Gente de NAHJ: Broadcaster sent over 60 tapes to land her first job
When Laura Castañeda graduated from college in Chicago, it took her some time to put together the reel she would sent out to prospective bosses.
Nearly 60 tapes later, and a full year after sending one to NAHJ founder Henry Mendoza, Castañeda landed her first job in Tucson, Arizona.
That kicked off a series of opportunities that took her to many places around the United States, eventually landing at the San Diego Union Tribune where she’s the deputy opinion editor.
During the 2024 NAHJ conference in Hollywood, Castañeda reunited with Mendoza, whom she credits for launching her career.
Jaeel Beato is a junior at Emerson College pursuing a degree in broadcast journalism. He is an intern at The Boston Globe, serving as the video intern. Jaeel visually captures culture, entertainment, and human interest stories. Reach him at jaeelbeato30 [at] gmail [dot] com or on LinkedIn.
