Anguiano Talks...

The meaning of graduation...

30 years ago my father came to this country as an illegal immigrant. He spent two days waiting to cross over to the United States. In those two days he had a carton of milk and two pieces of bread to eat. He finally crossed over and eventually made it to Chicago.

A few years later my mother came to the US. On her way here her suitcase was stolen. My parents didn’t come with much to US. Things are different now. In my opinion my parents have reached that “american dream” everyone talks about.

I am the last to graduate college in my family. My sister was the first to graduate from college. She holds a bachelors degree in accounting from Robert Morris College. My brother graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a bachelors in chemical engineering. My other brother did not attend a formal college. He made the military his career choice.

My father came here with nothing. He put three out of his four children through college. He deserves my degree as much as I do.

This Sunday May 17 I will graduate from Columbia College Chicago. As long as I could remember I always said that I will not be the only one walking across the stage when they call “Juan Anguiano”.

The people that will walk with me are my father, who had a dream but because of money issues he could not continue his education in Mexico. My mother, who does everything and anything for me. My brothers and sister, my inspirations in life. Each and every immigrant student, who’s road is faced with more obstacles than mine to get that college degree. Never give up! Alex Arrellano, the Logan Sqare teen (you know who you are), and every other teen who died due to violence in Chicago. This is for you because I know you had dreams too! Everyone, who for whatever reason could not walk across the stage with me, please share the stage with me.

So on Sunday, when they call my name ”Juan Anguiano” to recieve my degree it will not only be me walking across that stage but all those people who have dreams, had a dream, or their dreams were cut short.

Congratulations Class of 2009! 

New internship...new medium...Radio

Fuerza Informativa Azteca closed completely leaving me without an internship. I was offered an internship with Telemundo Chicago but had to decline becuase of the hours.

When I first started my college career I was a radio major. I always wanted to do a radio internship. When I contacted the radio internship coordinator at my school he told me that I couldn’t get one. Why? Becuase I needed to take a radio marketing class. Being the person I am I did not let that stop me.

Networking is so important, I can never say that enough. My co-worker got an internship at Clear Channel Radio. When she told me I was excited for her, but I also wanted to join her. I asked her right away to ask her boss for information on how to get an internship.

Her boss told me contact the promotions coordinator for KISS 103.5 FM in Chicago. I emailed her right away stating my interest in a radio promotions internship. It was two weeks till she emailed me back for an interview. I went in and got the internship on the spot and started that same week.

My radio internship was a lot of fun. It was something totally different. I liked working with the on-air personalities and the promotions team. It was a great experience that I will never forget.

The radio department told me no, they can’t help me get an internship. I never let that stop me to prove to the radio department that I don’t need radio marketing to get a radio internship.  

La familia de el Barrio de las empacadoras...

En una de las ultimas notas que hice con Azteca America assiste con hacer la nota sobre la crisis de los prestamos de casas. El alcalde Daley de Chicago tuvo una conferencia de prensa en el barrio de las empacadoras en el sur de la cuidad. Un barrio en donde la mayoria de gente son latinos. El barrio tiene sus problemas como otros.

En esta conferencia hablaron de nuevos programas que la ciudad ofrece para gente que tiene problemas pagando sus prestamos de casa. Padres de iglesias de la area hablaron asi como el alcade Daley.

La conferencia se termino y era tiempo de intrevistas. Queria Viviana, la reportera, una intervesita con un padre que ya mero se me iva. No me despegue de el hasta que no lo tuveria enfrente de la camara. El proximo objectivo era encontrar una familia.

Un grupo communitario que ayuda a gente en estas situaciones nos puso en contact con una familia, que hasta este dia y para siempre pienso en ellos.

La familia fue victima de una persona que les dijo que no pagaran su prestamo de casa y que ellos se arreglavan para bajar la cantidad que davan al mes. Eso no fue sierto. Al ultimo el senor tuvo mas problemas por no pagar su prestamo y mas por confiar en esta persona.

La familia era tan noble que hasta nos ofrecieron a nosotros y Univision (que tambien estava alli) un vaso de jugo y comida. La familia tuvo una historia que sin nosotros no se veria dado a luce. Por esta misma razon me gusta el periodismo en espanol. Los periodistas tienen el poder de traer esta y otras historias de la comunidad a luce cuando otros los ignoran.

Desde este dia no me e olvidado de esta familia. Por su historia, por su hospitalidad, y porque aunque yo era el “intern” yo creo que yo hice algo bueno. Algo que pienso hacer mas ya que me carrera se establesca y pare de ser el “intern” y empiece ser el reportero.

My last story I produced for Azteca America

When I heard the story package for the day of February 5, 2009 I didn’t know that it was going to be my last package for my entire Azteca America internship.

I was told we were going to do a story on pawn shops. With the economy the way it is people are looking to pawn shops and cash for gold places for money. So we set out on a cold day in Chicago to Little Village to the Cash America on 26th Street. I knew I was going to have to deal with PR people to try to get an interview with the manager. We walked inside asked for interview, got the contact information, and I was on my way calling the corporate offices for permission. While I was trying to contact the PR for Cash America Viviana was trying to interview people outside the store to interview.

I left a voicemail for the Cash America people, but we didn’t have that much time to waste. I started looking for pawn shops in the area on my Blackberry. I found one that was not too far away. I called them and after a few calls and no’s, we finally got permission to go and shoot video of the store with no interview. When we got to pawn shop #2 the reporter (Viviana) received a call from Cash America. We got the permission to interview and shoot video in the pawn. Mission accomplished!

The Cash America staff was so nice. They were really helpful. We got the interview with the store manager and we got a really good interview with a man who pawned his wife’s gold that she received as presents from her family to pay the rent.

At the end of the day we got some really good contacts, good interviews, and good video.

When we got back to the office Viviana received an email stating that they were doing inventory and they needed the serial numbers on the equipment. Viviana joked around and said that they were closing, who knew she was right…the next day was the last news cast for Fuerza Informativa Azteca.

One of the last packages I produced...

Payday Loan Dangers

Bad day for Azteca America

I woke up today just like any other day. I was not expecting it to turn out the way it did.

I got off the train and sat down in the waiting area before I went into work. I called Viviana Avila to tell her something. When she answered she told me something that surprised me in a good way. She asked me if I had heard the news? I thought it was something late breaking that needed me to do. To my surprise it was something that I was not expecting. Fuerza Informativa Azteca’s last news cast was on Friday February 6. I was shocked and didn’t know what to think. I could not believe my unbelievable internship was over already. I liked the people who I worked with and instead thinking of me I thought of them. I’m still a student and still have a few months before I need a steady paying income. For the camera man and Viviana its a little different. They have responsibilities to attend to.

All that I know is that the news no longer exist and they aired a soap opera instead of our news cast. I can’t believe my news reporting life is over so soon. I was hoping to get the most I can out of it. But as I look at my blog I can see that I did get a lot out if it. I got to do things some interns only wish they could do.

 Keep reading for more of my news stories, but as far as Azteca America…. Signing off…Juan Anguiano Fuerza Informativa Azteca