By María de los Milagros Colón Cruz
Journalism Program Academic Leader
Ferré Rangel School of Communication
Journalism students Andrea Cartagena Vega, Andrea Nicole Centeno Díaz, Lisandro Miranda Cartagena, and Nadiel Morales Colomé participated in the News Bureau of the Puerto Rico Journalists Association (ASPPRO, per its Spanish acronym) during Press Week in Puerto Rico.
The News Bureau is an educational initiative that brings together university students in journalism, photojournalism, and graphic design to produce news coverage related to Press Week events. This year’s program began on July 26 and concluded on Saturday, August 1, with the presentation of the 32nd National Journalism Awards.
Morales Colomé, a senior Journalism student, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. “More than a hands-on experience, it was a space for learning, growth, and connecting with journalists from different media outlets whose example inspired my professional journey. I leave with new knowledge, meaningful experiences, and the conviction that journalism is strengthened when practiced with ethics, passion, and a commitment to public service,” he said.
Meanwhile, María de los Milagros Colón Cruz, Journalism Program Academic Leader, emphasized that students’ participation in initiatives such as the News Bureau reflects exactly what the Ferré Rangel School of Communication seeks to achieve: learning through direct engagement with the profession alongside working journalists.
“That connection with the industry is a fundamental part of their education,” she said.
This year, the workshop was mentored by Yanira Hernández Cabiya, journalist and professor at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, and a total of 19 students participated in the program.
The participation of these four students from the Ferré Rangel School of Communication in ASPPRO’s educational initiative exemplifies Sagrado’s “learning by doing” educational philosophy. Through this approach, students become active agents in shaping their own academic journey while gaining firsthand professional experience in their field before completing their degrees.