Cool Guest Speaker

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Rock journalist Jim Villanueva displays "calling cards"

“I wanted to emphasize following your passion,” said Jim Villanueva.

Villanueva, an independent radio producer, told Newspapers 2 students Tuesday that his radio career started with an unpaid volunteer stint.  Within several months, he said, KLOS hired him, for $4.25 an hour.

Next?  Howard Gelman hired him to produce a classic-rock interview show for Global Satellite Network.  Villanueva said George Harrison was the first featured guest he worked with.  “I knew then it was a cool job,” Villanueva said.

Today?  Villanueva has his own production company, Current Classics.  He also works for a national syndication company.

“A personal mantra of mine, what I call the three P’s,” Villanueva said.  “Passion–follow it.  Persistence…ask questions.  (And) the hardest one…Patience.  It will not happen for you overnight.”

First day of Newspapers 2!

So far I’ve managed to get lost–twice–AND learn two important things about online journalism.

First, a feature story doesn’t have to follow the inverted-pyramid format!  (I’d always thought I was doing it wrong!)

Second–everybody’s scared about making initial contacts.   Hearing Kate say that dispelled the misconception that there is a Brotherhood of Fearless Journalists somewhere!

Can’t wait to get started!