"Foreign Journalists Bridge the Gap Between our Native and Host Countries"

Melissa Hobaica is an Emmy Award-winning journalist. She has worked as Executive Producer for NTN24 Washington–an international news channel based in Colombia that airs in over 20 countries throughout the Americas–since 2019. Prior to this, she managed cross-functional teams in content distribution startups focusing on production for Hispanic audiences, both in Venezuela and Argentina. 

As a foreign journalist, how did your journey begin in the U.S.?

My journey to the U.S. started with a curiosity to get to know the Hispanic audience more closely. In 2020, this country experienced one of the most important electoral processes of its recent history. With the Hispanic population exceeding 59 million, it had become the fastest-growing electorate group. As such, when I received the offer from NTN24, I was enthusiastic to understand this audience better to create meaningful tailored content during this process. 

What is the most important part of your job?

Day by day the news consumption market and delivery mechanisms change. As trends emerge, we as journalists are forced to respond to the demands of new and evolving generations. I am not only referring to technological advancements but also to the fundamental role that journalists must play in creating awareness, fostering social responsibility, and enabling open spaces for dialogue and citizen participation. This is one of the most powerful tools with which we work every day, and it needs to constantly reinvent itself to remain relevant in this digital age. 

Melissa Hobaica

What effect did your experience as a foreign journalist in the U.S. have on your perspective of America?

I am currently more empathetic and sensitized to the country that has welcomed me, both to the opportunities it harbors and the many challenges it faces. Living in Washington, D.C.—for many, the capital of the world—for the past three years has given me the opportunity to experience political decision-making up close, as well as its impact on the geopolitics of the hemisphere. This experience has also given me a broader perspective of how foreign journalists play an important role in bridging the gap between our native and host countries.

What lessons have you learned over the years of working as a foreign journalist in Washington, D.C.?

One of the most important lessons has been having a better understanding of the issues that affect the livelihood of minority groups in the United States. This has allowed me to produce more high-quality and useful reporting targeting these groups for their benefit. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I focused on the social role that I have as a journalist. I was presented with the opportunity to combat disinformation, dismantle myths and offer verified unbiased information to groups that were disproportionately affected by the crisis. 

Can you recall a story you did well and one you did not? What did you learn from this experience?

It is very difficult to catalog stories as ones that only go well or not. Usually, most stories are a mix of both. Notwithstanding, there are a couple that have marked my experience in these past years and from which I have learned valuable lessons.

The first one was the coverage of the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas in August 2019. This was a very difficult and tragic news story to report on. This experience taught me that it is not always possible to put your emotions aside and produce a story, separating personal feelings from professional responsibility. However, the job is to remain objective, no matter how hard the circumstances are.  

The second was covering the January 6, 2021 events in the U.S. Capitol. I had gone to report on a protest and then a series of unexpected events changed both the story and the operating context. On the spot, I had to analyze different scenarios, and trust my instincts to be able to prioritize the news, while also making assertive decisions at a time when misinformation was rampant and security considerations were sensitive. 

What do you consider to be the most challenging aspect of your job?

Nowadays, we are not only exposed to information overload most of the time but with the preponderance of social media, information of interest is oftentimes also short-lived. Therefore, news production requires both the capacity to differentiate between what stories are or are not important, as well as relevant to target audiences.  

Within this context, the most challenging aspect of my job is to ensure that even within a whirlwind, fast-paced environment of information, I am able to stop and verify reporting before stories are published. Our credibility is one of the most important things that we have as journalists and once we lose it, it is very difficult to recover. 

Can you offer any advice to aspiring foreign journalists from around the world who wish to work as correspondents in the United States? 

My advice would be to be open to the opportunities that may present themselves along the way. Oftentimes, things do not go as planned and that may be because better things will come along. Remaining flexible and resilient throughout our careers will allow us to seize new areas of professional growth.