KPRC 2 reporter Ricky Muñoz recently sat down with University of Houston journalism students for a workshop focused on what working in a newsroom looks like beyond the classroom.
The discussion explored the realities of entering the journalism industry, including a reporter’s day-to-day responsibilities, entry-level salaries and the changing role of journalists as newsrooms place greater emphasis on digital reporting, social media, video and multiplatform storytelling.
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Muñoz also reviewed the fundamentals of responsible reporting, including how to approach stories without allowing personal opinions to influence the work, ask fair and effective questions, build relationships with sources and understand the responsibility journalists have when presenting information to the public.
Students were introduced to newsroom terminology and skills, including what makes a strong reel, how a VO/SOT is structured, what reporters mean by a “softball” question and how a television story develops from the initial reporting process to the final product viewers see on air.
The workshop also provided practical advice for students preparing to apply for newsroom positions. Muñoz discussed internships, resumes, reels and what news managers look for in applicants. He encouraged students to practice reporting, shooting, writing, editing and communicating across platforms while learning how to present their classroom experience as preparation for a professional newsroom.
As a Houston native and University of Houston graduate, Muñoz understands the transition from the classroom to the newsroom firsthand. He reports for KPRC 2 in English and Spanish across television, digital and social platforms.
His goal was to give students a realistic look at the expectations, challenges and opportunities ahead.
“Entering the industry requires more than knowing how to write a story,” Muñoz said. “Young journalists need to understand how to report, shoot, write, edit, communicate across platforms and, above all, earn the trust of the people they serve.”