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BenitoLink welcomes its new California Local News Fellow, Juan Pablo Pérez-Burgos, to our news team. He will work as a full-time general assignment reporter for two years starting in September.
“I’m very excited about going to San Benito County because I’m looking forward to discovering a side of the United States that I don’t know—rural America and all its complexities, Pérez-Burgos said. “I’m thrilled about covering the challenges faced by a small community and that my words impact the lives of the people that surround me. That’s the beauty of local journalism.”
Pérez-Burgos obtained his bachelor’s degrees in literature and philosophy from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, and a master’s degree in journalism and narrative writing from UC Berkeley.
Leslie David, BenitoLink’s executive director, said she expects Pérez-Burgos to become a valuable member of the editorial team.
“We interviewed several candidates and were most excited about Juan Pablo,” David said. “He has already reported in different types of communities- both the capital city of Bogota and the Caribbean city of Barranquilla. He has covered elections and reported on some very interesting topics, so we feel really lucky to have him.”
“What I like about journalism is its ability to open my mind to other worlds,” Pérez-Burgos said. “I think of journalism as an art, as the art of active listening and being able to transform it into a piece that unveils a facet of life that was somehow hidden from us. Journalism opens up new worlds that lead us to a better understanding of our own reality.”
Before coming to California, Pérez-Burgos worked as a reporter at La Silla Vacía in Bogota, the capital of Columbia. During his time there, he reported and wrote weekly features on topics including regional conflicts, crime, corruption and politics. He also did live reporting coverage of local and national elections.
“I learned to cover criminal organizations, politics, city council meetings and different angles of Colombia’s never-ending conflict,” Pérez-Burgos said. He has most recently worked as a graduate student instructor at UC Berkeley and as a fact-checker at Diablo Magazine.
“Local journalism in California will teach me what I need to understand in my quest to become a Latin American writer,” says Pérez-Burgos.
Editor’s Note: Finding moderately priced housing is difficult for everyone, including reporters. We like it when reporters can live in or near San Benito County. Because of transportation, Juan Pablo would prefer to live in Hollister or San Juan Bautista. If you have any suggestions for us, preferably an in-law unit with a separate entrance, apartment or small home for Juan and his wife, Anna, please contact Leslie David at lesliedavid@benitolink.com
Thank you!
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