New media trends turn to Spanish language

Citrus TV's program follows national pattern

By: Andrea Alemañy

Posted: 4/4/08

With the new Spanish-language newscast on Citrus TV, students like Nectarie Sánchez have a chance to not only use their language skills but to be on the forefront of media progression.

"I feel very proud that Syracuse is one of the first schools that is doing something aimed at the Hispanic market," said Sánchez, a sophomore French and music industry major.

"I am even more proud to be a part of it," she said. She is a co-anchor on Citrus TV's new program, "Las Noticias en Español."

With the new addition to its lineup, Citrus TV mirrors the national trend of schools nationwide looking to the future and creating Spanish-language media programs.

"Las Noticias en Español" is one of the few student-run programs in the country that teaches students about work in the Hispanic market. More and more, universities are paying attention to the Hispanic populations by creating media programs in Spanish.

Jason Tarr, a junior broadcast journalism, Spanish language, literature and culture and international relations major at SU, started "Las Noticias en Español" after realizing a voice was missing on campus.

In a similar program to SU's, a group of students at the University of Oklahoma started broadcasting its news in Spanish, launched this year after Spring Break.

Twice a week, Telemundo-Oklahoma, a Spanish television network, aired minute-long news briefs made by students in its night news program, said Bianca Lopez, a junior broadcast journalism and film studies major from University of Oklahoma, in an e-mail.

The Spanish newscast aims to give the Hispanic community in Oklahoma a voice. The state population is 6.9 percent of Latino or Hispanic origin, according to a 2006 report by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Texas State University announced in February the opening of a new academic research center in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication targeted toward Hispanic students, according to The University Star, its university newspaper.

The Center for the Study of Latino Media and Markets will prepare students to work in the U.S. Hispanic market, said Federico Subervi, a professor and director of the new center.

He, along with Sindy Chapa, an assistant professor from the school, will develop programs for the center, which will offer full courses in Spanish.

Subervi hopes it will be ready by next fall.

He said at least in Texas, Hispanic media jobs are usually taken by reporters from Latin America, who already know the language. Subervi wants to change this with the new program, and eventually develop a consortium of Latino and Media Markets with other universities.

"I want (the universities) to share their most talented students," Subervi said. "That way we should develop among all of us the students who will be professionals in the field."

"La Nueva Onda De Texas State" began as a monthly show. It will soon be airing weekly in KTSW 89.9, Texas State's official radio station.

Ashley Flores, a producer of La Nueva Onda, wrote in an e-mail that even though there are so many Hispanics in Texas, she said, still, few radio shows represent them.

"The show is a voice for us," said Flores, a junior mass communication major.

"The number of Hispanics in the university is changing," she said. "It's important that my university changes with time, too."

Subervi said many universities in the area "have a great capital for a Spanish language media center."

"The most important thing that is lacking is the professors," said Subervi, a native of Puerto Rico. "There are few that know the field."

Universities in states with high Hispanic or Latino populations, such as Florida International University in Miami, already have programs for students who want to study Spanish-language journalism.

The program, created in 1994, is designed for students who want to work at the professional level in the Spanish-language media in the United States, Latin America or Europe, according to its Web site.

Rebecca Wyant, general manager of Citrus TV, said "Las Noticias" could be helpful in attracting prospective students who are thinking about attending SU.

"I'm excited to see what having a Spanish news show will open up for us," said Wyant, a television, radio and film and biology major.

asaleman@syr.edu