Reyes shares experiences with Latino Forum

by Anna Roy
Editorial Director

Al Reyes, Director of Diversity and Community Programs at ABC, spoke to guests and members of the Latino Student Forum about becoming a reporter in college.

Reyes began by telling the audience about his own life growing up in Central California.

"I like to tell people that I am from a family of good orange pickers, because that's what my family did when they came here," said Reyes, whose family migrated to the United States from Mexico.

He says his father and mother succeeded while facing a lot of adversity.

"At the time, I didn't really recognize all of the things that they had to deal with," Reyes said. "I mean 'succeed' from the standpoint that he got all five of us, my brothers and sisters, into college."

Reyes remembers that his journey in the communications industry began when he was a sophomore in high school when a teacher in a writing class wrote on his paper, 'You have a definite talent, cultivate it.'

During Reyes' last term at Fresno Community College, a school counselor saw his work and introduced him to people at the local television station, who were offering two students the opportunity to be trained as a reporter.

"I was at the right place at the right time," Reyes said. "But I had also prepared myself."

Reyes recalls that the reason the station was offering this opportunity was because television stations were beginning to diversify their shows and hire minority broadcasters.

"Latinos began to feel that there wasn't a good group of professionals that could interpret what was going on in the community," Reyes said.

Reyes took the opportunity to undergo on-the-job training, the same year he transferred to Fresno State University.

"It took me about a year and a half to become a full-fledged reporter," said Reyes who would continue to report for 9 years.

While at Fresno State, Reyes wrote for the campus newspaper. He remembers having a sports column and covering local issues and politics.

Reyes remembers those nine years as being very volatile. He covered the labor strikes with the leadership of Cesar Chavez and the teamster union strikes.

"Fresno is at the center of agriculture in California, just studying agriculture in California is amazing," Reyes said.

After nine years, he left California for Texas, where he would work on a National PBS television series.

"If you get on a path and you feel like you are not growing, do other things," Reyes advised students. "There's no reason why all of you shouldn't be successful, if you apply yourself and have the right attitude."

Today, Reyes works in management at ABC, where he coordinates the internship program, among other things.

"I get to sit with all of the department heads and talk about how the station is run," Reyes said.

Later, he discussed the importance of getting an internship and planning out what students plan to do when they graduate.

Reyes is a strong advocate of internships in whichever field a student is majoring in.

"A lot of times you think that a profession is a certain way, but then find out that it isn't," Reyes said.

Reyes recommends that students get internships as early as possible for other reasons as well. First, internships allow students to build a reputation for themselves in the business, as well as give them good hands-on experience. It also allow them to meet people in the business.

While having a job in college, which Reyes acknowledged is important, experience in the field is just as important, if not more.

Reyes also stressed that while in the job world, being positive was of utmost importance.

"Ultimately, that will push you through any situation," Reyes said, "and be dependable."

Another good option, Reyes recommended was for prospective job seekers to connect with useful organizations, such as non-profit organizations.

"Don't ever get bitter, you'll have bad experiences," Reyes warned.

Erick Vasquez, president of LSF, said that the event was very successful. Open forums, which are every month, are put on by a different club member each time.

"Members like open forums because it is the student's decision as to what direction they want to take LSF in," he said. "They choose what the open forum will be about. Because ultimately, LSF is there for them, not the other way around."

The forum's next event is the Bienvenida Dinner, scheduled for April 20.
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