November 6, 2013
Associated Press staff photographer Julio Cortez, a CSUN graduate, recently met journalism students and shared stories about his experience working on national stories, including the Boston Marathon attack and Superstorm Sandy.
Cortez earned a journalism degree from CSUN in 2006 and now works for the Associated Press in New Jersey. Last year he also photographed the London Olympics and the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“The Sandy Hook shooting has been one of the scariest and saddest events for me,” Cortez said. “It’s difficult to talk to families during a time of tragedy. You must find the right balance in respecting their privacy and getting the job done at the same.”
During his CSUN visit, Cortez told students to be versatile journalists and expand their skills.
“I learned video and audio production while on the job,” Cortez said. “It's important for students to learn all aspects of journalism before graduating because most journalism jobs currently employ versatile individuals that can fulfill needs across many platforms.”
He also emphasized the importance of internships during college. Cortez held four out-of-state internships, which better prepared him for his job with the Associated Press. He worked for The Dallas Morning News' Spanish newspaper Al Día, the San Angelo Standard-Times in Texas, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and the Associated Press in Chicago.
These opportunities allowed Cortez to meet people who went on to be his editors. While it took a little longer for him to graduate, once he did, he had many connections in the field and eventually a job.
“Taking time off from school to gain experience at internships is definitely a good investment,” he said. “I also never minded relocating for my internships because I knew they were a major step in getting my foot in the door.”
Cortez met his current boss while interning for the Associated Press after graduation. When his internship ended, Cortez worked at several other jobs. He eventually received a call from his ex-supervisor, letting him know that a position was open and he’d like to work with Cortez again.
In addition to helping him land his current job, Cortez’ prior internships also allowed him to learn discover his true passion.
“I initially wanted to be a sports writer,” he said. “But after my first internship as a photographer in Dallas, I realized that photography was my passion. … Internships are key to a student’s future success.”