ABOUT ARMANDO GARCIA

MUTIMEDIA WRITER - INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST

PLAYWRIGHT - NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER  

                               

Text Messages Only (925) 289-9765

lagamexusa@gmail.com

http://lagarciamexusa.blogspot.com/

Professional Profile

Highly influential team builder with successful career in bilingual news media in the United States and abroad. Visionary with proven ability to inspire individuals to work toward common goals and accomplish desired results. Easily adapts to foreign cultures and persons.

Education and Additional Experience

BA Journalism and Mass Communication UNAM-Mexico

BA Immigration Law and Procedures, Stanford, University

MA Performing Arts Mascarones Center at Nahuatl University-Mexico

AA Broadcasting: Columbia Broadcasting Academy, Hollywood, CA.

Public Awards:

California's Ventura County Arts Commissioner

California Legislature for Drama Arts in Communities

Second Place for Political Writer in Latin America by the National Association of Hispanic Publications.

Best Overall Publication, Photographs and Feature Story by the Western Labor Press Association.

Literature Award by the Oxnard Arts Association

Latino Drama Arts by El Concilio del Condado de Ventura

Best journalist by La Prensa de San Antonio.

Publication designer experience

Desktop Publishing: Publisher, Pager Maker, QuarkXPress, and PhotoShop.

Photography: Experienced news photographer.

Immigration Status: United States Citizen and Mexican National.

Languages: Spanish & English

JOURNALISM & PUBLISHING EXPERIENCE (1975-Present). 

Independent Journalist covering the USA-MEXICO Region

Author of love poetry, stories-tales and plays published on: http://teatroypoesiadeamerica.blogspot.com
and https://encuentrosyrelatos.blogspot.com
and https://encuentros-relatos.blogspot.com
Author of POESÍAS DEL ALMA and EROTISMO EN POESÍA (Pen name (Larry Alvarez)

Finding Productions, Media Relations Director. (Los Angeles, CA)

Responsible to write press releases and columns to be published in nationwide publications about the life and work of successful Latino people in the media, the arts, and the business community.

Nuestra America On line

Founder and editor of http://nuestraamericanews.blogspot.com

FACE BOOK: Nuestra América

Conexion Hispana.

Chief Operating Officer, acting managing editor and a columnist for Conexión Hispana, a weekly bilingual newspaper in Laredo-Del Rio-Eagle Pass-San Angelo,Texas region.

Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Educational Foundation Communications Director.

Responsible for the media and public relations of the Foundation in San Antonio, Texas.

Latin Opinion Baltimore, MD

Spanish language newspaper.

Copy editing and writing local and State stories, advertisement and reviewing PDF’s pages.

 “El Patriota”, Grupo Picacho. Honduras, Central America.

Advisor in news gathering, investigating reporting and news photography and American journalism standards.

 “¿Qué Pasa?” NEWSPAPER, Charlotte, NC

Editor and news reporter for print and radio outlets for ¿Qué Pasa?” Media in Charlotte North Carolina. News beats: crime, labor, local government, state politics, transportation and investigating reporting about the flow of immigrants to North Carolina.

IMF-GLOBAL ENTERPRISES

Director of Media Relations providing professional support to the development and implementation of public relations and media programs.

Performs specialized tasks such as media relations, writing in English and Spanish, editing websites, and desktop publishing, special events programming, outreach opportunities, and working on public relations and media campaigns.

DIARIOS RUMBO

News reporter of RUMBO a Spanish language newspaper in San Antonio Texas. Responsible of the news assignment desk. News beats crime, labor, government, immigration and politics.

HISPANIC PRESS NEWS SERVICE

Writer in English and Spanish for the Hispanic Press News Service in Washington DC in the following topics: automotive industry, nutrition, immigration and has translated English articles into Spanish. He also has written press releases for the agency and the National Association of Hispanic Publications.

Agencia EFE

Correspondent in San Antonio Texas of Spain’s news agency for the North America region.

EL MUNDO/LA CRONICA Spain

Contributor writer.

LA PRENSA San Antonio Bilingual Newspaper

Bilingual News Reporter. Responsible to write weekly news and feature stories about the life, economic and political events of San Antonio.

MASTERCARD GLOBAL MARKETING CENTER,

Saint Louis MO.

Bilingual agent in marketing strategies for Latin America.

LATINO LEADERS

Contributor writer to Latino Leaders magazine.

IMAGENES

Editor of Imágenes-Spanish Language Newspaper.

FRANKLIN NEWS

Media consultant for the Santa Barbara, California School District at Franklin Elementary School. Developed a monthly school newsletter as well as teaching to 4-6 graders basic elements of journalism.

NEWS AND PROPAGANDA DIRECTOR

News director for Campesina Radio Network in Bakersfield, CA. Responsible to produce news segments for a Farm Worker union oriented Radio Network, from California to Arizona.

PUBLISHER/FOUNDER/EDITOR- LA FARANDULA

Cofounder and editor of "La Farandula" a Spanish language monthly newspaper featuring Latino entertainers published by Ediciones Flor y Canto.

EDITOR EL NUEVO TIEMPO

Editor of "El Nuevo Tiempo”, the Spanish language weekly newspaper in Southern California, published by M&G Enterprises.

EDICIONES FLOR Y CANTO

Executive Director of this desktop publishing company. Responsible to develop web pages for customers as well as newspaper and magazine lay outs and designs.

NUESTRA AMERICA MAGAZINE

Publisher and founder of Nuestra America Magazine. A bilingual publication in California's Ventura County featuring articles for Latinos in the US. In addition, contributed writer with alternative news stories about Mexico and Latin America.

Assistant Editor for El Nuevo Tiempo newspaper.

Contributor writer for Vida Newspaper in Oxnard, California; and to magazines and newspaper in the US. Mexico, Central America and Europe. Managing Editor of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union in Los Angeles. 

Managing Editor and Public Relations Director for the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO responsible for publishing Food & Justice, El Malcriado and The Migrants. Responsible for press conferences and organizing national and international media tours.

News reporter and Radio Producer KUFW 90.5 Co-Founder Radio Campesina. Woodlake, California

Production assistant for directing farm workers union organizing drive TV. Commercials and the "Wrath of Grapes" documentary video for the United Farm Workers Union.

Producer for Vision Advertising in the developing and directing TV. Moreover, Radio Commercials for the Spanish Language Media.

Artistic Director for the International Entertainment Mexican Television Program "Mexico Magia y Encuentro" in benefit of Plaza de la Raza in Los Angeles. Journalism and broadcasting instructor and FCC licensed radio news broadcaster. Production Director for Barrio Bilingual Communications and journalist for La Raza Magazine.

References:

Finding Productions, Jackeline Cacho

findingproductions@yahoo.com

Conexión Hispana, Gregorio Gutiérrez.

Gregorio@conexionhispanaonline.com

Cesar E. Chávez Legacy & Educational Foundation, Jaime P. Martinez

iueorg@aol.com

Rumbo Newspaper, Lolbe Corona

lolbe_corona@yahoo.com

http://ufwstories.com/story/view/my-memories-with-el-jefe-cesar-e.-chavez

http://www.newstaco.com/2013/04/01/cesar-chavez-caudillo-de-los-desamparados/

http://www.newstaco.com/2013/01/30/la-migra-y-usted-se-abre-una-esperanza/

http://www.ivoox.com/letras-libres-6-programa-05-04-audios-mp3_rf_1932818_1.html

http://www.ivoox.com/letras-libres-7-programa-12-04-audios-mp3_rf_1950732_1.html

http://letraslibresenlaradio.blogspot.com/search?q=ARMANDO+GARCIA

http://www.somosprimos.com/sp2014/spmay14/spmay14.htm

A program showing the true face of Latinos in America .

“En Familia” Jackeline Cacho’s mission

by Armando Garcia

Are audiences eager for an educational and inspiring Spanish language television show? The answer is a big “YES”. Media experts, students, community members and Hispanic leaders have analyzed the unquestionable growth of the Hispanic community, all unconditionally support an initiative being impelled by the former National Reporter of Aztec America in the United States, the internationally recognized journalist Jackeline Cacho, that continuous working arduously so that someday million of Hispanics can tune in their televisions her program “En Familia con Jackeline Cacho.”

National leaders like Jorge Mursuli who is the director and founder of Democracy USA, the Board Member of the League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Reform Immigration for America and other fully endorse her initiative.

“Our community not only continues growing in numbers, but also in purchasing and political power. This is the right time to offer a program that more than entertaining also would encourage them to do something better in their lives, “said Mursuli.

For the last six years, Jackeline has fought very hard and continues doing so to provide millions of Hispanic viewers with “En Familia con Jackeline Cacho”. This is a historical opportunity for television networks to offer viewers programming that not only entertains, but also educates on family values.

According to Jackeline, this type of program does not exist at this time. She will produce a program that can show culture diversity, the contributions of the Hispanic community to America to dignify them. “En Familia con Jackeline Cacho” is a unique opportunity to change the erroneous perceptions of Hispanics demonstrating that they are multidimensional.

“Jackeline, who has created this talk show format, has dedicated a good part of her life to produce, to search, to meet and form a unity with all needed organizations to make a reality this show. Once the program is in the air, it will get the necessary support to offer real and inspiring life issues for the community,” said Mursuli.

Federico Subervi, professor of journalism at San Marcos Texas State University , is conducting an in-depth study on the lack of positive content towards young people in the programming of Hispanic television.

“Hopefully, Jackeline will have sufficient support so that En Familia can offer entertainment and education content to our youth," Subervi said. “Young people are the future of our society and what we see on television screens are stereotypes.”

“There is not much offered by programming," explains Subervi. “We do not see well-educated models that youth can follow. There are millions out there that are not gang members and whose stories En Familia must be told."

Furthermore Subervi said that it is very necessary from the educational point of view to support and applaud this program.

“Jackeline has worked arduously for the last two years in contacting national educational organizations, associations representing Hispanics,” he said. “There is no doubt in my mind that she will get the support she deserves.”

With a Spanish format, independently produced by Jackeline and her team, this program promises to be something new, something dynamic, something unique that hardly is seen on Spanish language television. It will be inspirational with a combination of educational content as well as entertainment. “En Familia con Jackeline Cacho” will serve like a connection between Hispanics families in this country and their counterparts in Latin American. In addition, it intends to reflect the reality of the Spanish market in the United States . Jackeline says that her program wants to give life options to the Hispanic community.

“When people watch ‘En Familia’ they will say, ‘its good somebody thought to produce this kind of program,” said Jackeline. “That after watching it, they can also say, ‘my son left drugs’ or ‘my daughter got an education’.”

“‘En Familia’ aims to make people thinks and analyze our families and in return provide the rooted values of our community,” explained Jackeline.

With this program, Jackeline is expanding her career which began in her native Peru 17 years ago.

The program’s format will be based upon what it is known in the Anglo market as ‘edutainment’. It is a combination of education and entertainment, which has produced great results in the American market making huge corporations to reach the family oriented middle class consumer.

For almost six years Jackeline has been developing the format based on the growth of the Hispanic community in the United States . She now eloquently describes her program as putting in a blender with spicy Latino flavor the programs of Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks, Martha Stewart and Ellen Degeneres, mixing it all together, and the outcome will be “En Familia con Jackeline Cacho”.

“It will be a program that reunites real elements, stories of all of us,” said Jackeline. “I believe our family is ready to move forward and to leave behind all the negative talk as being portrayed as the invisible community. The time has come to show positive good stories about Hispanics. If we show the negative aspects also show the alternatives, the role models in all cases.”

“I believe that we must offer thinking programs that provide life options. At the present time, a large percentage of programs leave in the audience a sense of emptiness. Therefore, we are sending an erroneous idea about Hispanics,” said Jackeline. “We live watching empty programs that only entertain us and do not contribute to living better or changing the statistics that sooner or later would affect us.”

Henry Cisneros, former Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Administration of President Clinton, who now sits on the Board of Spanish Language Network Univision fully supports “En Familia” because, it’s a project that will take a direct message to the Hispanic community.

“It will be a positive program to improve the life of the Hispanics in the country,” said Cisneros. “It has the potential to fill a void in Spanish language television. Jackeline has thought enough this project. She is very spiritual and this is an important step and a challenge for her career.”
“There are pretty wonderful things happening at the moment, everything will happen opportunely, it is just necessary to be persistent and to have much faith in what ones believes with so much passion as I believe in this show,” said Jackeline. “My mother and my father taught me that things arrive at the moment there are written, meanwhile, one must be prepared and that is what I am doing.”
The medium term objectives are to create a true window for Hispanics, and know what families are doing in this country. The long term goal is the creation of bridges of understanding between the new Hispanic generations.

“There is a generation of Hispanics we wish to feel pride for and inspire to struggle for success,” Jackeline said.

The program will be produced in Los Angeles, California and segments of its content will be developed in San Antonio, Texas.

The Hispanic population has become the first largest minority in this country. U.S. Census figures reveal that over 45 million Hispanics live in the country. Hispanics composed about 15% of the nation’s population with a purchasing power nearly $1 trillion.

The program hopes to be aired everyday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will compete with mainstream English language programs airing at that time.

Jackeline has 15 years of experience in mass media achieving international recognitions for her special coverage’s programs and humanitarian work always focusing on the community she considers her family.

Today, we see Jackeline as a business media woman, co-founder and general manager of “Finding Productions” in Los Angeles , California . Jackeline says that like many Hispanics, she has knocked on many doors to have success.

Viewers will be able to identify themselves in the stories in "En Familia" and will know that they are not the only ones to set goals in their lives. Jackeline says we have to constantly be creative otherwise programming will fall flat.

“I believe we must produce programs with more imagination and inspiration,” Jackeline says. “We must let our creativity fly with the purpose of inspiring others either in sports, entertainment, novels, series, or comedies."

In April of 2008, Jackeline was recognized by Latino Leaders magazine as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Latin Women in America .

Before managing Finding Productions, Jackeline was the national news anchor for Azteca America in Los Angeles , California . Previously, she was the conductor of the local news in San Antonio Texas for an Univision affiliate where she successfully developed special stories for national programs such “Despierta América” and “Noticiero Nacional,” and “Aquí y Ahora.”

Her journalism career has taken Jackeline around the world. For a period of four years, she produced from San Antonio , Texas the national program entitled “Las Mañanitas a la Virgen de Guadalupe.” On the same token, for three years she produced a beauty contest known as “Miss Teen, Miss and Mrs. Texas Latina Pageant” that provided scholarships to women and aimed to raise the cultural values of Texas Latinas in order to reduce the pregnancy rate.

Jackeline continues her daily work with the help of her invaluable staff at Finding Productions with its president and producer Thene Mucino and the support of her adorable Mother Carmen Cacho. Jackeline promotes humanitarian exchanges, educational conferences in Mexico and the United States about women’s self empowerment. A program that grows on a daily basis to open the path to fulfill the mission of her show.

She enjoys her family and keeps a constant contact with nature and mediates along with her pet “Candy.”

Armando Garcia is a freelance journalist. He is correspondent, senior editor and columnist of Conexion Hispana in Laredo, Texas. Media Relations for Finding Productions in Los Angeles. He was the Southwest correspondent for Spain ’s News Agency “EFE” and for the “Hispanic Press News Agency” in Washington , DC . In addition he has been a collaborating writer for “Latino Leaders,” and bilingual reporter for La Prensa and Rumbo newspapers in San Antonio, Texas and Editor of Que Pasa in Charlotte, NC.

FREELANCE JOURNALIST-NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER

Armando García offers journalistic services to Hispanic publications, public relations departments, advertising agencies, news media organizations in the United States and Mexico.

In 2009 he assisted the editorial department of Latin Opinion Baltimore Spanish language newspaper, in writing, local and State stories, proofreading advertisement and copy editing-proofreading.

In 2008 he worked as an advisor for ‘El Patriota’ a weekly publication in Honduras Central America in news gathering, investigating reporting and news photography and American journalism standards.

His last formal job was in 2007 as Editor-Reporter for Qué Pasa Media in Charlotte, North Carolina. His job duties included news reporting for weekly newspapers and broadcasted daily news over the radio waves.

He also worked the role of Media Relations director for IMF Global Enterprises in San Antonio, Texas. He was responsible to manage the planning and execution of public relations/media relations activities designed to help generate awareness of company’s services and products among consumers.

For little bit more of two years he worked full time as reporter for Rumbo, a daily Spanish language newspaper in San Antonio Texas. His news beats were crime, labor, local government, state politics, immigration, and transportation. Responsible of the news assignment desk

He was also the Ford Fellow Writer for the Hispanic Press News Service in Washington DC writing automotive industry stories in English and Spanish. He also wrote press releases and immigration related syndicated stories for the agency and the National Association of Hispanic Publications.

He was the correspondent for EFE News Agency in San Antonio, Texas.

He worked as contributor writer for El Mundo and La Crónica both publications from Spain and for Latino Leaders Magazine in the United States.

He also worked for La Prensa de San Antonio responsible to write weekly news and feature stories in English and Spanish about the life, economic and political events of the Alamo City. In 2004 he received the 2nd place award for best political story by the National Association of Hispanic Publications.

He was the editor of Imágenes-Spanish Language Newspaper published in California. Cofounder and editor of "La Farándula" a Spanish language monthly newspaper featuring Latino entertainers.

He served as the editor of "El Nuevo Tiempo”, the Spanish language weekly newspaper in Southern California. He was the contributor writer for Vida Newspaper.

From 1993 until 1998 he was the publisher and founder of Nuestra America Magazine, now being published online. http://nuestraamericanews.blogspot.com

He was the managing editor and public relations director for the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO responsible for publishing Food & Justice, El Malcriado and The Migrants. He also organized media tours and press conferences to promote the UFW’s cause, services and products. For his work for the UFW he received three major journalism awards given by the Western Labor Press Association: Best Overall Publication, Best Photographs and Best Feature Story.

He worked for other labor organization publications and helped grass-roots organizations with their media projects. Producer for Vision Advertising in Los Angeles in the developing and directing TV and Radio Commercials for the Spanish Language Media. Reporter for La Raza Magazine in East Los Angeles.

CELEBRIDADES

Personajes entrevistados por Armando García

PREMIOS

Premios para Armando García

LATINO LEADERS: San Antonio Mayor Edward D. Garza

"Un día a la vez is what it takes San Antonio Mayor Edward D. Garza to run his city –

Armando Garcia Alvarez

Mayor Edward D. Garza of San Antonio, Texas, a 34-year-old, third generation Texan of Latino descent, is serving his second term after being overwhelmingly reelected in May. Garza is the youngest mayor in San Antonio’s recent history.
Following the events of September 11, 2001, he created one of the nation’s first comprehensive city-county anti-terrorism plans, leading CNN to recognize San Antonio as the second most prepared city in the country after New York. Garza’s agenda for San Antonio includes the expansion of high-tech and biomedical industries, development of a skilled and well-paid workforce, revitalization of older neighborhoods and commercial corridors, modernization of local government, and the creation of new economic generators to support balanced growth. Latino Leaders caught up with him to ask him about his background, plans, and values.

Q. What jobs did your parents do and how did that influence you?
A. My father was a social worker and later an administrator of a substance abuse program. I worked with him for many summers, so I saw a lot of real life issues, and I saw the role of public sector in helping people who’ve fallen on difficult times.My mother worked for USA, a military insurance company, before she became a full-time mom. She also was the president of voluntary groups and became my leadership role model.

Q.What experiences did you have growing up as a
Latino that influenced you?
A.My being Latino hasn’t stood out in San Antonio, which is a multi-ethnic community. It was a good experience growing up there–my neighbors were elderly Anglos, and they took a hand in my upbringing. A mixed society has a positive impact on those who live in it.

Q. What experiences did you have as a child that made you get into politics?
A.I attribute my interest in politics to my parents, because they took me to election campaigns and civic activities back in 1977. I remember helping Joe Alderete, who was running for a city council seat. That early experience made me run for student council at Woodlawn Elementary. I lost. That was my only defeat. I was fortunate to grow up in a neighborhood that taught me many things in terms of urban planning and design, architecture, appreciation to detail, parks, and open space. Combining these things with my childhood civic activities, it began giving me an understanding of how elected officers and politics have an impact on communities. After my mother passed away, I felt hungry, determined to get involved in my community. I ran successfully for City Council District 7, the same neighborhood
where I was raised.

Q.Henry Cisneros is known for placing San Antonio on the map and for building the Alamodome. What will you be remembered for?
A.. My top priorities as mayor are working for balanced growth, modernizing our city charter, preparing our community for job security, and education; and the list grows. Toyota certainly supports the initiatives I have developed for the city’s Southside. PGA was not a priority, but the only thing I pointed out was my ability to listen to slow things down. I feel that I may not see the fruits of my labor today, next year, or five years from now.

Q.You have called San Antonio a world-class city, but at the same time you have asked everyone to work
together to grow as a sustainable community.Can you elaborate?
A.San Antonio is a world-class city today. People who come here from across the nation and the world admire what the city has to offer: our quality of life, our low cost of living, our friendly people, our unique history. Obviously, we have challenges like any big city. We must invest in our human capital, quality of life, neighborhoods, parks, and continue developing the leadership that understands our demographic history.

Q. People see your proven leadership as an open
door for a successful political career. What’s next on the horizon?
A.Un día a la vez. I really do take one day at a time. I’m so blessed to be a mayor of the city I love so much. Four years in office is a very short time to be head of a community this big. I know that if I take my eye off thejob I am doing today, I won’t be as effective. I feel that I will be able to do more not being an elected official, either at the private sector, supporting others becoming elected, and cultivating a vision for elected leaders in San Antonio. Henry Cisneros has been a mentor to me. Many Latinos in the city are aspiring leaders.

Q.Being a Latino running the second largest city
in Texas and the 8th in the nation, what has this meant to you?
A.Sometimes I have to remind myself that I think like most San Antonians do. We feel very proud that our city has a community feeling to it. It doesn’t feel like the 8th largest metropolis in the country. But at the same time, we look at the numbers, and I have to act like the mayor of one of the largest cities in the United States.

Q.You became a garbage man for a day and filled a pothole to show the importance of San Antonio workers. What’s next on the agenda?
A.These events have been educational for me. We also cleaned the San Antonio River. It’s really an opportunity to understand the job of hard workers and highlight problems that these workers face daily. I just tried to bring awareness of those issues.

Q.Do you consider yourself an
environmentalist?
A.A healthy community is a priority. As council member, I pushed the water fluoridation issue when we were the last city in the country to do this. A smoking ban is another issue. I would not dictate to people whether they should smoke or not, but as it relates to the impact on non-smokers in public places, I think that’s where a public official needs to make a decision.

Q.We want you to look into your crystal ball and tell when a Texas Latino will get into the US Senate or the governor’s office
A.I think clearly that within the next ten years we are going to see a strong evolution of Latino leaders continuing to reach higher offices. Texas is a breeding ground in the United States. In the year 2040, Texas will near the demographics of San Antonio today.

Q.really is Edward Garza? Who’s behind the suit?
A.Most people don’t realize that I have a pretty good sense of humor. I have to be more aware of how to present myself professionally, but I enjoy being married, spending time fishing on the coast. San Antonio will
always be our home.

PREMIOS Y RECONOCIMIENTOS

Algunos de los premios y reconocimientos periodisticos otorgados a Armando García