Future of Journalism

Students and members of the public got an inside look at the next generation of Hispanic journalists during a presentation at the UTA Central Library on Sept. 20. 

Julian Rodriguez, a UTA department of communications faculty member, shared his experience in media with the audience, how it's shaped him, and how he is using those lessons to teach students. 

After graduating from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln Rodriguez started his career in television news at KOLN-KGIN in Nebraska. 

At the station, Rodriguez developed an interest in bilingual journalism and reporting on issues that affected the Hispanic community. 

"You would never see me in front of the camera," Rodriguez said. "I was always interested in producing the story and working with anchors and reporters to make sure that the information was accurate." 

As he moved forward in his career, Rodriguez noticed the lack of quality from Spanish-language media outlets and the need for improvements. 

These observations encouraged him to get his master's degree in visual anthropology from UTA and to become a staff member in the communications department. For the past 17 years, he has taught future journalists in the classroom and through UTA News en Español. 

"For 14 years, we have had a 100% graduation and job placement rate. That is pretty impressive. Given the fact that if you look at any program around the nation, 100% graduation and job placement rate is nowhere to be found," he said. "The science to success is knowing who you are, working with someone who understands you, and then finding that passion that you have whether it is in journalism, or it is in history or as an engineer." 

Rodriguez stated that students are not only graduating and getting a job, but they have also become successful. Alums from the program have a combined total of more than 100 Emmys. 

With this success, he encourages students and alums to have a long-term plan to help guide them in their careers that looks out over several years. 

Outside of the classroom, Rodriguez works with the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association outside the classroom. 

The organization's goal is to help bring together the Latino community of UTA, understand the needs of its members, and represent the interests of Hispanic faculty and staff at all university levels.  

 He shared that the work done through the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association will benefit students in the long run by having more Hispanic representation on campus. 

More information can be found online about the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association or the UTA department of communications.