Newsworthy Advice
Address by TV news anchor Carlos Amezcua highlights Communications Day
As a veteran television news anchor, Carlos Amezcua knows how to communicate with an audience. So when he recently spoke to nearly 250 high school students from 51 high schools during the 18th annual University of La Verne Communications Day, it came as no surprise that his message was one of encouragement.
“Each one of you, if you really want to do what I do, can do it on your own,” he said.
Amezcua is co-anchor of the top-rated “FOX 11 10 O’clock News” as well as “FOX News at 11” on KCOP/Channel 13. He has won 10 Emmys, including one for “Outstanding Journalistic Enterprise” and another for his coverage of Mexican politics. His Communications Day address, “You and the Future of Media,” challenged the visiting students to take charge of their media careers.
“If you’re persistent, you will be successful,” he said to a near-capacity crowd in the Campus Center’s Ludwick Conference Center. “La Verne is a place that has everything you need to do it on your own.”
The day started with students participating in 10 communications workshops taught by La Verne Communications Department professors and media leaders.
Alex Vasquez, La Verne alumnus and an NBC breaking news journalist, presented two workshop sessions utilizing video footage of fire coverage he shot that was used on an NBC telecast. He also led tours of his NBC news van.
“La Verne has such a strong communications program,” Vasquez said. “I told the students that news is the real reality TV.”
Sonya Smith, Web editor at the Orange County Register, shared new social media techniques – Facebook, Twitter, blogs, web pages – that she uses daily as an editor/reporter to build content and online communities for the Register.
Other workshops included topics covering web page and advertising design, photojournalism, bringing home the big story and resume writing. Additionally, students had the opportunity for an on-air experience on radio and television, with both taking place in the department’s state of the art broadcast studios. An advisers’ networking roundtable was hosted by Communications Department Chair George Keeler.
“It’s enthusiastic. It’s very well organized,” Amezcua said of the event. “It’s great that the University includes high school kids.”
Amezcua shared personal, life-changing stories with his audience throughout his address and spent ample time answering students’ questions.
The award-winning anchor addressed the changes, contractions and cutbacks affecting the newspaper and television news industries. In spite of it all, he believes that anyone can take the form of a citizen journalist by using Facebook, blogs or even Twitter to tell the news stories that need to be told.
“The public doesn’t demand much of us. What I’m hoping is you demand more of the media,” Amezcua told his audience. “The most important thing is to be honest, to be truthful, to have a dream.”
“He’s professional, and I thought he showed a human essence,” said University President Steve Morgan, who introduced Amezcua to the audience. “He really embraced the University of La Verne.”
Campus Times reporter Angie Marcos contributed to this story.
Related Posts from the Archives:
- FOX 11 News Anchor Carlos Amezcua to Provide Keynote Address at La Verne’s 18th Annual Communications Day
- Communications Day 2006 to Feature Keynote Address by KABC-TV Morning News Anchor Phillip Palmer
- KABC-TV News Anchor Marc Brown Keynote Speaker for 2005 Communications Day
- LVTV-3 Wins Best College Television Station Award
- Legendary KTLA Channel 5 reporter Stan Chambers to speak at University of La Verne