Two recent graduates of the Department of Journalism + Media (J+M), Ursula Muñoz Schaefer and Gabriella Genao, have published fascinating stories about Latin America in palabra, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ online magazine. The tales were completed in capstone classes taught respectively by the team of Professor Jay Sandhouse and Professor Kate MacMillan – and Professor Allan Richards.
A third story by J+M student Valeria Venturini, which was published in palabra last year, took 12th place in explanatory reporting in the prestigious Hearst Awards, the college version of the Pulitzer Prize.
All were part of the new collaboration between the J+M’s South Florida Media Network and the magazine, which is edited by Ricardo Sandoval-Palos. Muñoz’s story, published Feb. 2, describes a half dozen killings in Puerto Rico that have become a national outrage and recently helped spark the governor to declare a state of emergency.
Genao’s first-person piece is a moving story about her Dominican father, his battle with lung cancer and exorcising her own demons. It was published January 26 in both English and Spanish.
And Venturini’s story, also published in both languages, described the plight of thousands of Venezuelans stranded outside their home country because of draconian and politically motivated restrictions. It was dated Sept. 18, 2020.
broadcast media student in her senior year and a SFMN contributor.
