My latest for Latin Pulse in this week’s newscast is my report from the release of a new book by Guillermo Valdes Castallanos, the former director of the Mexican intelligence agency (CISEN).
Organizing the event was Manuel Suarez-Mier, a former Mexican diplomat and my professor for “World Politics” at American University. Mexican Ambassador to the United States Eduardo Medina Mora was also there.
Each week on Latin Pulse, the able Megan Ekhaml hosts a roundup of that week’s news in Latin America.
This week, I stepped in and earned the role of associate producer by guest hosting the newscast. This week, we focused on Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay. Thanks to executive producer Rick Rockwell for writing the script and editing the final package.
A few weeks ago I went to a Costa Rican presidential debate in San José. When I got back to the states, I wrote, recorded and edited my first international piece and my first piece for Latin Pulse I’ve done in months. It’s also the first time leading the weekly news program.
I also snagged a couple of photos of the candidates present.
This is an important report for me. Majoring in international studies was my way of preparing me for a life of international politics reporting. I’ve also invested myself in radio reporting with work at Latin Pulse as well as PBS MediaShift. The fact that this piece exemplifies both is particularly significant in my professional development.
Hopefully this is not the last.
All part of my reporting for Latin Pulse for story in this broadcast:
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. June 4. Photo by Zach C. Cohen.
See 1:44 of this week’s edition of “Latin Pulse” for my story on new research out of the Brookings Institution and the implications for Latin American foreign policy.
Also, I was on C-SPAN!
The author, featured in a screen capture of C-SPAN coverage of a Brookings Institution event called, “The Politics of Marijuana Legalization.” To the author’s left, John Walsh of the Washington Office on Latin America.
Zach C. Cohen 