High School students interested in journalism meet ABC's John Quiñones at East Bay Leadership Council event

Several students interested in journalism from four MDUSD high schools had the opportunity to attend an East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC) event on Thursday, Jan. 25th featuring guest speaker John Quiñones, an ABC news correspondent who is also well-known for hosting the hidden camera ethics show, "What would you do?" Council President & CEO Mark Orcutt extended an invitation to the District that also included a special "meet and greet" opportunity with Quiñones before the EBLC dinner and keynote speech, where students were able to take photos with the TV veteran and chat with him about how he got his start and what advice he had for them.

He advised them not to take no for an answer, learn a second language if they don't already speak two languages, and to try to tell the stories of the people that news organizations don't always cover. A Spanish-speaker, Quiñones said he was able to work in Panama and Latin America, telling stories that non-Spanish speakers would not be able to do as effectively. He said he received some of his best advice from ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings, who told him: "Don't worry about talking to the 'movers and shakers.' Talk to the moved and the shaken.'" 

Olympic HS journalism teacher Marissa Prater, who attended the event with teacher Yuri Buechler and seven of their students, said she was grateful they had the chance to meet and listen to Quiñones talk about his work, as well as to network with government, nonprofit, education and business leaders in Contra Costa County. "It was truly a fantastic experience for both me and the students," she said. "The opportunity for my students to engage with professionals in the community and to gain insight into the world of journalism was invaluable. The knowledge they gained and the connections they made will undoubtedly contribute to their growth and development in their journey into life after high school."

Thank you to the East Bay Leadership Council for this wonderful opportunity!