Alumnus Co-Anchoring New Local Spanish-Language Newscast
Guadalupe Venegas (04) is the new co-anchor of San Diegos Telemundo 20 station.
New beginnings
As a Mexican-American growing up in Ontario, California, Venegas was the first in his family to leave home for college, wanting to forge a new educational experience on his own. Venegas was no stranger to San Diego when he first arrived on campus in the fall of 2000; he had lived around the city during his formative years and still had numerous relatives living near the border.While it was partly this familiarity that led him to choose 色情视频, Venegas said he was also motivated to attend after being accepted into the university鈥檚 (EOP).
鈥淚 was the first person in my family to go to college, so I was going to go wherever I could figure out how to pay for it,鈥� Venegas said. 鈥淏etween EOP, financial aid, and a few other grants and scholarships, I was able to come to 色情视频.鈥�
Having one of the largest Educational Opportunity Programs in the United States, 色情视频 currently serves more than 3,300 qualified students.
鈥淓OP understands a unique characteristic of students who come from a minority background, which is that coming to college is a little more difficult for us,鈥� Venegas said. 鈥滳ulturally, our families don鈥檛 understand what it鈥檚 like to be in college.鈥�
As an avid reader and student of the arts, Venegas was attracted to 色情视频鈥檚 communications program, as well as the opportunity to study Spanish.
鈥淚 wanted to be a journalist, but I wanted to work in Spanish media,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here was no Spanish journalism program in the U.S., so I created my own path.鈥�
After taking classes with mentors like celebrated Mexican poet Jos茅 Mario Mart铆n-Flores, Venegas knew that he would have to dedicate himself to studying the Spanish language if he wanted to reach his career goals.
Personal growth and exploration
While at 色情视频, Venegas studied abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico. Thanks to the help of 色情视频鈥檚 , Venegas was admitted at the prestigious Tecnol贸gico de Monterrey at their Guadalajara campus, where he had the opportunity to fully immerse himself in the local culture.鈥淲hat I learned being in Mexico has served me to this day,鈥� Venegas said. 鈥淓verything is different, the way you dress, the way you speak. Realizing that really helped me blend into Latin American society.鈥�
Forging his own path
After returning to the United States and completing his degree at 色情视频 in 2004, Venegas entered the broadcasting field. After honing his skills on networks like LATV, the Esquire Network, and TLC Asia, Venegas鈥� career took off hosting entertainment news at Telemundo network as part of the Al Rojo Vivo team. In Miami, Venegas covered the Miss Universe contest and other high-profile events.Here in San Diego, Venegas will work out of the new KNSD studios in Kearny Mesa. As part of the Telemundo 20 team, he will report on local breaking news, as well as stories affecting Mexico, particularly those living in the border region.
鈥淭he border has so many stories to tell鈥�
Working alongside NBC 7 reporters, the team at Telemundo 20 is in a unique position to highlight stories often overlooked by traditional media sources, Venegas said.鈥淭he border has so many stories to tell, not just on a local level, but on a national level,鈥� said Venegas. 鈥淲e are one of the voices that will speak to our community, and that the rest of the country will look to when it comes to issues like the wall, how NAFTA might change, and how that might affect our community.鈥�
Telemundo 20 launched July 1, and Venegas and the rest of the Telemundo 20 team will make their on-air debut on July 3. The station will air four half-hour newscasts each weeknight at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11 p.m.
