Jessica Formoso visits a Journalism Class

by Alicia Massey and Michelle Tejada, staff reporters 

Jessica Formoso, a bilingual reporter for News 12 the Bronx, came to speak to the juniors in the sixth period newspaper class about her job and what it entails.

“You have to love it, you miss Christmas, Thanksgiving, especially when you have just started,” Formoso said.

One of the most important lessons Formoso shared with the juniors was that a person must be ethical. Whenever someone gets any information, it is always best to double check their work. Make sure that all the facts are correct because if a person finds an error in the information, then the credibility has been shattered.

“I like how she was a very relatable person and encouraged me to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. She gave really good tips in reporting differently, in order for your reporting to be more original and creative than other reporters,” junior Brendon Muniz said.

Some students were curious to learn about what goes on when a reporter is live on air. Formoso explained that the producer is the person the reporter is constantly in contact with. The producers are the ones who tell the reporter when they are going live, or when its time to wrap up.

Formoso also shared with the students one of her on the air strategies: show and tell. Formoso told the students that they have to think of creative ideas to present the news to the audience. She revealed to the juniors that one way is to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to find story ideas.

“I know her personally, since I was very young. We also go to the same social club, bar/ restaurant. Both our families go there and are friends. She told us how it’s difficult at first but then it becomes progressively easier. She was telling us her experience on her first time being live, and how you have to like this job because it’s a lot of work,” senior Alejandro Correia said.

Formoso was accepted to News 12 after she went to Hofstra University where she decided she wanted to become a reporter. When starting this career, holidays are put to the side and the reporter becomes a freelance production  assistant. After this the reporter can step up and go live on camera. This career choice requires a teamwork effort in order to have a good result in the show.