Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Burgos.
Hi Valerie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up, I always looked for ways to get involved in acting, singing and dancing. I participated in school musicals and plays. However, as a stable career choice, I chose Digital Broadcast and Journalism because I loved everything regarding television. I attended the University of Georgia because their journalism program was ranked #2 in the country, and I quickly fell in love with the campus. My best and most difficult memories were made at UGA. By senior year of college, I was in a class that functioned as its own television station – everything we produced would go to air in Athens. That is when I trained to be a reporter, producer, digital content producer, and anchor… you name it. One day, a reporter from Univision Atlanta that had previously graduated from UGA came to visit our class. I was one of two Hispanics in the classroom so the attention was quickly put on us. Unfortunately for me, that day happened to be my worst reporting day because no one granted me an interview so I had nothing for the show. The reporter understood the stress I was under and still chose to speak with me after class. We exchanged numbers. I sent him my resume and cover letter.
Two weeks after graduation, I was employed as a temporary Production Assistant at Univision 34 Atlanta. Side note: Univision was always idolized in my household so this was a BIG deal for my family and I. I trained myself in everything possible during my time at the station. My three months contract quickly became a six months contract. Then a year contract. Six years and a half later, I am still employed by Univision. However, things have changed. During my second year as a Production Assistant, I asked to be trained as a Technical Director, the person in charge of putting the videos, anchor and reporter on air during the live newscast. Three months later, I became the official backup for the Technical Director, one of the only women at Univision around the country to lead a newscast. Around this time, I was also offered my own technology segment in collaboration with the Technical Director at the time, Jorge Alonso, that would air once a week in multiple stations around the United States and Puerto Rico. The anchor at the time, Amanda Ramírez, would review my scripts on a weekly basis until I was able to produce the segment on my own. These segments quickly became a hit, earning 4 Emmys for Outstanding Specialty Programming. I also earned two Emmys as On Camera Talent and two as Line Producer for the newscasts.
Four years after being hired at Univision Atlanta, the Technical Director decides to pursue his dreams and leaves his position vacant for the next person. The pandemic had just started. During the peak of the covid-19 crisis, I fulfilled my job as a production assistant plus his job as Technical Director due to personnel restrictions at the workplace. This was also during the peak of the BLM movement after George Floyd’s and Rayshard Brooks’ deaths. A few months later, I am offered the role of Technical Director. During the two years that I’ve fulfilled this role, I’ve earned two Emmys as Technical Director of “Most Outstanding Newscast in Markets 1-25” and “Outstanding Continuing Coverage of Rossana Delgado.” I’ve also had the privilege to train new aspiring tech assistants and journalists. With all this being said, reporting is not my #1 passion. Acting is. With the income I earn at my job, I am able to train and pursue acting and modeling jobs that my agency helps me book. So far, I have been able to work on “Queens”, “Found”, “Black Adam”, “Crippled Kings” and “Happy Thanksgiving.” I was also chosen to be a part of a new clothing campaign for Chick-Fil-A and Walgreens. All of this I owe to GOD.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Being told that I didn’t have the heart of a journalist by a professor was a crucial point in my career. I could have caved in and quit or pushed harder to prove them wrong. I’m glad I chose the latter. Additionally, when I was first employed at Univision, I was not a full-time worker. They did not have a spot open at the time. Therefore, I had to work 2-3 jobs at a time to pay bills. That’s not including the difficulty of the job itself. A live newscast, especially during the pandemic, was probably the hardest challenge I have ever faced.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an actress who happens to sing and dance. I started a TikTok account around 2018 without knowing that I would become an influencer with 189K followers (this is nothing compared to the actual influencers with millions) I was contacted by companies like That’s It fruit bars and Coca Cola to be a part of their campaigns, all because of my social media. In the meantime, I’ve auditioned for many projects and some, like the Chick Fil A campaign, took me completely by surprise. I have no modeling experience; yet, I was 1-10 people chosen for a campaign nationwide? All of the glory to God.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Do not plan out your life down to a T. It’s great to have an idea of where you want to be, but know that if God wants you to go another direction, life will lead you down another path. Be flexible and kind to everyone you meet. You NEVER know what it might lead to. Learn everything about the job you want to pursue, even if it parts of it are not your favorite. And always pay it forward. Help others that are looking for directions.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @vburgos713 @valerieburgostv
- Facebook: Facebook.com/ValerieBurgosTV
- Other: TikTok: @vburgos713
Image Credits
Chick-Fil-A (on the hoodie picture)
