Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/821178
SAGAFTRA.org | Spring 2017 | SAG-AFTRA 25 A FULL HOUSE FOR MMJ PANEL AT FULLERTON M ore than 30 students and young reporters attended a panel at Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 5 focusing on the challenges faced by multimedia journalists. The esteemed panel included two Emmy winners — KTLA-TV reporter and Orange County Bureau Chief Chip Yost and KNBC reporter Hetty Chang — as well as Mayde Gomez, a general assignment reporter and multimedia journalist, and Orange County bureau general assignment reporter Greg Lee, both with KABC7. It was moderated by veteran journalist Vikki Vargas of KNBC4. The panelists told the audience how they got their careers started, shared personal experiences of life in the field and discussed the kind of issues that journalists deal with in their professional lives. The event, which was organized by SAG-AFTRA's Los Angeles News and Broadcast Department, featured a Q&A and a pizza-and- soda reception after the panel. From left, KNBC reporters Vikki Vargas, Hetty Chang and Beverly White at the Tips for Multimedia Journalists event at California State University Fullerton. FEMALE BROADCASTERS SPEAK UP KMEX anchor Gabriela Teissier asks KNBR producer Taneka Smothers, left, and KGO-TV anchor Carolyn Tyler about issues faced by female broadcasters at a panel discussion on March 23 at SAG-AFTRA Plaza. The discussion examined the changes and challenges faced by women in media and also included Megan Burks of PBS and Laura Diaz of KTTV. Teissier moderated the panel. NEWS STORIES COME TO LIFE FOR STUDENTS S tudents got a chance on Dec. 3 to experience what it's like to be out in the field, working side by side with veteran journalists. Although the story wasn't real, the chance to gain insights into the profession was invaluable. The program, which caters to students who speak English or Spanish, is the result of a partnership between the Associated Press Television and Radio Association, SAG-AFTRA member Hal Eisner and other broadcasters. Known as the APTRA Academy, it allows future broadcasters and anchors to dive into a story fabricated by the academy and work with other students to package a story. At the December event, the APTRA Academy brought in real- life firefighters and policemen from Malibu County to Camp Mt. Crags in Calabasas to help bring the story to life. Whether it's a fire that broke out in a small town, a community pool drowning or a drug deal gone bad on a movie set, the future broadcasters were encouraged to work with each other and their mentors. These mentors are professional SAG-AFTRA broadcasters, including anchors and reporters who have worked all over the world. SAG-AFTRA member and broadcaster Sid Garcia discusses strategy for covering the breaking news story with camera operators, mentors and academy participants at the Dec. 3 exercise. ARAYNA EISON CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS