Get to know some of our College of Media Students! Nathan Gonzalez is a class of 2027 journalism major.
Why did you choose journalism at the University of Illinois?
When my mom gave me my first camera, I became interested in videography and editing. In high school we had a sports broadcasting program where we’d livestream all the different games and give weekly news updates. I also gained experience in print journalism in high school through our art magazine and that piqued my interest in storytelling and how I could use different channels to tell stories. When I applied here, I saw a lot of potential in what Illinois built with their journalism program. As a first-generation college student, I didn’t have much guidance, and having the administration and faculty here being so kind and helpful has allowed me to be a stronger journalist. Had I gone to a different program, I am not sure I would been offered these experiences to become the journalist I am today. They’ve really helped me navigate what the field is, what journalism is, what broadcasting and television is, and I feel like now I’m more confident about all that.
How has being here helped you narrow down the sector of journalism you hope to go into in the future?
I knew I wanted to do broadcasting, and I’ve always had a love for television. Growing up I was homeschooled and didn’t have an iPad or an iPhone, so my connection to the outside world came from watching broadcast news on television. The TV stations and the anchors were the ones who taught me about the world around me.
When the newly remodeled Richmond Studio reopened during my freshman year, I wandered around there and told Ken Erdey, the technical coordinator for Richmond Studio, I wanted to get involved. That experience further reassured me that broadcast was the right fit. I love every aspect of the newsroom, and I feel that it really helped me become a stronger journalist.
Which class at the College of Media have you found the most valuable so far?
I would say the most valuable class I’ve taken is JOUR 400: Newsroom Experience. This class offers a lot of different opportunities. This was my first time getting hands-on experience with studio cameras. I learned how to write a package and how to use it to tell a visual story. I recently was nominated for a Crystal Pillar from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for college students. A lot of what I learned in this class went into developing that package that got me that honorable mention.
What professional experiences will you be doing this summer?
As a White House Correspondents’ Association scholar, I was invited to the White House where I met and questioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the administration’s relationship with the media. Under this program, I’ll be mentored by Jose Del Pino, international White House correspondent. This summer, I’ll also be interning at Fox News in Washington, D.C., as an assignment desk intern!
Can you talk about your recent research trip to Africa?
We went to Freetown in Sierra Leone, West Africa. We were filming a documentary on period poverty. It is a very impoverished country and period products are very expensive, so girls experience mental shame due to the lack of education about what goes on.
I had never been out of the continent, let alone travel on my own, but for some reason I just thought to myself, why not? As a journalist, my job is to be, as the department likes to say, curious and fearless. So, I just said why not? Why can’t I? I feel that’s what really compelled me.
Is there a professor or faculty member at the College of Media that you’re inspired by?
Someone who I’m extremely grateful for is Kenneth Erdey. He supervises the university newsroom and was one of the first people I met at Meet Media (a welcome week activity for College of Media students where they get the chance to meet their future classmates and professors). I went up to him and asked him how to become a producer. We talked for about an hour that day and, to sum it up, he told me to go to the newsroom and keep showing up. From there he’s helped me with my writing, taught me how to sharpen my work, given me advice on interviews, worked through my packages with me, and offered critiques where I needed them. He’s always ready and willing to give any advice he can. He’s always been there to give me reassurance that mess-ups happen, and that college is the perfect place to make them. He also gave me my first job and has helped me carve out my career path. I love all my professors and they’re all very talented and have helped me very much. But Ken has been there since my freshman year and I’m very grateful for that.
What advice would you give to an undergraduate student within the College of Media majoring in journalism?
I would say to be honest with yourself. I live and breathe what I do because I love what I do. It’ll completely open your world. Journalism will make you connect with people in ways that you would’ve never thought of and connect with people you could’ve never imagined. I would’ve never imagined being in Africa interviewing a young girl about her struggles and challenges. It is truly an eye-opening field. Get ready because it will truly change you.
—Interview by Crystal Oropeza, New Voices Intern
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