Workshops woo future students
Campus Times
October 31, 2003
Linda Alvarez, weekend anchor for CBS 2 News, was greeted by Don Pollock,
professor of communications, before her lecture to high school students
invited for the University of La Verne's Communications Day. Alvarez, who
previously worked as a teacher in Los Angeles and Venezuela, talked about
how a career in television has allowed her to continue as an educator.
About 184 high school and community college students from across Southern
California appeared bright and early for the annual University of La Verne
Communications Day Oct. 24.
The day's events included workshops showcasing the programs offered
in the communications department.
The day's keynote speaker was CBS News Anchor Linda Alvarez.
Workshops in radio, multimedia design, photojournalism and newspaper
writing offered the visiting students hands-on experience in their fields
of interest.
Participants in The Radio Product workshop recorded a promotional announcement
for KULV.
Marc Sosniak, a teacher at Ulysses S. Grant High School in Van Nuys,
has brought his students to Communications Day for four years.
This year they attended the radio and television workshops.
Students in the television workshop operated cameras and hosted a make-believe
morning news show.
After lunch, students were able to view their broadcasts in a screening
shown to everyone.
"The workshops are always excellent," Sosniak said.
The "Reporting the News: Spotting and Covering Campus Trends"
workshop offered students a chance to brainstorm ideas on what to cover
during a slow news week.
Sunny Hills High School student Jay Yoon writes for the Accolade, a
student newspaper for Fullerton High School and said he enjoyed the workshops
he attended.
"The (television) workshop had information that was new to me,"
Yoon said. "My second session ("Reporting the News") was
resourceful and presented good ideas."
"This is the best turnout we have had," said Michael Laponis,
professor of communications and coordinator of Communications Day. "The
sessions went well. From what I heard and read, it seemed like the conference
and the workshops offered some help to them."
Sosniak was impressed with Alvarez' speech. He said it was informative
and that her stories helped students see what it takes to have a career
in the media.
ULV President Stephen Morgan introduced Alvarez, noting her long list
of accomplishments, which include a Golden Mike Award and eight Emmy Awards.
"It sounds like I'm 95 the way they talk about me," Alvarez
began.
She shared details of her journey to becoming a weekend anchor after
teaching in Los Angeles, Venezuela and Chicago. Her advice to students:
"Work hard and see opportunities when they come to you."
Alvarez began her career in journalism when she worked on a friend's
bilingual television show. It was during this news show that an NBC affiliate
in Chicago offered her a job covering the weather.
Alvarez also shared some pointers on how to make it into and survive
the business.
"You have to have a desire to learn," she said. "If it
weren't for that, I would not be here.
Alvarez said her job is still a lot like a school teacher's job.
"I'm still a teacher," she said. "I gather information
and try to present the most important information to my students, the viewers."
Throughout her career Alvarez covered some of the most important breaking
news stories. Most recently Alvarez traveled to the Persian Gulf to cover
the war in Iraq.
While describing her experience covering the war, the lights in Dailey
Theatre went off because of a power outage, but Alvarez held her ground
and continued on with her story.
"I have a newfound respect for the Navy," she said. "They
left their families just like I did."
As for the sacrifices she has had to make for getting this far, she
commented how it is hard for anyone who is career oriented because it takes
a lot of time away from your family.
"I am always on call, but I try to keep my priorities straight,"
Alvarez said. "There is a lack of job security, but I do it because
this is what I love to do.
"The positive always outweighs the negative," she said.
Alvarez also told the students that they have to be willing to work
hard and be strong.
She said a key to surviving in the industry is to be confident and to
be able to communicate.
"(Alvarez) did an outstanding job," Morgan said. "She
has a breadth of experience and she was able to share it with the students
effectively."
"She was great," added Elyse Martin of Newberry Park High
School in Newberry Park. "I liked her message. I could see her passion
for her work."
