Benjamin Cruz
City Times
The 33rd National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Pacific Southwest Emmys on June 16 is an evening Micaela Arroyo and Tony Sanchez will never forget.
“Oh my God! We Won!” Arroyo screamed when her name was called to the podium to receive her award.
The event, which took place at the La Costa Resort & Spa in La Costa, awards Emmys to local broadcasting news professionals for their best work. In their special student categories, Arroyo and Sanchez won the nomination for Outstanding Student Achievement.
While the idea of a Spanish version of Newscene is not new, Professor Laura Castaneda said producing one was. She added that when Sanchez came to her with the idea, she was very excited and gave him her full support.
“Micaela and I were thinking of a Newscene in Spanish, then though, a magazine show could be better since we didn’t have a complete newscast that speaks Spanish,” Sanchez said, “and for doing it, we won an Emmy.”
Castaneda said a magazine version of a newscast is similar but each story is three minutes long as opposed to the traditional one-and-a-half minute long feature story and the regular thirty-second ones. She adds that a Spanish one is even better.
Arroyo said she was very excited that they won because all the hard work in putting the project together paid off.
“We stayed up at Jon’s place working on the show an entire night just to get it done,” Arroyo added, “With an Emmy on my resume, I will stand out from other beginning reporters. I know it’s going to help out a lot when I apply at news stations.
“I just had a feeling that they were going to win,” Castaneda said. “When I saw their final product, I was really impressed. They put a lot of hours into it. I am proud of my students.”
Newscene en Espanol is a Spanish news magazine version of the school’s already existing news show, Newscene. Because Newscene is aired every weekend of the semester, except for holidays, it was Sanchez’s idea to fill in the Friday of Thanksgiving with his special Newscene version.
Castaneda said that past students have always taken advantage of the weekends Newscene doesn’t air. Erica Henry, a past student of Casta§eda’s, also won an Emmy for doing a special project about the previous Newscene professor who passed away.
“I would like to have another Newscene en Espanol produced by students. Many students through the years are interested in the Spanish markets. It will help them a lot,” said Casta§eda.
Sanchez said he thanked everyone who helped in the show during his acceptance speech. However, Arroyo said she was too nervous and excited that her mind almost went blank when it was her turn to speak at the podium.
Another reporter for Newscene en Espanol, Edna Malaga, said she accepted the award on behalf of Jon Aiello, who could not attend the award show because of personal commitments.
“Going up to receive an award is motivation for me. It made me want more Emmy’s and I know I am going to get more,” Malaga added.
Málaga said she is currently being interviewed by news stations around the country as a potential reporter and that they were impressed that her journalism skills are Emmy material.
Tony, who writes for a local newspaper, did not comment on his career plans.
As for Arroyo, who is currently working at NBC San Diego in downtown as an editor, is preparing herself to transfer to another station as a sports reporter but still thinks of planning for a second Newscene en Espa§ol here at City.
“I want to go back to Newscene and work on another one, make a better one, next semester,” Arroyo added.
The regular Newscene airs every Friday during the semester, excluding the summer, at 6 p.m. on channel 16.
