The Lee Caplin School of Journalism at Florida International University has developed a strong relationship in recent years with Telemundo 51, progressing many recent graduates into full-time careers in journalism. At the center of this partnership lies three important components: a culture of bilingual reporting, care for the south Florida community and FIU Caplin School of Journalism’s, Manuel “Manny” Garcia.
Executive director Garcia is no stranger to leading newsrooms across the nation, holding senior positions at publications like ProPublica, USA Today at the Houston Landing.
But with all of that behind him, last year he was asked to take on a role sponsored by the Knight Foundation as the executive director of FIU’s School of Journalism, leaving him with the new challenge of preparing hundreds of students for the workforce each year, .
A 1990 FIU graduate from Miami-Dade County, Garcia wanted to serve the communities that raised him, which acted as a catalyst while managing the building and maintenance of the school’s external relationships with other universities and companies.
Upon accepting the job, Mr. Garcia immediately called Jorge Carballo, president and general manager of Telemundo 51, about what they could do to strengthen their connection.
Garcia said after their initial conversation, Carballo introduced him to Liliet Heredero, the vice president of news and content at Telemundo 51 and together, they pitched a multi-part series in English and Spanish titled, “No puedo vivir aquí / I Can’t Afford to Live Here,” about students and recent graduates who were struggling to find housing and resources in the immediate area.
“We produced just under 10 stories that ran on their FAST channels, and the students gained a tremendous amount of real-world experience,” Garcia said, referring to free ad-supported TV platforms. “Our students worked right beside producers at both NBC and Telemundo and our three main points of contact were already FIU grads, which put everything in full circle.”
Caplin students José Carlos Rodriguez, Johane Sainti, Adrian Diazl-Alejo, Patricia Varas, and Alejandro Marquina reported, edited and produced these stories for the committed streaming program produced by NBC 6 South Florida and Telemundo 51, airing on May 16, 2026.
Rodriguez, now a multi–media journalist for WNEU’s Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra, graduated from FIU in May of 2026, expressed how the experience helped him cultivate a body of work while in undergrad.
Garcia advises students and early career journalists to practice the skills that develop versatility to become a multimedia professional, from editing, to shooting and most importantly, readying social skills.
“AI can fill many roles but will never be able to give a good interview. Journalism is ultimately the business of relationships,” he says.
He also said communications students should, “consider taking business classes and get a certificate in entrepreneurship where you learn how to build a budget, a team and a business plan. It helps in all facets of life and gives you a foundation that stretches way outside your career. This new generation of self-branding and writing on Substack relies on these skills because how else are you going to build a business plan and bet on yourself?
Now going into his second academic year as the school’s executive director, Garcia said he hopes to take collaboration with Telemundo 51 and NBCU Academy even further.
“This time around, our reporting will be focused on young people who are voting for the first time within the current political climate,” Garcia said. “It’s a partnership that continues to strengthen and foundationally, this whole thing came to be based on my long-standing relationship that I built with Jorge.”
Garcia said he enjoyed collaborating with NBCU Academy, in part because it allows working journalists to give back.
“I don’t see many news organizations or subsidiaries work this closely with early career journalists and mold them morally and professionally,” he says.
Click here to read more about Florida International’s reporting project with Telemundo 51
