Violeta Yas JMS‘07 recently joined Storm Team 4 as a meteorologist at NBC 4 New York. Previously, she was the chief meteorologist at Telemundo62 in Philadelphia, where she was nominated for four regional Emmys for Best Weather Anchor, and also won four Emmys. Yas was also a Bilingual Broadcaster for AccuWeather.
In addition to her impressive success as a meteorologist, Yas translated a children’s book from English to Spanish - Brittney Shipp’s “The Meteorologist In Me,” which she translated into “La Meteoróloga En Mí.” Yas said she was honored to translate the publication, hoping that as a result it will reach more diverse audiences, and inspire children to work hard to accomplish their goals, despite any setbacks or difficulties they may encounter. (Read SC&I’s interview with Yas about her translation on the SC&I website.)
Moving through so many impressive roles at a variety of media organizations, Yas has gained an abundance of expertise and skills that can benefit other JMS students.
Read our Q&A with her below to learn more.
SC&I: Describe your education at Rutgers. Were there any particular classes/professors you learned a lot from?
VY: I regularly utilize tips, lessons, and advice I learned at Rutgers in my day-to-day life at work. Professor Steve Miller taught me the importance of knowing, understanding, and respecting ALL roles within the broadcast team (editing, videography, directing, etc.), and Bruce Reynolds completely transformed the way I write. Although I work in front of the camera, communicating succinctly starts with strong writing.
SC&I: You’ve had a variety of impressive positions at different news companies. What are the main skills you feel are most important to maintain as you move through different roles?
VY: I always try to maintain a balance between contributing my perspective and experience and leaving room to learn and grow. And simple things like being on time, keeping your word, doing what you say you’ll do, and understanding no one is perfect (including you) will take you far.
SC&I: Congratulations on your newest position with NBC 4 New York! What are you most looking forward to in this role?
VY: Thank you! I really enjoy the community and service aspect of working in local news. I was very active in the community in Philly, and now having the opportunity to do that in the area that I grew up in is just indescribable. As someone not born in this country, I have had to work extra hard to reach my goals, and it feels good to be able to tell children and young kids that they can do the same.
SC&I: Do you feel like your studies at Rutgers prepared you for your current role? If so, how?
VY: Rutgers provides a lot of real-world experience that I think students don’t realize is valuable. Learning how to take buses, trains, navigating a large campus, attending a profoundly diverse university in one of the most diverse states in the country teaches you a lot about life and the real world, and you will be better prepared entering the workforce. Specifically, with my studies, I felt our program was well balanced in providing information on the structure of the media landscape in addition to the hands-on experience needed to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. It’s important to know how to craft and execute a story, but the media studies portion of the major explained how to responsibly consume media and identify bias (both obvious and unconscious). This has become more important than ever in the digital age.
SC&I: What advice might you give to other Journalism students looking to pursue broadcast journalism, or college students in general?
VY: Social media and digital platforms are important, but it’s also important to know who you are and be you. Authenticity matters.
Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies major at the School of Communication and Information on the website.
Image: Courtesy of Violeta Yas JMS‘07
