At University of Miami Television (UMTV), students gain valuable experience by producing and anchoring the Spanish-language program UniMiami, crafting compelling stories, managing production logistics, and engaging with the community while preparing for their future careers. hone your skills for In the media.
A typical “UniMiami” show day begins on a Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., when one of the executive producers, Juliana Sondon, arrives to outline and set the order of the day’s broadcast. This includes things like adding graphics, an Instagram handle, and making sure your teleprompter is updated with the required credits. While one producer manages the operations upstairs, the other focuses on the talent, making sure the microphones are on and each student is positioned correctly on camera.
The show’s format combines regular newscasts, an entertainment segment covering celebrity gossip and awards, sports updates and a newly introduced weather segment that hasn’t featured in four years. As students transition into roles such as UniMiami News Anchor, they develop effective preparation strategies to excel in the position. This includes submitting the script for review on Thursday and Friday and recording it on Monday. With Spanish as their first or second language, they pay close attention to every word in the script to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Zachary Levi, a fourth-year political science student, explains how “UniMiami” has had a huge impact on his Spanish language skills.
“Since joining the team, my Spanish has improved a lot,” he said. “As I strengthened my writing and speaking skills in a broadcast environment, I became more connected to the Spanish-speaking community.”
Outside of the studio, Levy’s interactions with these communities have become more meaningful, and his understanding of Spanish sports media has deepened.
“The skills you develop at UniMiami will stay with you long after you leave the United States,” he said.
UniMiami officials include, from left: Carlos Solares, Karl and Zachary Levi, Isabella Morales, Gisele Arciniega, Ashley Valencia, Paula Zepeda, Antonio Mora, Jayla Rivero, Juliana Sondon, and Emma. Includes Balleste, Austin.
Sondon reflects on the tremendous growth UniMiami has experienced, particularly its support for the university’s Latinx community.
“Over the last year, we have seen more Latinx students come forward and participate, both graduate and undergraduate,” she explained. Many of these students not only gained valuable experience on “UniMiami,” but also moved on to larger roles on other UMTV shows.
“As an executive producer, it’s bittersweet to see them move forward, but I couldn’t be more proud of their success,” Sondon said. Her main goal is to help each student feel prepared and confident as they take on greater opportunities. “I want them to work hard and grow, but more importantly, I want them to be confident in their abilities,” she adds, adding that as a producer she’s able to work hard and grow, both on and off screen. He emphasized that he is dedicated to promoting their growth.
“The resources and opportunities provided to me by the University of Miami played an important role in developing me and my colleagues into effective journalists. I served as a live broadcast anchor as a freshman and took on the role of executive producer. “I gained experience both on and off camera and learned about script editing, B-roll selection, and production management before taking on the role,” said Jayla Rivero, a fourth-year journalism student.
Rivero emphasizes that the path to becoming a news anchor is not an easy one. I initially considered majoring in broadcasting or even going to law school, but after taking a few broadcasting classes, I ultimately decided to switch gears and focus on journalism. . “Antonio Mora is the best professor,” Rivero said, attributing much of her growth to his guidance. Knowing that UMTV offered the best opportunity to gain work experience and secure a job in the field, Rivero enthusiastically joined the station and began working on “News Break,” “News Vision” and Sports. He has contributed to programs such as The Desk. uni miami. ”
Antonio Mora, faculty advisor and associate professor of professional practice at UniMiami, said his main goal is to help students bring out their best in storytelling and on-camera presentations. He will teach you how to assemble your shows, develop compelling story ideas, and continually improve the quality of your work.
“I review all scripts and discuss them with the show’s lead producers,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of mentorship in an ever-evolving media landscape. Each year, when new students join, we provide training and specific feedback on their scripts, with a particular focus on improving their Spanish writing skills, as native Spanish speakers are a minority in the program. I’m doing it. “In that sense, I also became a Spanish teacher,” he added.
Mora hopes students will gain not only skills but also a sense of fun from their time at UniMiami.
“I want people to know how great a career in broadcasting is,” he said, reflecting on his journey from law to broadcasting. One of the most rewarding aspects of his role is witnessing students land jobs with Spanish television networks, which he finds particularly gratifying. “My favorite part is seeing my students pursue jobs in the broadcasting industry that they love,” he said, emphasizing the impact their success has had on his own educational experience.
