Students create first all-Spanish news broadcast ‘UI7 En Vivo Contigo,’ present at NAHJ conference

As the son of first-generation immigrant parents from Mexico, Emilio Reyes sometimes found it difficult fitting in while growing up in rural Indiana.  

It wasn’t until he came to the University of Illinois to study journalism that he says he began to really embrace his Hispanic heritage. 

“I [was able] to find my community and really flourish so much here. I really think the U of I has definitely helped me develop and accept and love my identity so much that I am at my utmost [best],” Reyes said. 

Reyes, a senior and president of the Latino fraternity Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc., says his time at Illinois has not only allowed him to gain a new sense of self-confidence, but also empowered him to help others on campus and beyond connect with their Latina/Latino roots. 

Last fall, Reyes and two other journalism students created, anchored, and produced En Vivo Contigo (“Live with You”), an all-Spanish-speaking television newscast on UI7, the University of Illinois cable channel. 

“I’ve always believed that media representation is so important,” Reyes said. “If I would have seen someone that looks like me on TV, I would have definitely learned about what a journalist is way before I was 18 years old and applying to colleges.”

It’s an endeavor that earned him and recent graduate Anneliese Cornejo Garcia (BS ’24, journalism; BA ’24, Spanish) an opportunity to speak at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention held July 9-13, 2024, in Los Angeles.

The two students co-presented “Challenge and Success of Creating a Student-Ran Spanish-Speaking Broadcast” to a crowd that included representatives from top media outlets such as CNN, CBS, ABC, and Telemundo. (Pictured at right; photo courtesy of Ken Erdey.)

Reyes, who studied abroad in Spain last semester and interned at Cuatro Gotes Producciones, a multimedia ad agency, said he was grateful for the networking opportunities the NAHJ convention provided.

“It was the best of the best—the most amazing panels and connections, especially for Latino journalists,” Reyes said. 

Ken Erdey, journalism instructor and technical coordinator for Richmond Studio, also attended the convention and watched as the two talked to a large audience of media industry professionals as well as college students about the origins of the show. 

“Anneliese and Emilio excelled in telling their story to make En Vivo Contigo happen,” Erdey said. “It was a great day and made me proud to be a part of Illinois Journalism.”

Erdey began talks with Reyes, Cornejo Garcia, and Jackie Barba, a senior in journalism, in Spring 2023 about the possibility of starting a Spanish-speaking newscast. 

Thanks to a major gift from Richard and Leslie Frank that provided state-of-the-art renovations to Richmond Studio and established the Frank Newsroom, Erdey knew he could expand opportunities and open new doors for students at UI7. 

The students were elated about the idea of starting an all-Spanish-speaking news platform, which first aired in Fall 2023 and ran through Spring 2024.

“There was no Spanish-language news in central Illinois before UI7 En Vivo Contigo, and we’re not on a mainstream network, but to have this come [about] with college students making that first step and carving the path is huge,” Cornejo Garcia said. 

Barba, executive producer of the show, feels fortunate to be a part of En Vivo Contigo. 

“My identity as a Latina informs so much of my work as a journalist, and I value spaces where that is celebrated,” Barba said. “Creating a show that highlights my communities’ stories, which often go untold, while promoting other Latinx journalists in the field has been a dream, and I’m excited to keep growing and improving our work!”

Reyes’s experience at the 2024 NAHJ convention inspired him to revitalize the local Illinois NAHJ chapter, which hasn’t been as active in recent years. After seeing firsthand the number of opportunities and resources NAHJ provides, Reyes and Barba want more students to get involved.

“These jobs [and connections] that you would never believe are just right there. People see us, they hear us, and they want to help us as students take advantage of that,” he said.

Barba is also working with Reyes to help strengthen the local NAHJ chapter. As vice president of the Society for Professional Journalists at Illinois, Barba recognizes the importance of providing resources and opportunities for other Hispanic journalists.

Any student interested in joining the Illinois chapter of NAHJ can contact Emilio Reyes at emilio3@illinois.edu.

For more information about En Vivo Contigo, which is open to all majors and Spanish-proficiency levels, email Ken Erdey at kerdey@illinois.edu. 

The second season of En Vivo Contigo kicked off on September 27 and airs every other Friday at 4:30 p.m. live, on-demand, or on UI7 Newsroom’s Roku channel.

—Kelly Youngblood