Writing will get you everywhere

 

Elizabeth Espinosa broadcast work

    As a broadcast journalist and multimedia reporter for The Pan American, many don't see the true importance of writing. How it can make or break and control the voice of your package. The people you interview for sources are very critical your story. The writing is based around the character and humanizes stories just as it does for print articles.

    I have come across some who believe we are just videographers and won't put their all in writing. As I interned with KGBT Action 4 News, I wrote daily. I would write webscripts for stories online to scripts for VOs and packages. I listened to tips on how to better my skill and what headline would attract the audience. Newscast stories are no more than a minute thirty and have to get the point of the story across fast. I learned how to do that.

    I was also taught on how to choose a character to tell the story through. For example, if I am covering a jazz music festival, instead of just speaking about the event. I can choose a pianist from a band and begin the script describing his love for jazz. What he feels as he is playing in front of an audience and as the music flows from his fingertips to the keys of the bored to the ears of people. That explanation is much more attractive.

    "If you know how to write, you can work anywhere," is what I've heard from the staff at KGBT to freelance work I have done. It's true. I don't know a lot about sports but I'm sure I can be able to write a sports brief or feature story on an athlete.

    My writing does need work and I have been practicing. Since finishing my internship, I began to write article for the news section at tPA. It gave me headaches but it was a great chance to solely work on my writing. I have covered a Physics Phaire at IMAS in McAllen, the protest that VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood held when Texas Gov. Rick Perry came to ceremonially sign the merger bill and health care in Texas.

    The difference between print and broadcast writing is that print allows you to elaborate more. Writing for broadcast needs to be to the point but with all the facts. The visual is just as important as broadcast writing. If you're a good writer and know the difference, you'll do great.

Articles by Elizabeth Espinosa

There's no room for bias in news

    I love journalism. I love news and informing people. I love telling their stories. One of the most important rules in journalism is to NEVER BE BIASED.

    Unfortunately, I have seen stories by well-known reporters that are bias. I don't agree with it.

    Just like every other person, I have my own opinions and beliefs. I want to fight for what I believe is right for me. Since my career is made up of telling the news and how it can affect the public, I know that my two cents should never be involved with what I report. That's Journalism Ethics 101.

    Some of the most controversial topics are occurring right now in Texas and in the United States. The list includes abortion, immigration reform and the Affordable Health Care Act. Even though I choose to not voice my opinion as I inform the public over social media or write articles based on these topics, I do have my own opinions. You will never read them in my writing and that is a promise.

    Yet, I find it satisfying that even though I can't always speak my mind due to my role as a journalist, I am proud that I am able to tell the public the truth of what will occur during some issues. Recently, as the House Bill 2 was passed, I informed my audience via Facebook and Twitter letting them know plenty of details about the bill. I want people to be informed and know what or who they are voting and fighting for. It is extremely rewarding to me.

    I may not be able to make a difference with my opinions but I hope to make a difference by informing YOU, the people who matter the most.

The Pan American Life

The Pan American with BroncTV at TIPA 2013

    I began working with The Pan American in January 2012. Dimitra Hernandez suggested I should join the Multimedia section to gain some experience along with my degree. I wasn't hesitant to join but I can still remember knocking on that newsroom door ready to fill out an application.

    I knocked three times and waited. When the door opened, I had my first encounter with Greg Selber, the backbone of tPA. Selber welcomed me in and I then met Pamela Morales. I will admit, I was a bit nervous by this time but only because I wanted to make a good impression. These were going to be the people to help me develop my skills.

    It took a month of working at tPA to finally get the hang of things. I had just done a story on the charging stations on the Academic Services building. It was the first story I was really proud of! I knew I had done a good job at the time.

Academic Services now offer a charging stations for devices

    This story isn't anywhere near perfect but it was a step in the right direction. The way it works in tPA, all reporters, photographers and designers begin as a volunteer. If the reporter shows dedications and a hunger for journalism, they are then promoted to a paid reporter. If the reporter keeps working hard, they can then be a section editor. The next step would be Co or Editor-in-Chief.

    I followed this trail. After I worked with tPA in Spring 2012, I became a paid reporter for the summer. I loved that I was getting paid to do something I love! During the summer I helped other new reporters and showed them the ropes. When the Fall 2012 semester came by, I became extremely busy!

    I was still a reporter for tPA but I produced two to three stories a week, attended 12 hours of class, mentored a UNIV 1301 class, and interned with Good Day Valley. I still managed, somehow, to have a social life outside of work. It was very hard though.

The Pan American's Youtube Channel

    As the Fall semester came to an end, I then became the Multimedia Editor for the upcoming semester. My job then became managing up to six reporters a week. I would assign each reporter a story to work on for the week, review their scripts and edited package. I did each task about six times a week. 

    I will admit, I was very stressed at times but I kept moving forward. I wanted to do a great job at something I loved. Even though I cried out of stress, I never wanted to give up. I would stay until 9 p.m. sometimes editing my reporters stories or waiting for the stories to upload.

    When I interned with KGBT earlier this summer, I took a break from tPA. I sure did miss the feel of our little, cozy newsroom and missed the wonderful people inside, working day and night to bring UTPA daily news. I apparently missed it too much since I am writing articles for the rest of the summer. I can't seem to take a vacation!

My latest article with tPA

    I like to think that I gave tPA so much with every story I did but the truth is, tPA gave me so much more. I would have never had the opportunities to work with KGBT or FoxRio2 if it wasn't for the newspaper. If it wasn't for the newspaper, I wouldn't know what hard work is or knowledge from the great Selber. I would have never made contacts or get my name out there as a journalist if I wasn't in tPA. And I would have never met so many hardworking college students who are low on cash but high on passion if I walked by the newsroom door without knocking. I hope to keep these friendships if not forever, then I hope to have them close for years to come.

Family photo (the women editors of tPA Spring 2013)

The Pan American brings UTPA daily news online

Where it all began...

    Since I have finished my internship with KGBT, I have grown such a passion for journalism (if you couldn't already tell). I feel like my eyes opened up and saw this whole new world! I don't have a plan for the next five years except to just get a job. Anywhere will be good. I just want the opportunity to tell other people's stories of their struggles that they will or have faced. I want to show the public if their is corruption among them. I want to be the best journalist I can possibly be.

    Lately, whenever I talk about the past few months and upcoming story ideas, I get this energy that excites me. I begin to speak 1,000 words a minute and I might have even scared a few people, but I can't wait to look for the next story and character.

    I haven't always been this excited about journalism but it did start some where. As long as I can remember, I have always loved writing. I remember being nine-years-old and writing fictional stories about my best friend and I traveling to a different world and discovering new things. My mind would be racing and my hand tried to keep up writing the words down.

My three-year-old self before my love for writing

    Throughout my high school years, I didn't pay too much attention to my writing and journalism. I took part of Economedes High School's orchestra and mariachi. I did enjoy spending my time playing music and learning a different hobby. Now that I look back, if I could to it again, I would have devoted me hugh school career to the newspaper. I was part of my high school newspaper but only for my Freshman year. After that, music was a part of my years as a teenager.

    It wasn't until my last two years of high school that I almost got back into journalism. I took Media Technology during this time and I learned how to film video and edit on Final Cut Pro. I had a great time learning how to use a camera and what a sequence is! I didn't learn about journalism in this class but it did prepare me for my work as a multimedia reporter with The Pan American.

    When I graduated high school, I was unsure of what to study. I considered many topics such as history, philosophy, english and art. I wasn't sure if journalism was the right track at the time.

    The year I spent in college, I was lost. I didn't know what I was doing or what I will be doing when I graduated. I just attended class and worked in retail at the moment. I knew something was missing. It wasn't until an old friend suggested I join tPA when everything changed.

    When I joined tPA, I had just switched my major to Broadcast and I was happy I made that move. I joined the multimedia section and this was the best decision I have made in my college career. I was working at UTPA's college newspaper, learning a trade I have been in love with since I was young. Nothing could top it!

    Passion is something a journalist needs in order to succeed. I believe my love for writing as a young girl was the seed that grew into my love for journalism. I honestly can't wait to graduate with me degree and work as a reporter.