Twin Cities Journalist Profiles
Ruben Rosario
Name:
Rubén Rosario
Employer:
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Title:
Columnist
Educational background:
BA, Fordham University; Multicultural Management Fellowship Program, University of Missouri
Job description:
I write at least two columns a week, generally but not exclusively on public safety and social justice issues.
What do you like most about your job?
The freedom of selecting what I choose to write.
What are the most important skills and character traits you have to have to do that job well?
Passion, competitive fire and people skills.
What are the biggest challenges of your job?
Consistently writing columns on people or issues that will be thought provoking, informative or compelling. The best ones contain all three elements.
What advice do you have for young, aspiring journalists?
Hone and polish writing and reporting skills. Read the best works by the best journalists. Emulate and then find your own voice. Have the fire in the belly to do the job as well as you can at all times.
Hlee Lee
Employer:
Twin Cities Public Television
Title:
Associate Producer
Educational background:
UJW scholarship recipient, graduate from University of St. Thomas 2007
Job description:
I assist senior producers with mini-documentaries, live studio shows, discussion based shows, and others. I also lead produce my own mini-documentaries about social justice issues.
What do you like most about your job?
I get to build community and do what I love to do — make TV!
What are the most important skills and character traits you have to do your job well?
Talking to people and having them trust you enough to tell you their story.
What are the biggest challenges of your job?
Working well with other people, even if it is difficult. A lot of people don’t understand the world of making TV, it’s my job to help them and help them help me make something meaningful.
What advice do you have for young, aspiring journalists?
Be confident in yourself. There are a lot of aspects of journalism that depends on how much you believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself, others will believe in you too!
Carlos Gonzalez
Name:
Carlos Gonzalez
Employer:
The Star Tribune
Title:
Photographer
Educational background:
San Jose State University
Job description:
Shoot photos of everything from Vikings games to breaking news.
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy the fact that every day is different. I meet interesting people and see things that I might not otherwise have in a different occupation.
What are the most important skills and character traits you have to have to do that job well?
As a photographer you have to be able to make people feel comfortable around you. The ideal is to get to a point where they don’t even notice you.
What are the biggest challenges of your job?
Capturing the right moment. It can happen in a split second and if you miss it, you’ve missed it.
What advice do you have for young, aspiring journalists?
Internships. Do as many as you can when you are in college. A classroom cannot match the amount that you learn in a professional setting.
