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Courtesy of Univision 34-Los Angeles

Claudia Botero, a reporter for Univision 34-Los Angeles, is an instructor this fall for a UCLA Extension course on TV reporting and production for Spanish-language news media.

Extension helps meet demand for skilled journalists working in Spanish-language media

Roger Perez’s lifelong dream started to take shape when he was only 5. While his friends were glued to the TV watching cartoons, he preferred to watch the news.

Now that he is an adult, his ambitions are crystal clear. “I want to be a television producer, that’s my goal,” he said.

To make that happen, Perez recently enrolled in one of the nation’s first professional certificate programs in Spanish-language journalism, put together by UCLA Extension and two partners, La Opinión and Univision 34, the country’s largest Spanish-language print and broadcast news outlets, respectively. Making its debut this fall, the 11-course program is helping aspiring journalists gain the skills they need to succeed in the nation’s fastest-growing media market.

“This program has really created opportunities for me to relate to media professionals in Spanish-language broadcasting,” said Perez, who began his studies without any experience in broadcasting. He hopes to land an internship when he completes the program in July.

Perez’s timing couldn’t be better. Of the more than 43.5 million Latinos in the nation, nearly 90% of adults access Spanish-language media regularly, according to a 2005 study by New California Media. That explains why the number of Spanish-language radio stations has more than doubled in the last decade, and the number of broadcast TV stations jumped 70%. Circulation of Spanish-language dailies has more than tripled since 1990, according to the State of the News Media 2004 report.

But while Spanish-language media grew in size and influence, training for Spanish-speaking journalists lagged far behind.

“We heard from both our students and instructors that there was a strong need for a comprehensive, coordinated course of study that focused on the complex and dynamic field of Spanish-language journalism,” said UCLA Extension Dean Robert Lapiner.

That echoes what members of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists said last year. More than 71% of journalists surveyed said their companies provided no training. And 53% said the lack of training and professional development would be the primary reason they’d consider quitting.

Training especially geared for Spanish-language journalists is important, said instructor Jose Luis Sierra, former managing editor at La Opinión and now an editor at Univision. “While the basic technique for writing a story changes little, whether you write in Spanish or English, the way most institutions and sources perceive the Latino community does change. This is something that Latino journalists can only learn from each other,” he said.

At UCLA Exten­sion, courses cover writing, production, ethics, editing, re­por­ting, interviewing and other aspects of both broadcast and print journalism. Working professionals, such as Claudia Botero, a reporter at Univision 34-Los Angeles, and Leticia García-Irigoyen, managing editor of Excélsior, serve as instructors. Many classes take place in an actual newsroom. Taught primarily in Spanish, the courses are designed to strengthen students’ ability to function effectively in both Spanish and English.

UCLA Extension first offered a course in Spanish-language journalism more than 10 years ago. As more courses were added, top journalists, including La Opinión’s publisher and UC Regent Monica Lozano, served as teachers and advisers. They provided critical guidance in creating the certificate program and ensuring that it prepares students for the reality of the newsroom.

“We’re delighted to be part of this effort to increase expertise and opportunities in this critical and growing field,” said Barry Bortnick, who directs the Extension program.