several years, the newly formatted show has taken on a fresh, new look,” said Beverly Counts Rodrigues, MDC director of media relations and previous host of MDC in Focus who helped propel many of the show’s dynamic changes. “Cindy Irizarry is producing a top-notch show, and the student reporters are doing a wonderful job of showcasing many of the college’s programs from the student’s point of view.”
Irizarry, who has worked with some of the top talent in the industry including Geraldo Rivera of Fox News Channel and Shaun Robinson of Access Hollywood, offers tips on everything from interviewing, on-camera body language and even hair and make-up. The show is further augmented by Juan Mendieta, the college’s director of communications, who previously worked as a reporter at WSVN Channel 7, 610 WIOD and at 940 WINZ. He also revamped Miami-Dade County government’s Miami-Dade TV channel and hosted several of its shows when he served as the county’s director of communications. Mendieta will bring his vast experience to the show as a guest reporter and provide direction on the show’s format and content.
With four shows under their belt, the young, aspiring TV personalities are buckling down. Their hard work is bearing fruit.
“They are starting to own it now,” Irizarry proudly announced recently.
Madrigal, who once tried to jump start a school newspaper at Miami’s St. Brendan High School after a priest lectured her class on going to church, admits to studying local TV personalities for pointers on body posture and voice inflection. Vera, who has done production work for Telemundo and MTV Latino, changed her hair color – from dark brown to a lighter tone – to soften up her look. Walker, a self professed news buff who has worked as a floor director for WPLG Channel 10, is trying to engage viewers more with his facial expressions. Hernandez, who has been involved with school-produced TV shows since she was in elementary school and has done freelance work for People Magazine en Español, admits that her confidence is soaring.
“I realized I was meant to do this; I want to do this,” Hernandez said.
The show, whose target audience is 18-39 year-olds, has great potential for growth. Future plans include taking the show on the road, and increasing production of the show to air twice a month. Meantime, one thing is clear – the show’s young talent is taking full advantage of their opportunity.
“Now I feel I have a chance,” said Hernandez, who last November considered giving up on her dream of becoming a TV reporter because she had no outlet to nurture her talent. “I realized that I need to purse my dream.”
Media contacts: Manolo Barco (305) 237-3081; Beverly C. Rodrigues, MDC director of media relations (305) 237-3949 or Juan Mendieta, MDC director of communications (305) 237-7611. Other MDC news releases are available on the web at <www.mdc.edu>.