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Beatrice Hines, 1964 B e a t r ic e H i ne s , 7 2 , ne v e r dreamed she would make history. It was 1964 when she did. Working the night shift as a maid at The Miami Herald, Hines was faced with the racial discrimination of the 1960s. One day, she asked the book editor, who spent late nights in the newsroom, to revise her education essays for school. “He told me that I should apply to be a reporter, and that I was good,” said Hines. “He said I should be ready, that things are going to change and that they will not remain the same.” Hines took this as a sign. She applied to be a file clerk and was hired. Hines was the first African American women to hold a white collar position at The Miami Herald. “I was so nervous. I felt like I had so much more at stake than anyone
Eliott Rodriguez, 1974 “Write more and draw less” were the words that changed CBS4 News anchor, Eliott Rodriguez’s life. As a student at Miami Dade College he aspired to be an artist until a journalism professor encouraged him to join the RODRIGUEZ student newspaper at the Kendall Campus, the Catalyst. It seems, Rodriguez made the right choice. He has two Emmy Awards. Rodriguez started his professional journalism career as a police reporter at the now defunct Miami News. He has also worked at WTVJ and WPLG in Miami and WPVI in Philadelphia. Rodriguez has interviewed Fidel
else. I was a mother of two young children at 27,” Hines said. Hines, who attended Miami Dade College’s North Campus in 1967, decided to switch majors from education to journalism in hopes of a promotion, so she decided to write for the student newspaper. “My first story at The Falcon Times was to go interview t he new cafeter ia HINES manager,” she said. Hines was scared to tell her mother about her new career path fearing she would refuse to take care of her children while she was at school and working. Hines was mocked by her friends. “When I was confronted with a problem, I would ask myself ‘what would Jesus do?’ I learned that if one has faith, God would tell them how to deal with certain situa-
Castro, covered the Mariel Boatlift, Pope John Paul II’s health issues, elections in Nicaragua and the invasion of Panama. He said the experience he got at the Catalyst was vital to his success. “I always say that the experience I got at Miami Dade College put me on the path to where I am now,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez started at the Catalyst as a cartoonist in 1974. After discovering his passion for journalism he served as features editor, assistant news editor and news editor. “The things that I learned at the Catalyst are not things I would have learned in the class room,” Rodriguez said, “such as dealing with different personalities, interviewing people, getting people on the phone and getting them to answer tough questions. You learn them by doing them.”
tions,” Hines said. In 1970, Hines became The Miami Herald’s first African American woman reporter. “I give all credit to The Falcon Times,” Hines said. “The Herald handed me a desk and a typewriter. I had to pull what I learned from my school paper.” Hines went on to become a general assignment reporter. Her debut consisted of her covering a riot in Liberty City. It made the front page. “If I lean on my faith, I can get through anything,” said Hines. “I was never afraid anymore.” She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1982. Savvy magazine also named her one of the top five woman columnists in the country in 1983. Hines retired in 2001, but continues to freelance for The Miami Herald’s Neighbor’s section. —Monique O. Madan
Jay Ducassi, 1978 As a student at Miami Dade College, Jay Ducassi hoped to be the next Robert Duvall. It wasn’t until a journalism professor at the North Campus suggested he write for The Falcon Times, that he discovered his true passion. “I didn’t realize then that this would be my life’s calling,” Ducassi said, “that this would be what I DUCASSI would do for the past 30 years.” He is currently the metro desk editor for The Miami Herald.
Rick Jervis, 1990 Riding the train to cover events in the heart of Miami is what Rick Jervis, 39, remembers most about his days as a student journalist at the Wolfson Campus. Jervis was a staff writer for the Metropolis from 1990 to 1992. “The paper was everything to me,” Jervis said. “At first, I was not clear with what I wanted to do, but then it became clear. “ Jervis says his media adviser, Jose Quevedo, was his main reason of inspiration; he showed him direction. During his time at the Metropolis, Jervis had many opportunities to cover top-notch events like Miami Heat basketball games. Other stories Jervis wrote revolved around the homelessness issue in downtown Miami. Those stories gave Jervis a “feel for a big city paper.”
Ducassi began as a staff writer for The Falcon Times in 1978 and was promoted to editorial editor after a semester. He recalls his first assignment, covering a visit by comedian Michael Keegan, to the North Campus. “I covered the show and then I got to talk to him, it was terrific,” Ducassi said. “It was the first time I got close to a celebrity. After the first two stories that I did, I was hooked on the writing and on the reporting.” The experience Ducassi received at The Falcon Times is what “essentially” led him to where he is today. “The basics I learned at The Falcon Times are the same that I use today,” Ducassi said. “Go out to re-
—Monique O. Madan
port on a story, write it by deadline, file it and move to the next one.” Ducassi gives Jose Quevedo, The Falcon Times faculty adviser during his tenure, credit for what he has accomplished. “Q had an incredibly infectious enthusiasm about journalism and it was great,” Ducassi said, “just being around him. He loved to talk about journalism and good stories and going out there and kicking [butt]. It was great.” Ducassi is still surprised that journalism ended up being his calling, but he is thankful. “I plan on doing it as long as I am around,” Ducassi said.
—Alexandra de Armas
—Alexandra de Armas
2010 A New Era: As of Oct. 4, Miami Dade College will be served by a single, consolidated newspaper, The Reporter. Pictured (from left) Manolo Barco, media adviser; Alexandra de Armas, North Campus bureau chief; Monique Madan, editor-in-chief; Julie McConnell, interim Kendall Campus bureau chief; and Lazaro Gamio, interim Wolfson Campus bureau chief and Art Director.
un Sentinel
graphic 79 GREGORY CASTILLO/THE REPORTER
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After Miami Dade College, Jervis attended the University of Florida for three years. He later interned at The Tennessean, and The Boston Globe. From there, he became a reporter for The Miami Herald. He later freelanced in several count ries such as Hungar y, Slovakia and Slovenia. Jervis also write for t he Chicago Tribune covering crime. Now stationed in JERVIS New Orleans, Jervis is currently the Gulf Coast Correspondent for USA Today. He has been covering the BP oil spill. “I was curious about the world,” said Jervis." The Metropolis gave me my skeleton for my career.”
Myriam Marquez, 48, Miami Herald Opinions Page Editor • Catalyst staff writer, 1979-80 "It took guts. It was a great training ground. It was my first step."
Armando Salguero, 47, Miami Herald Sports columnist; morning talk show host Armando and the Amigos on 640-AM •Downtowner Editor-in-Chief, 1980-81 "My time at the Downtowner was tons of work, tons of pressure, tons of fun and tons of prestige [at the school.]"
Laura Morel, 21, Emerson College student, Boston, Mass. • Falcon Times Editor-inChief, 2007-2009 "I often look back and wonder what would have happened if I had never walked into the newsroom.”