In the business of political broadcast journalism, the more you know, the more valuable you are.
Bilingual CNN reporter and 1995 College graduate Maria Inés Ferré epitomizes that mantra. During a Multicultural Outreach discussion hosted by Penn Alumni Relations last night, Ferré told her story and gave advice to an audience of students and alumni.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Ferré’s career transcends all aspects of the bilingual-broadcast divide. Before landing her job as a reporter on CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” Ferré maximized her on-camera Spanish skills at CNN en Español as an anchor and a reporter for Telemundo. She also worked in Spanish radio as a producer, interviewer and anchor on shows like “Primera Plana.”
Along the way, Ferré has developed several skills that have allowed her to stand out in the competitive field that is broadcast journalism.
“You’re always hearing ‘no,’” she said of the obstacles she faced in the early days of her career as a Latina journalist.
“Just because I’m a Latina doesn’t mean I only get to do the things that deal with Latin Americans,” she said. She noted that at CNN, she is “just one of the other reporters,” and takes on issues ranging from immigration medicare to presidential politics.
As an undergraduate at Penn, Ferré participated in extracurriculars typical of any future journalist: she reported for UTV and was a photographer for The Daily Pennsylvanian.
But Ferré didn’t let journalism take over her life — she also has a background in improvisational comedy and theater, both of which she credits with helping her overcome her shyness and stage-fright.
“I would highly recommend [improvisation] for people who want to get into broadcasting,” she said, adding that it “trains your brain muscles.”
“I was happy to learn that in this industry, it’s good to show diversity in your background,” said Christine Nieves, a College senior and another Spanish-English speaker who is currently working at Telemundo.
1995 Wharton graduate Nicole Maloy, an organizer of the event, said Ferré was an obvious choice for a speaker because her story is “compelling” and “accessible.”
“We had not met when we were studying, but it’s a pleasure to meet her today,” Maloy said, who admitted that she was nervous when it came to chatting with the professional interviewer.
But for Maloy and other potential interviewers out there, Ferré had three pieces of advice: “Don’t take no for an answer, pursue your dreams and believe in yourself.”
